Umbrella Company Visa Sponsorship in the UK
Section A: Can an Umbrella Company Sponsor Workers? The Skilled Worker visa — previously the Tier 2 (General) work visa — is the primary immigration route for UK businesses to hire foreign workers. However, as any business must first be approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to sponsor this category of worker, […]
Sponsor Licence: Criminal Record Rules
Section A: Sponsor Licence Suitability Criteria If granted a sponsor licence, significant trust will be placed in you as a sponsor licence holder to prevent abuse of the system. With this trust comes a responsibility to act in accordance with the Immigration Rules and to meet all of the duties associated with sponsoring […]
A Rating Sponsor Licence Guide
Section A: What is a Sponsor Licence A Rating? For routes other than UK Expansion Worker, a sponsor licence will be rated either ‘A’ or ‘B’. An A rating is the Home Office’s confirmation that a sponsor is fully compliant and trusted to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) without extra restrictions. Most licences […]
Mergers, Acquisitions & Sponsor Licences
Section A: Sponsors Duty to Report Organisational Changes As part of their compliance duties, sponsor licence holders are under a continuing obligation to notify the Home Office of certain organisational changes. These duties apply regardless of the size of the transaction or whether it appears to affect sponsored workers directly. Any failure to […]
Sponsor Duties and Compliance: Essential Guide
Section A: Overview of Sponsor Duties and Compliance To avail of the advantages of employment sponsorship and accessing the global talent market, sponsor licence holders by law have to comply with the following: a. Ensure that the foreign workers you intend to sponsor have the requisite skills, experience or professional qualifications to […]
How Long Does a UK Sponsor Licence Take? 2026 Explained
Section A: How long does it take to get a sponsor licence? Under Home Office guidance, most sponsor licence applications are decided in less than 8 weeks when using the standard service. Employers should, however, allow 2–3 months in their recruitment planning to account for possible delays, such as changes in UKVI processing capacity […]
Key Personnel: Sponsor Licence Roles & Duties
Section A: Overview of Sponsor Licence Key Personnel When you apply for a sponsor licence from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), the online application will require you to give certain roles and responsibilities to members of staff, some or all of whom will be able to access the Home Office sponsorship management system […]
Sponsor Licence Check Guide UK
Section A: What is a Sponsor Licence? A sponsor licence is a legal requirement for UK organisations seeking to hire non-UK resident workers under certain work visa routes, such as the Skilled Worker visa. Licence Type Visa Route Purpose Duration Worker Licence Skilled Worker For skilled roles that meet job suitability requirements. […]
Sponsor Licence Cooling Off Period
Section A: What is a Sponsor Licence Cooling Off Period? A sponsor licence cooling-off period is a mandatory waiting period that usually follows a licence application refusal or a licence revocation, and can also follow a withdrawal or surrender where refusal or revocation would otherwise have occurred, or certain civil penalties and relevant […]
Sponsor Licence Downgraded?
Section A: Sponsor licence ratings The Home Office categorises sponsor licences with either A- or B-ratings. Having first been approved for a sponsor licence, each licence is granted an A-rating. An A-rated licence means that the sponsoring organisation has the necessary systems and people in place to meet its sponsor duties, and is trusted […]