Immigration Skills Charge Guide 2025
The Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) is payable by employers each time they sponsor a worker under the Skilled Worker or the Senior or Specialist Worker visa, with limited exemptions. The Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) is a fee imposed on UK employers who sponsor skilled workers from overseas under certain visa routes, such as the Skilled Worker […]
Sponsor Licence Application Fee: Employers’ Guide

The sponsor licence application fee is a mandatory cost that UK employers must pay when applying for a licence to sponsor skilled workers from overseas. The fee is determined by the size and type of the organisation and is paid as part of the application process to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). Sponsoring skilled overseas […]
How To Sponsor Someone For A Work Visa

UK-based employers will typically need to have a valid licence to sponsor someone for a work visa in the UK In this guide, we take a practical look at the rules on sponsoring overseas workers, the eligibility requirements you’ll need to meet and the process to make an application for a sponsorship licence. What […]
Sponsor Licence Cooling Off Period
The sponsor licence cooling off period refers to a mandatory waiting period that applies to UK employers in certain situations, including after a licence is revoked, suspended, or an application is refused. The purpose of this period is to give employers time to address any issues before attempting to apply for, or regain, a sponsor […]
Sponsor Licence Priority Service: Fast-Track Guide
Applying for a sponsor licence is a complex and time-consuming process. If your organisation urgently needs to recruit, and perhaps already has a candidate lined up for sponsorship, time may not be on your side. In these circumstances, the option to pay for fast-tracked licence application processing can make business sense. The Sponsor Licence Priority […]
Sponsor Licence Number: Explained
For UK-based organisations looking to sponsor migrant workers, they will first need to be allocated a unique sponsor licence number before being able to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to new sponsored workers. Equally, for migrant workers looking to work in sponsored job roles in the UK, they will first need to be assigned a […]
Sponsor Licence: Criminal Record Rules
When applying for a sponsor licence, your organisation will need to satisfy various suitability criteria, not least that those responsible for the day-to-day running of your business, including the key personnel assigned to use the sponsor management system, are all honest, dependable and reliable. The following guide is for UK employers and HR departments when […]
SOC Codes for Skilled Worker Eligible Occupations
Matching the role you are recruiting for with the relevant occupation code, or SOC code, is a crucial step when hiring a new sponsored worker under the Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility or Scale Up routes. It will be important for the sponsor to allocate the correct occupation code to avoid issues with the Home […]
UK Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence
If you are looking to expand your business by establishing a branch or subsidiary in the UK, you may need an Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence that will allow you to sponsor a company representative for a UK Expansion Worker visa. The UK expansion worker route allows overseas companies to deploy senior managers or specialist employees […]
PBS Licence (Employer FAQs)
If you are a UK employer looking to sponsor an overseas national to work for you in the UK, you will need to apply for a sponsor licence under the UK’s points-based system (PBS). The ability to sponsor overseas workers can bring significant benefits to businesses, enabling organisations to access the pool of global talent […]