Temporary Worker Sponsor Licence | 2026 Eligibility & Application
` Section A: What is a Temporary Worker Sponsor Licence? Organisations looking to recruit an overseas national under certain types of work visas will need a valid Temporary Worker Sponsor Licence. A Temporary Worker sponsor licence is the permission granted by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to enable the approved licence-holder to assign Certificates […]
Sponsorship: UK Visa & Immigration Guide 2026
Section A: Sponsorship in UK Immigration In UK immigration law, sponsorship is the licensing framework that allows eligible employers and education providers to sponsor certain workers and students under specified immigration routes. It applies both to people applying from overseas and, in some cases, to people applying from within the UK to stay, […]
Immigration Skills Charge 2026 | Cost, Who Pays & Exemptions
Section A: What is the Immigration Skills Charge? The Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) is a fee payable by most UK employers when sponsoring workers under either the Skilled Worker or the Senior or Specialist Worker visas, with limited exemptions. It was introduced on 6 April 2017 under the Immigration Skills Charge Regulations to address […]
Scale Up Sponsor Licence Guide 2026
Section A: What is the Scale Up Sponsor Licence? The Scale Up Sponsor Licence is the permission needed by UK employers from the Home Office to sponsor workers under the Scale Up route. Technically, there is no separate category called a ‘Scale-up sponsor licence’ in the UK immigration system. The Scale-up route sits […]
Sponsor Licence Application Fee: Employers’ Guide 2026
Section A: What is the sponsor licence application fee? Sponsorship is a valuable route to accessing global talent, but it requires upfront investment and a commitment to ongoing legal and regulatory duties. The headline sponsor licence application fee is a mandatory cost that UK employers must pay when applying for a licence to […]
RQF Explained: Skill Levels for UK Visas 2026
Section A: What is the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF)? The Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) is the system used in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to group regulated qualifications by level. Levels run from entry level through to Level 8. The level indicates the demand of the learning outcomes, rather than the subject area, […]
SMS Level 1 User: Role & Responsibilities
Section A: What is an SMS Level 1 User? An SMS Level 1 User is an individual authorised by a sponsor licence holder to carry out operational sponsorship tasks through the Sponsor Management System (SMS). The role sits at the centre of day-to-day licence administration and is the mechanism through which most sponsor […]
UK Tier 2 Sponsor List Explained 2026
Section A: What is the Tier 2 Sponsor List? A sponsor licence is the permission needed for UK organisations to hire foreign national workers under specific visa categories, such as the Skilled Worker visa (formerly the Tier 2 Visa). The Home Office maintains the list of sponsors to identify all employers that have […]
UKVI Action Plan: 2026 Sponsor Guide
Section A: What is a UKVI Sponsor Action Plan? As a Home Office approved employer with a sponsor licence, your organisation will be placed on the national register of sponsors, and you’ll be given a licence rating. You’ll automatically get an A-rated licence if your application is approved. An A-rated licence will allow […]
Global Business Mobility Sponsor Licence | How to Apply 2026
Section A: What is the Global Business Mobility Sponsor Licence? Employers often refer to a “Global Business Mobility Sponsor Licence”, but there is no stand-alone licence under that name. The Home Office issues two main types of sponsor licence: the Worker sponsor licence and the Temporary Worker sponsor licence. Global Business Mobility (GBM) […]