Self Sponsorship Visa UK Cost Guide
Section A: Planning for Self Sponsorship Visa Costs The self sponsorship visa route enables individuals to apply for a Skilled Worker visa by establishing or working within a UK company that holds a sponsor licence. Unlike traditional employer-led sponsorship, the applicant arranges for the sponsoring entity to be set up or controlled by […]
UK Sponsor Licence: Employer Guide
Section A: What is a Sponsor Licence? A sponsor licence is a legal requirement for UK organisations that want to hire non-UK resident skilled workers. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), a division of the Home Office, oversees the sponsor licence process, ensuring that organisations meet strict requirements to hire foreign workers legally. Through the […]
Immigration Skills Charge Guide 2025
Section A: What is the Immigration Skills Charge? The Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) is a fee payable by most UK employers when sponsoring skilled workers from overseas under certain visa routes, such as the Skilled Worker or the Senior or Specialist Worker visas, with limited exemptions. It was introduced on 6 April 2017 under […]
Sponsor Management System: SMS Guide
Section A: What is the Sponsor Management System? As a licensed sponsor you are subject to a number of strict duties to ensure compliance with the UK Immigration Rules and to prevent illegal working. The Sponsor Management System (SMS) is the Home Office’s secure online portal through which licensed UK employers manage their […]
How to Apply for a Sponsor Licence
Section A: About the UK Sponsor Licence A sponsor licence is the statutory authorisation that allows a UK-based organisation to employ overseas nationals in roles that require immigration sponsorship. Issued by UKVI, it grants the employer permission to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to qualifying workers under specific visa categories. Without a sponsor […]
Employment Case Law Update August 2025
Read on for our monthly digest for employers on upcoming employment law changes and key, recent employment tribunal cases. Transgender Participation and the Equality Act Haynes v English Blackball Pool Association The claimant, a professional pool player and transgender woman with a Gender Recognition Certificate, had previously played for the Kent women’s […]
UK Immigration Statistics 2025
The Home Office has published the UK immigration statistics for the year ending June 2025. In broad terms, the UK saw a slowdown in new arrivals across most legal routes, particularly in work, study and family categories, but an increase in progression to settlement and citizenship. Sponsor licensing numbers also reveal a marked change, with […]
Visit Visa UK Guide
Section A: What is the UK Visit Visa? Many people talk about a “Visit Visa” when travelling to the UK, but the correct legal term is the Standard Visitor Visa. The route is governed by Appendix V of the Immigration Rules and its related Permitted Activities. It is designed for short-term, non-settlement purposes […]
UK Visitor Visa 180-Days Rule
Section A: Is there a UK Visitor Visa 180-Days Rule? The UK visitor visa, officially known as the Standard Visitor visa, is one of the most widely used UK immigration routes. It is designed for short-term stays and allows overseas nationals to come to the UK for permitted purposes such as tourism, business […]
UK Visa & Transit Rules 2025
Section A: Overview of UK Visa & Transit Requirements 2025 Travelling through or into the UK in 2025 requires an understanding of the Immigration Rules and the updated framework administered by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). While Brexit fundamentally changed the position of EU nationals, the more important development for 2025 is the […]