You’ll be given a license rating if your application is successful. Moreover, you’ll be able to issue certificates of sponsorship if you have jobs that are suitable for sponsorship. The license will be valid for 4 years. However, you may lose your license if you do not meet your responsibilities as a sponsor.
To get a license, you cannot have:
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will review your application form and supporting documents. They may visit your business to make sure you’re trustworthy and capable of carrying out your duties.
The license you need depends on whether the workers you want to fill your jobs are:
A. Tier 2 – skilled workers with long-term job offers
Tier 2 is for skilled workers who you want to employ long-term or permanently. It’s split into:
B. Tier 5 – skilled temporary workers
Tier 5 is for skilled workers you want to employ on a temporary basis.
It’s split into:
* You can apply for a license covering either tier or both.
You need to appoint people within your business to manage the sponsorship process when you apply for a license. The main tool they’ll use is the sponsorship management system (SMS).
The roles are:
These roles can be filled by the same person or different people.
You can also appoint an optional level 2 user once you have your license. This is an SMS user with more restricted access than a level 1 user, for example they cannot withdraw a certificate of sponsorship.
You need to send the correct supporting documents to prove that you’re a genuine business.
You need to provide at least 4 documents – unless:
*The documents must be the originals or certified copies.
You’ll get an A-rated license if your application is approved. Your A-rated license may be downgraded to a B-rating at a later stage if you do not continue to meet your sponsor duties.
If this happens, you will not be able to issue new certificates of sponsorship until you’ve made improvements and upgraded back to an A-rating. You need to follow an ‘action plan’ provided by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to upgrade your license.
*You have to pay £1,476 for an action plan.
You must assign a certificate of sponsorship to each foreign worker you employ. This is an electronic record, not a physical document. Each certificate has its own number which a worker can use to apply for a visa.
*Certificates must be used within 3 months from when they’re assigned.
You might have to pay an additional charge for each foreign worker you employ. This is called the ‘immigration skills charge’.
a. You must pay this if they’re applying for a visa to work in the UK for 6 months or more under either a:
If the worker has applied for their visa from within the UK, you must pay the charge even if they’re applying for less than 6 months.
b. When you do not need to pay
You will not pay the immigration skills charge if the worker you’re sponsoring:
You will not need to pay the charge for any of the worker’s dependants, for example their partner or child.
You must:
Your license may be downgraded, suspended or withdrawn if you do not meet them.
Read the full guidance on sponsor requirements and duties and check workers have the right to work in the UK.
NNRoad’s PEO service in the United Kingdom includes: monthly payroll management, employer statutory benefits administration, individual income tax compliance, medical insurance, expenses management, and visa application (if employees are foreigners).
NNRoad becomes your in-country employer of record for dispatched employees in the United Kingdom. You will still be responsible for the management of your employees.
Contact us to discuss further about your needs today!