What is a Sponsor Licence?
Brexit has ended free movement, causing many sectors across the UK to struggle with staff recruitment. The UK now lacks skilled workers in many areas including technology, finance, hospitality, and medicine. Due to this local talent shortage, UK employers are increasingly recruiting from overseas to fill gaps in the labour market. To sponsor a skilled worker from overseas, employers must comply with UK immigration law and first obtain a Sponsor Licence.
Types of Sponsor Licence
Sponsor Licences fall under the Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, or Temporary Worker categories. The type of role you are hiring for will determine which Sponsor Licence you need. Valid for four years with a renewal option, the licence allows UK businesses to hire workers from outside the UK under the Skilled Worker route (previously Tier 2), the Global Business Mobility route, and the Temporary Worker route (previously Tier 5).
Applying for a Sponsor Licence can be complex, requiring businesses to meet specific, strict conditions and timelines during the application process and to continue adhering to guidelines once the licence has been granted.
Mulgrave Law specialises in Sponsor Licences, helping companies overcome the challenges often encountered during the application process. For a confidential consultation about your UK Sponsor Licence application, contact our friendly immigration solicitors on 02072537248 or fill out simple form for a callback, below or click contact.
How to Get a UK Sponsor Licence
Almost all business sizes across nearly all sectors qualify for a UK Sponsor Licence. Applications are made to the Home Office. To be successful, considerable preparation is required by the employer. At the most basic level, your business must be lawfully trading in the UK and have genuine vacancies. Additionally, the business must demonstrate that it has appropriate systems in place to monitor sponsored workers and manage sponsorship duties.
As an employer, you must not have unspent criminal convictions for immigration offences or certain other crimes. You also must not have had a Sponsor Licence revoked in the last 12 months. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will review your application and supporting documents, and may visit your business premises to ensure trustworthiness and verify your capability to carry out sponsor duties.
You can sponsor a worker as long as the job complies with UK minimum wage and working time regulations. If it does not, the worker’s visa may be refused, and your business could lose its Sponsor Licence. Additionally, the worker must meet the criteria needed for their specific visa type, such as skilled workers, health or care workers, charity workers, seasonal workers, or workers on any type of “Global Business Mobility” visa.
The next step is to choose the type of licence you need based on the type of worker you are sponsoring. You will need to appoint people within your business to manage the sponsorship process when you apply for a licence. The main tool they’ll use is the Sponsorship Management System (SMS).
UK Sponsor Licence refusals
Most businesses that have their UK Sponsor Licence application rejected or refused do so because they do not seek advice from specialist Sponsor Licence lawyers. Each business is unique, and specific guidance needs to be applied. It is crucial to follow the rules set out by the UK government. Our experienced Sponsor Licence lawyers have worked with businesses across almost all sectors. Reach out to our experienced team and take advantage of our FREE 30-minute, no-obligation consultation to learn more about sponsor licences and why you should instruct us to help with your application.