Skilled Worker Visa Extension Guide 2026
Section A: How Long Are Skilled Worker Visas Valid For? A Skilled Worker visa is granted for the length of the job you have been sponsored to do, up to a maximum of five years at a time. Most sponsors choose to issue a CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) that covers the full expected contract (for example three years), and the […]
Right to Work Checks: How-To Guide for Employers
Section A: What are Right to Work Checks? Right to Work checks are a central part of the UK’s enforcement framework against illegal working. Employers are required to complete these checks for every new hire. The obligation applies across all sectors, regardless of size or recruitment model. The Home Office expects a consistent […]
Right to Work Check UK: Employer Steps & Compliance 2026
Section A: Right to Work Check Overview If you are hiring someone to work in the UK, of any nationality, you should work on the basis that a Right to Work check is needed before they can start employment with you. When employers carry out Right to Work checks in the correct manner, […]
UK Sponsor Guidance 2026 | Duties, Compliance & Rules
Section A: Home Office Sponsor Guidance Hiring from overseas is a business decision that is rarely taken lightly, yet the UK immigration rules are complex and demanding on employers of foreign workers. The official UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) sponsor guidance is called “Workers and Temporary Workers: Guidance for Sponsors”, which details the […]
Sponsor Licence 2026: Apply to Hire Overseas Workers
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, operates the sponsor licence application process to verify if organisations meet the requirements to sponsor overseas workers. Through […]
Apply for a UK Sponsor Licence 2026: How, What & When
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 […]
Skilled Worker Change of Employment Rules 2026
A Skilled Worker change of employment is one of the most common and most misunderstood compliance risks under the UK sponsorship system. Many sponsored workers assume that moving roles within the same organisation, accepting a promotion or transferring to a related company within a group does not require Home Office approval. In practice, the Immigration […]
UK Expansion Worker Visa: Complete Guide 2026
Section A: What is the UK Expansion Worker Visa? The UK Expansion Worker visa allows employees of overseas businesses that have not yet begun trading in the UK to come to Britain to establish a UK-based operation. It enables eligible companies to sponsor senior managers or specialist workers on a temporary basis to […]
Appendix D: Sponsor Licence Record Keeping
Section A: What is Appendix D? Appendix D is an appendix to the Home Office sponsor guidance that sets out the record-keeping requirements for sponsor licence holders under the wider sponsor licence duties. It specifies the documents that UK employers must retain for each individual they sponsor under various immigration routes, such as […]
Apply for Settled Status UK in 2026
Applying for settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme remains possible in 2026 for certain eligible individuals, despite the main application deadline having passed several years ago. Many EU, EEA and Swiss citizens already hold either pre-settled or settled status, but ongoing rule changes, automatic status upgrades and stricter Home Office enforcement continue to create […]