Collection

Sponsorship: guidance for employers and educators

Information for student and worker sponsors, including full policy guidance, using the sponsorship management system and how to get help.

Published 22 January 2014
Last updated 3 August 2017 — see all updates

• From: UK Visas and Immigration

This collection includes documents for businesses and educational institutions that sponsor foreign workers and students. It includes:

• sponsorship policy guidance
• guides to using the business helpdesk and educators helpdesk
• codes of practice
• user manuals for the sponsorship management system (SMS)
• technical details for bulk data transfers
• lists of licensed sponsors

The codes of practice for skilled workers for certificates of sponsorship assigned on or after 6 April 2017 can be found in Appendix J of the Immigration Rules.

Sponsorship policy guidance

1. Sponsor a Tier 2 or 5 worker: guidance for employers

   • 6 April 2018
   • Guidance

2. Sponsor a Tier 4 student: guidance for educators

   • 8 May 2018
   • Guidance

3. Sponsor guidance appendix A: supporting documents for sponsor applications

   • 11 January 2018
   • Guidance

4. Sponsor guidance appendix B: immigration offences and sponsorship

   • 1 October 2013
   • Guidance

5. Sponsor guidance appendix C: civil penalties and sponsorship

   • 6 April 2016
   • Guidance

6. Sponsor guidance appendix D: keeping records for sponsorship

   • 11 January 2018
   • Guidance

7. Sponsor guidance appendix E: example DIT letter for sponsor applications

   • 6 April 2017
   • Guidance

8. Sponsor guidance appendix F: Tier 5 (International Agreement)

   • 21 September 2017
   • Guidance

9. Sponsor guidance appendix G: Croatian workers and students

   • 24 November 2016
   • Guidance

How to get help

1. Employers and sponsors: make a query to the business helpdesk

   • 2 July 2013
   • Guidance

2. Status updates on employee applications: consent form

   • 1 July 2013
   • Form

3. Educators helpdesk: make a query

   • 9 September 2013
   • Guidance

Codes of practice

1. Sponsorship: archive codes of practice for skilled workers

   • 6 April 2017
   • Guidance

2. Sponsorship: code of practice for ballet

   • 13 July 2012
   • Guidance

3. Sponsorship: code of practice for dancers

   • 13 July 2012
   • Guidance

4. Visa sponsorship: code of practice for performers (theatre or opera)

   • 13 July 2012
   • Guidance

5. Visa sponsorship: code of practice for performers (film and TV)

   • 13 July 2012
   • Guidance

6. Sponsorship: code of practice for workers in film and TV

   • 13 July 2012
   • Guidance

7. Sponsorship: sporting code of practice

   • 1 November 2008
   • Guidance

User manuals: sponsorship management system (SMS)

1. Introduction to the sponsorship management system: SMS guide 1

   • 6 April 2015
   • Guidance

2. Manage your sponsorship licence: SMS guide 2

   • 6 April 2015
   • Guidance

3. Applications, renewals and services: SMS guide 3

   • 6 April 2015
   • Guidance

4. Creating and assigning CAS: SMS guide 4

   • 6 April 2015
   • Guidance

5. Creating a CAS: guide for education sponsors, SMS guide 4a

   • 11 January 2018
   • Guidance

6. Reporting student activity: SMS guide 5

   • 6 April 2015
   • Guidance

7. Miscellaneous CAS functions: SMS guide 6

   • 6 April 2015
   • Guidance

8. Bulk data transfer of CAS: SMS guide 7

   • 6 April 2015
   • Guidance

9. Creating and assigning a CoS: SMS guide 8

   • 6 April 2015
   • Guidance

10. Creating a CoS: guide for business sponsors (SMS guide 8a)

    • 6 April 2017
    • Guidance

11. Reporting worker activity: SMS guide 9

    • 6 April 2015
    • Guidance

12. Miscellaneous certificate of sponsorship functions: SMS guide 10

    • 6 April 2015
    • Guidance

13. Tier 5 creative and sport certificate of sponsorship: SMS guide 11

    • 6 April 2015
    • Guidance

14. Restricted certificate of sponsorship: SMS guide 12

    • 6 April 2015
    • Guidance

Bulk data transfer: technical details

1. Bulk data transfer for sponsors: XML schema

   • 14 April 2016
   • Guidance

2. Bulk data transfer for sponsors: country codes

   • 8 April 2016
   • Guidance

3. Bulk data transfer for sponsors: example files

   • 9 December 2015
   • Guidance

4. Bulk data transfer for sponsors: data values for CAS fields

   • 13 December 2017
   • Guidance

5. Bulk data transfer for sponsors: validation rules for CAS upload

   • 8 December 2015
   • Guidance

6. Bulk data transfer for sponsors: frequently asked questions

   • 8 December 2015
   • Guidance

Lists of licensed sponsors

1. Register of licensed sponsors: workers

   • 18 June 2018
   • Guidance

2. Register of licensed sponsors: students

   • 18 June 2018
   • Guidance

Published 22 January 2014
Last updated 3 August 2017 + show all updates

1. 3 August 2017 Link to updated shortage occupation list added under codes of practice.
2. 6 April 2017 Updated information.
3. 6 April 2015 Tier 2 shortage occupation list from 6 April 2015 addition to the codes of practice section.
4. 7 April 2014 Updated SMS documents.
5. 22 January 2014 First published.