Assisting in applying for, using and maintaining sponsor licences for the staff you need is one of our specialisms.
In most cases to employ non-UK workers employers require a sponsor licence. This includes voluntary unpaid work – for instance for a charity.
Since Brexit more firms have had to join the ever-increasing register of licensed sponsors as they can no longer rely on free movement for h
ires from EU countries, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Sponsorship forms an integral part of the post-Brexit immigration system for all kinds of organisations. Since the UK economy has sprung back post-pandemic, many more employers are preparing sponsor licences to be able to recruit the staff they need.
With an array of ever-changing work visa options we can advise and work with you on the most suitable for your needs, as well as the requirements, responsibilities and procedures should you need to apply for a sponsor licence. You can contact us here for a free initial consultation on the most efficient way to bring a prospective hire to the UK.
Skilled Worker, Senior or Specialist Worker, T2 Minister of Religion, International Sportsperson or Scale-up sponsor licence applications
In most cases to employ non-UK workers employers require a sponsor licence. We can help advise you on the requirements, suitability and procedure for a licence to sponsor the following categories of workers:
- Skilled Worker
- Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker route (this replaced the Intra-Company Transfer route from 11 April 2022)
- T2 Minister of Religion
- International Sportsperson
- Scale-up worker (this new immigration route opens on 22 August 22 – our latest guide is here.)
For employees, time spent working in these above immigration routes counts towards a route to settlement in the UK – apart for those on a Senior or Specialist Worker visa.
There are more categories of sponsor licences for Temporary Workers – those on more short-term immigration routes, such as Creative Worker or Seasonal Worker, which do not lead to settlement – see below.
We advise on all types of sponsor licence applications and help you choose the best option for your firm and candidates of choice. We are very experienced in finding speedy and affordable solutions and avoiding the common pitfalls. We can ensure that you are equipped to demonstrate that you have suitable human resource processes in place and provide the required supporting documents to be approved as a sponsor.
No matter the size of your organisation, we will review your processes and policies and work with you to ensure you are ready to be compliant with your sponsor duties.
To find out how we can help you please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
Temporary Worker sponsor licence applications
The Temporary Worker (or ‘Temporary Work’) immigration routes which do not lead to settlement, but require a sponsor licence are:
- Charity Worker
- Creative Worker
- Graduate Trainee (this Global Business Mobility visa replaced the Intra-Company Graduate Trainee route from 11 April 2022)
- UK Expansion Worker (this replaced the unsponsored Sole Representative provisions of the Representative of an Overseas Business route from 11 April 2022)
- Service Supplier (this Global Business Mobility visa replaced the provisions for contractual service suppliers and independent professionals on the International Agreement route from 11 April 2022)
- Secondment Worker (this Global Business Mobility visa is a new route from 11 April 2022)
- Government Authorised Exchange
- International Agreement
- Religious Worker
- Seasonal Worker
(NB: the Youth Mobility Scheme while classed as a Temporary Work route, does not require the employer to be a sponsor. More details can be found here.)
We advise on all types of sponsor licence applications and help you avoid the common pitfalls. We are very experienced in finding speedy and affordable solutions to your staff requirements. We can ensure that you are equipped to demonstrate that you have suitable human resource processes in place and provide the required supporting documents to be approved as a sponsor.
No matter the size of your organisation, we will review your processes and policies and work with you to ensure you are ready to be compliant with your sponsor duties.
To find out how we can help you please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
Sponsoring migrant workers
We will ‘hand-hold’ you through the specifics of sponsoring workers, such as identifying whether a role is recognised on the Government’s new Immigration Salary List of shortage occupations or another concession applies for a job candidate.
Our bespoke service includes negotiating the Defined Certificate of Sponsorship application process or ensuring your Undefined Certificate of Sponsorship allocation is up to date and ensuring that all substantive requirements are met through to the final stage of securing the visa.
