What is a UK sponsor licence and how to applying for a sponsor licence
UK-based employers that wish to hire overseas workers must apply for a Sponsor Licence. Sponsor licences, previously known as Tier 2 sponsor licences, typically fall under the category of Worker Licence and Temporary Worker Licence
A UK employer can apply to the Home Office and pay relevant fees to secure a UK visa sponsorship licence.
What is a UK sponsor licence?
UK employers who wish to hire foreign workers on Skilled Worker visa, Global Business Mobility visa, and particular Temporary Worker visa schemes should apply for a sponsor licence. Any employer with no current, valid sponsor licence cannot sponsor migrant workers.
It is granted to the employer for four years and enables him to issue a Certificate of sponsorship (CoS) to international workers.
The requirements for applying for a sponsor licence are quite stringent, as part of the application process, the applicant has to prove they have a legitimate business and are in need of recruiting staff from another country.
Eligibility Requirements
To apply, the applicants must either be
- employers
- Education providers
Under the UK’s new immigration system, the employer has to provide detailed information and sufficient evidence to prove why the employment of an overseas worker is necessary.
Following requirements must be met to get a sponsor license
- The applying organisation must be operating and trading lawfully in the UK
- Based in the UK
- Have honest and dependable key personnel
- Does not pose a threat to the immigration control
An employer can apply for the sponsor licence to either recruit regular workers or temporary workers. The type or the nature of the job will determine the sponsor licence that an employer needs.
Type of Sponsor Licences
Worker Sponsor Licence
This is for long-term skilled workers who have the right to work in the UK for three or five years. The sub-categories under this route are
- Sportsperson visa
- Ministry of Religion visa
- Senior or Specialist worker visa
Temporary Worker Sponsor Licences
This route is for workers undertaking temporary employment. It has the following subcategories
- Creative workers (up to 2 years)
- International sportsperson (up to 1 year for sportsperson and 2 years for entertainer)
- Charity worker (up to 1 year)
- Religious worker (up to 1 year)
- International agreement worker
- Government authorised exchange
Applying for a Sponsor Licence
The sponsor licence application process requires the employer to prove they are a legitimate business and have the right recruitment and HR system.
- Submit the application – Submit the application online along with the supporting documentary evidence and relevant fees. These documents must be provided within 5 days of the online application.
- Required Documentation – The employer is required to provide at least four documents. The specific documents vary depending on the nature of work and the vacancy.
- Honest Key Personnel – The key personnel named on the sponsor licence application must be honest, reliable, and dependable. The Home Office will run background checks to assess the credibility of the named individual.
- Visit From UKVI – Once all the documents in line with the stated evidentiary requirements have been provided, the applying organisation may get a compliance visit from the UKVI. This visit is to assess whether or not the sponsor licence should be granted.
In case the sponsor licence application is rejected, the employer can not appeal the decision. However, the decision can be judicially reviewed depending upon the merits.
