Immigration

1. Pre-Application Preparation – Ensuring Business Eligibility

Before applying for a Sponsor Licence, the business must:

• Be legally registered and actively trading in the UK.
• Have a genuine need for hiring foreign workers.
• Have a real UK business premises (lease or ownership proof required).
• Be able to monitor and manage sponsored employees (HR system in place).
• Not have any past immigration law breaches.

2. Labour Market Requirements & Role Suitability

• Confirm if the role qualifies under the Skilled Worker Visa category.
• Check if the job is on the Shortage Occupation List (If yes, no Resident Labour Market Test needed).
• Determine if the employer needs to prove recruitment efforts (In some cases, advertising in the UK is required).

3. Gathering Required Documents for the Sponsor Licence Application

At least four of the following MANDATORY documents must be submitted:

• Certificate of Incorporation (Company House registration).
• Employer’s Liability Insurance (£5M minimum).
• Business Bank Statements (last three months).
• HMRC Registration Proof (PAYE, VAT, etc.).
• Lease Agreement (proof of business premises).
• Audited Accounts or Tax Returns (if required).

Additional Supporting Documents

• Contract of Employment & Job Descriptions (proof of genuine vacancies).
• Submit a current hierarchy chart detailing all owners, directors and board members
• Submit a list of the names and job titles of all employees, if the organisation has 50 employees or fewer
• Employee job rota
• Existing business contracts (e.g NHS, Council, Private Business etc) or diaries to show the running of the business.

4. Submission of Sponsor Licence Application

• Application submitted online via UKVI portal.
• Application Fee:
  • £536 for small businesses.
  • £1,476 for medium/large businesses.
• Processing time: Standard eight weeks, or 10 working days with priority service (£500 extra).

5. Home Office Compliance Checks & Business Visit (If Required)

The Home Office may audit the business before approval, checking:

• HR policies for tracking employees and reporting changes.
• Right-to-work compliance procedures.
• Genuine business operations.

6. Decision on Sponsor Licence Application

• If approved:
  • Business is added to the UKVI Register of Licensed Sponsors.
  • Employer receives a Sponsor Licence Number.
  • Can now issue Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to employees.

7. Issuing Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

• Employer assigns a CoS reference number to the applicant.
• CoS validity: Must be used within three months for a visa application.
• CoS details include:
  • Job title and salary confirmation.
  • Job description matching the Skilled Worker Visa requirements.
  • Confirmation of employer sponsorship.

8. Visa Application Requirements – Documents Needed from the Applicant

The applicant must provide:

• Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Reference Number (Issued by employer).
• Valid Passport (At least one blank page).
• Job Title and Salary Confirmation (Matching CoS).
• UK Address Details (Where they will stay).
• Proof of Funds (£1,270 in a bank account for 28 days, unless exempt).
• Criminal Record Certificate (If required for the job).
• Tuberculosis (TB) Test Certificate (If applicable, see below).
• Proof of English Language Proficiency (See below).

9.English Language Test Requirement

The applicant must prove English proficiency, unless exempt.

Accepted English Tests (CEFR Level B1 or Higher)

• IELTS for UKVI (Minimum score: 4.0 in all four skills).
• PTE Academic UKVI.
• Trinity College London Secure English Language Test (SELT).

Exemptions from the English Test:

• Nationals of English-speaking countries (USA, Canada, Australia, etc.).
• Degree holders taught in English (ECCTIS/NARIC recognised).
• Job roles at RQF Level 6+, exempt from English test in some cases.

10. Tuberculosis (TB) Test Requirement

The TB test is mandatory if the applicant has lived in certain countries for more than six months in the last year.

Where to get tested?

• Must be done at a UKVI-approved clinic.
• A valid TB certificate (issued within six months) must be submitted.

Countries where TB tests are required:

• South Asia: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh.
• Africa: Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana.
• Middle East: Iraq, Yemen.
• Others: China, Russia, Ukraine.

11. Financial Requirement (Proof of Funds)

The applicant must prove financial stability in the UK.

• At least £1,270 in personal savings held for 28 consecutive days.
• Funds must be in the applicant’s personal bank account.
• Exemption: If the employer certifies maintenance on the CoS.

12. Skilled Worker Visa Application Submission & Fees

The applicant submits the Skilled Worker Visa application online.

Visa Fees (as of 2024):

• £610 – £1,408 (Depends on visa length & job type).
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £624 per year.

Biometric Appointment:

• The applicant attends a Visa Application Centre (VAC) for fingerprints and photo.
• Processing Time:
  • Standard: Three weeks.
  • Priority Service: Five working days (£500 extra).