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UK Employer Sponsor Licence: Expert Guidance from MYG LTD Immigration

Expanding your team with global talent can be a game-changer for your business. To sponsor overseas workers in the UK, you'll need a Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence. At MYG LTD Immigration, Marc Gibson our Salisbury immigration consultant provides the guidance and support businesses need to navigate this complex process.

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With 20 years of dedicated experience in UK immigration, and a unique 3-year background in specialist recruitment, I offer unparalleled insight into both the immigration rules and the practical hiring challenges businesses face. Based in Salisbury, I proudly serve employers across the South West (Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset, Hampshire), offering clear, fixed-fee employer sponsor licence application UK advice to simplify your business journey.

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Why Your Business Needs an Employer Sponsor Licence

 

​If your business intends to employ individuals who are not settled in the UK and require a visa to work, you must first obtain an tier 2 visa employment licence. This includes most EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals who arrived in the UK after December 31, 2020. Having a valid licence is your essential first step to legally employing overseas workers under the Skilled Worker visa route.

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Being a licensed sponsor in UK allows your UK-based business to apply for authorization to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for eligible roles. There’s no limit to the number of CoS certificates you can issue once licensed, but you'll need to justify your initial allocation request during your application.

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Applying for a Licence involves meeting specific criteria set by the Home Office UKVI. My goal is to guide you through each step, ensuring your application is meticulously prepared for success.

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General Eligibility Sponsorship Licence Requirements in UK

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To be approved, your business must satisfy these general UKVI eligibility requirements:

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  • Genuine Organisation: You must be a genuine organization operating lawfully in the UK. This involves providing specific documentation as outlined in Appendix A of the UKVI guidance, varying based on your business type (e.g., public authority, start-up, charity, listed company).

  • Honest, Dependable, and Reliable: You must demonstrate a history of lawful operation, with no adverse records or behaviours that are not conducive to the public good.

  • Justification for Licence: You must explain why your organization requires a sponsor licence.

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Route-Specific Criteria

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In addition to general criteria, the Skilled Worker visa route requires specific commitments:

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  • Appropriate Systems and Processes: You must have robust systems for record-keeping and compliance with immigration laws.

  • Genuine Employment Requisite: The job offer must be a genuine vacancy by UK sponsor that meets the skill and salary prerequisites. You must demonstrate a credible need for the role that cannot be filled by a British, Irish or settled worker.

  • Direct Employer-Employee Relationship: The Skilled Worker visa route requires a direct employment relationship; the worker cannot be hired to perform ongoing tasks for an unrelated third party.

 

Appointing Key Personnel: Understanding Key Personnel Requirements for UK Sponsor Licence

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When applying for a sponsor licence, you must appoint key personnel who will play crucial roles in managing your licence and interacting with the Home Office. These roles include:

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  • Authorising Officer: A senior individual within your company or organization who holds overall responsibility for the licence and ensuring compliance with UK employer sponsorship duties.

  • Key Contact: This person serves as the main point of contact between your business and the Home Office (can be a legal representative like me).

  • Level 1 User: This individual is responsible for day-to-day management via the Sponsorship Management System (SMS).

 

Each key personnel must meet specific criteria, including being based in the UK, having no unspent criminal convictions, no civil penalties, no adverse immigration history, and being a paid member of your staff or engaged as an 'office holder.'

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Understanding Your Sponsor Duties & Compliance

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Once you obtain your Sponsor Licence, your responsibilities shift to maintaining compliance and fulfilling your sponsor duties UK. My recruitment background immigration advisor insight gives me unique understanding into establishing robust HR and recruitment procedures that align with UK work permit visa and immigration requirements.

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Maintaining an 'A' Rating

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Upon licence approval, your organization receives an A-rated sponsor licence. To maintain this, you must consistently fulfil your UK employer sponsorship duties, which include:

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  • Record-Keeping: Maintaining comprehensive records of sponsored workers.

  • Reporting Duties: Promptly reporting any changes or breaches of your duties to the Home Office.

  • Compliance Management: Ensuring your HR practices align with UK visas and immigration requirements under the Sponsorship Management System (SMS).

