Becoming a sponsor of skilled migrant workers (accessible version)
Updated 25 February 2022
Check your organisation is eligible
- Check the people you want to hire are eligible to come to the UK under the new points-based immigration system
- Ensure you are able to provide the necessary supporting documents for your sponsor licence application, e.g. details of your organisation and intended jobs you wish to fill
- To get a licence, you cannot have unspent criminal convictions for immigration offences or certain other crimes, such as fraud or money laundering
Ensure your organisation can manage its licence
- You need to appoint people within your organisation to manage the sponsorship process when you apply
- They will be responsible for ensuring your organisation remains compliant within the requirements of the licence
- You will need to keep record of your staff that you sponsor for reporting to UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration)
Apply - allow 8 weeks
- Apply online and pay the fee
- The fee is dependent on the type of licence(s) you are applying for and the type and size of your organisation. It will either be £536 or £1,476
- Send your supporting documents to UKVI
- Confirm how many staff you plan to recruit through the sponsorship system for the current financial year
- Each staff member sponsored costs £21 or £199, in addition to the usual visa application fees
If successful, your licence will be valid for 4 years.
Sponsor a worker
- Once you have selected a candidate, they must make a visa application to work in the UK
- You must first endorse your prospective employee’s visa through your sponsor licence account by requesting then issuing an electronic ‘certificate of sponsorship’
- Pay the Immigration Skills Charge. This is £1,000 for the first year of work in the UK plus £500 for each additional 6 months, or £364 and £182 respectively for small businesses or charities
- The employee must then submit a visa application under the same category as your licence
If the prospective employee’s visa application is granted, they may travel to the UK and start working.