To find out how we can help you please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
Sponsor licence refusals, suspensions and revocations
UKVI may revoke, suspend or downgrade your sponsor licence if you fail to comply with sponsor duties. This could come about as a result of an inspection associated with an initial sponsor licence, an application to renew or, indeed at any point while you hold a licence to hire non-UK nationals. The Home Office department is becoming increasingly vigilant in its enforcement practices so it is worth keeping on top of your sponsor management and right to work practices.
If you are facing revocation or downgrading of your sponsor licence we can assist with the next critical steps you take.
We will review the grounds of the decision, challenge any factual errors, advise you on required supporting evidence, address any breaches and advise you on remedial steps to address them and support you with presenting a response to UKVI. We will also provide you with the support necessary to address any follow-up scrutiny by UKVI such as a site visit.
This is always a tricky situation to be in, but we have a lot of experience in helping sponsors in such trying situations.
To find out how we can help you please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
Sponsor changes of circumstances
Whether there are changes to your sponsored workers’ salary, title, core duties, they cease to work for you, to be sponsored by you or there are changes to your organisation’s circumstances such as name, address, ownership, size or key personnel, we will assist you to stay on top of your reporting duties.
We will keep you appraised of all ‘trigger’ events leading to the duty to report and advise on action to be taken relating to changes or missed reports.
Failure to ensure that the SMS is up to date is a breach of the sponsor duties so we strongly advise sponsors to access the SMS and to check and update the contact information if needed. Please contact us if you are not sure what to do.
We help many businesses by carrying out compliance audits to avoid repercussions such as sponsor licence suspension or revocation. To find out how we can help you please contact us for a chat.
We can provide on-site training on all aspects of complying with your sponsor duties including how to avoid falling foul of illegal working legislation. We will provide practical tips on making full right to work checks to avoid civil penalties and criminal sanctions, complying with Skilled Worker and Global Business Mobility (formerly Intra-Company Transfer) sponsor duties and challenging civil penalty notices.
To find out how we can help you please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
Send us an enquiry. We will get back to you shortly.
Vanessa Ganguin Immigration Law is highly ranked in all the top legal guides for business immigration. According to The Legal 500, “boutique immigration firm Vanessa Ganguin Immigration Law fields a strong team of ‘incredibly knowledgeable‘ lawyers, well-equipped to handle work ranging from sponsor licence applications and processing issues to global talent visa procurement and support on takeovers, mergers, and downsizings. Founder and managing partner Vanessa Ganguin advises on all aspects of corporate and personal immigration, with particular strength in advising clients in the finance, fintech, engineering, media and entertainment, and sport sectors. Senior counsel Philip Trott brings a wealth of experience acting for clients including entrepreneurs, start-ups, and charities, and on matters extending to complex appeals and national security cases.”
The Times Best Law Firms has also commended Vanessa Ganguin Immigration Law for immigration. The firm’s specialists have decades of experience of dealing with sponsorship and all manner of business immigration issues, for which they are also ranked highly in other guides such as Who’s Who Legal, Chambers and Partners and The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom – published by Best Lawyers – the oldest global guide to the legal profession.
Our advice is always partner-led and friendly. Feel free to contact us now to discuss whether you would benefit from a sponsor licence. Or, if you have a licence already, we are happy to answer any sponsorship, compliance, renewal or revocation questions.
When do employers need a sponsor licence?
In the vast majority of cases, potential employees who are not settled in the UK will need to be sponsored. To use a sponsored immigration route to hire foreign employees a UK entity must first apply for a sponsor licence. There are different types of sponsor licence depending on the nature and duration of the roles you are looking to sponsor. The main route – and one of the few leading to permanent residence – is the Skilled Worker route.
New Home Office commissioned research has revealed why employers are increasingly using the Skilled Worker visa UK immigration route to fill vacancies. You can read more about the survey of UK sponsors here.
From making the initial sponsor licence application to avoiding compliance hazards and challenging adverse UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) decisions, we help a wide variety of clients to navigate UKVI’s requirements.
Contact us for an initial free consultation to identify your best options or to talk through any issues you may need help with.