Sponsor Licences

By UK Visas on Jan 8, 2024

Finding and hiring top talent can be a daunting task, especially with ongoing recruitment challenges. That's why many businesses are expanding their search and looking for skilled workers outside of the UK. To do this successfully, you'll need a valid sponsor licence.

Our team of business immigration experts are here to provide you with valuable advice and guidance on obtaining a sponsor licence.

We can help you prepare to recruit skilled foreign workers and fill crucial vacancies in your business, particularly in industries that are experiencing a labour shortage.

Having a sponsor license opens a wide and diverse pool of talent, improves employee retention, and keeps you competitive in a growing trend of organisations hiring internationally.

The process of obtaining a sponsor license can be complex, so we've summarized the key steps to help you understand what's involved:

To Become a Licenced Sponsor You Need To;

Verify your business eligibility
Implement suitable HR systems to manage and monitor sponsored workers
Appoint key personnel to handle the online portal (SMS)
Gather the necessary supporting documents for your license application
Ensure that your job vacancies are suitable
Demonstrate the authenticity of your vacancies
Ensure that the roles you offer meet the required skill level
Align your pay scales with the minimum salary thresholds

Apply for a licence

Confirm your annual staff numbers
Complete the application form and gather all supporting documents
Submit the required fee (£536 or £1,476) and allow up to eight weeks for a decision

What happens next?

If your application is successful, you will be issued a sponsor licence that is valid for four years, with the option to renew in the future.

Once you have selected a suitable candidate, your sponsor licence allows you to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship, which endorses their employment and enables them to apply for a work visa.

Upon the approval of their visa application, the candidate can travel to the UK to start working or continue their employment on a full-time permanent contract.