 

Failure to meet these obligations may result in a downgrade to a 'B' rating, requiring a time-limited action plan to regain compliance. Persistent non-compliance can lead to licence revocation.

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Key Compliance Areas

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  • Skill Level Requirements: The job offered must typically require work experience at RQF level 3 or above. You must correctly identify and assign an SOC code sponsor licence that genuinely reflects the role.

  • Salary Level Requirement: The salary offered must meet or exceed the general salary threshold (currently £38,700 per year or £15.88 per hour for most roles as of Spring 2024) or the occupation's "going rate," whichever is higher. Be aware of "tradable points" for PhDs, shortage occupations, or new entrants, which can reduce the salary threshold.

  • Genuine Employment Requirement: The Home Office will assess that the job vacancy you are offering is genuine and not created solely for visa purposes.

  • Avoiding Third-Party Temporary Worker(s): The Skilled Worker visa route requires a direct employer-employee relationship. You cannot assign a CoS for a role that involves temporary worker tasks for a third party who is not the sponsor.

 

Financial & Administrative Considerations

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Understanding the costs and timelines is vital for planning your Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence application.

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  • Application Costs: The cost of a sponsorship licence depends on your organization's size: £536.00 for small companies/charities, and £1,476.00 for medium/large.

  • Immigration Skills Charge Employer: You are required to pay the Immigration Skills Charge for each Skilled Worker visa applicant you sponsor. This is £1,000 per year per foreign national, with a reduced rate of £364 per year for small or charitable organizations. This charge helps fund domestic skills development.

  • Processing Times: Licence applications typically take up to 8 weeks, but a priority service is available for an additional £500, guaranteeing a decision within 10 working days.

  • Licence Validity: Approved licences are valid for 4 years. You will need to sponsor licence renewal before expiry to continue sponsoring candidates.

 

Refused Applications: There is no right of appeal if your application is refused, and a six-month cooling off period will be imposed before reapplication. For more information about How to get skilled worker visa in UK check out our post: Employer sponsor licence application process UK Step-by-step Guide.  

My 20 years of experience combined with my recruitment background offers a unique blend of expertise tailored to businesses navigating the UK immigration system. As your immigration consultant, I provide:

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  1. Sponsor Licence Application Guidance: I assess your eligibility and guide you through the entire Sponsorship Licence application process. I advise on necessary documentation and help prepare a strong business case that meets Home Office requirements.

  2. Sponsor Licence Compliance Management UK Expert & Support: I help you understand and fulfil your compliance requirements, including reporting needs and record-keeping. I provide guidance on establishing appropriate HR and recruitment procedures to ensure compliance with sponsorship requirements, safeguarding your licence status.

  3. CoS Allocation & Management Advice: I can advise on estimating and justifying Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) allocation requests and understanding their management.

  4. Ongoing Support and Advice: I offer ongoing support and advice for any immigration-related queries that arise. I stay up-to-date with the latest immigration regulations to provide accurate and timely information.

 

My approachable and proactive approach ensures I understand and meet your specific business needs, delivering clear and reliable immigration advice with professionalism and a friendly service.

 

Get in Touch with Marc Gibson for Your Sponsor Licence Needs

 

If your business is considering recruiting foreign workers UK immigration advice is paramount for a smooth process. I'm Marc Gibson, your dedicated legal expert at MYG LTD, and I personally handle all enquiries to assess your unique application needs on a one-to-one basis. My extensive 20 years experience employer sponsor licence UK helps me provide unparalleled guidance on certificate of sponsorship allocation and ensure full compliance.

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As a skilled worker visa consultant with recruitment background UK, I understand the practicalities and challenges businesses face. I'm committed to delivering timely advice and strive to make the entire process as stress-free as possible. Whether you need initial support or a more in-depth discussion about your sponsor licence application UK and how to recruit foreign workers, please use the "Let's Chat!" box or complete our enquiry form. I'm here to provide the guidance you need to set your business on the right path to a successful submission and grow your team with global talent.

 

Partner with MYG LTD Immigration for comprehensive and reliable support.

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For Salisbury Employer Sponsor Licence Immigration Advice Get in touch today.

MYG LTD - Immigration

79 Winchester Street 

Salisbury

SP1 1HS​

Thank you for your inquiry.

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