User:Ukimmigration/sandbox

Your organization must possess a valid sponsor license to support the employment of various skilled overseas nationals in the UK, including those with Skilled Visas. To obtain a UK visa sponsorship license, you are required to submit an application to the Home Office and pay the applicable fees.

The Home Office will only issue a sponsor license to organizations that can demonstrate the alignment of the roles they are hiring for and the individuals they intend to sponsor with the necessary criteria. Additionally, the organization must have HR systems in place that adhere to rigorous sponsorship compliance duties.

Guidance on sponsor licenses is outlined in various Home Office documents, including "Sponsorship: guidance for employers and educators," "Workers and Temporary Workers –

Guidance for sponsors part

1: apply for a license," and "Sponsor a worker: sponsor guidance part

2," along with supporting appendices.

This guide aims to elucidate the requirements for employers when applying for a UK sponsor license and the responsibilities they must fulfill after obtaining the license. It offers insights into what the Home Office's UK Visas & Immigration department (UKVI) seeks in a successful sponsor license application. The guide covers both the preparation for the application and the practicalities involved, such as submission procedures and actions to take in case of approval, rejection, or refusal.

What constitutes UK visa sponsorship?
Under the UK's points-based immigration system, key pathways for non-UK residents working in the country include Skilled Worker visas, Global Business Mobility visas, Health and Care Worker visas, and Temporary Worker visas. Each of these visa categories necessitates sponsorship by a licensed employer.

To employ individuals under any of these visas, an employer must apply to UK Visas & Immigration for a sponsorship license, granting permission to sponsor workers. Only organizations, not individuals, can become licensed sponsors. The sponsorship regime aims to prevent illegal working and misuse of the immigration system.

By accepting the role of a sponsor license holder, an organization assumes specific compliance responsibilities, exposing itself to scrutiny by the Home Office. The sponsorship regime ensures that sponsors meet compliance duties, workers meet points requirements, and roles fulfill criteria for skill level, salary, and genuineness.

Failure to meet these duties can result in enforcement actions, ranging from fines to license revocation, leading to job loss and premature departure for sponsored workers.

Types of sponsor licenses:
The current system comprises two sponsor license types: 'Workers,' covering skilled or long-term employment, and 'Temporary Workers,' for specific temporary employment types. A 'worker license' is necessary for routes like the Skilled Worker visa, GBM Senior or Specialist Worker visa, Minister of Religion, and International Sportsperson. Meanwhile, a 'Temporary Worker' license is required for routes such as Scale-up Worker, Creative Worker, Charity Worker, Religious Worker, and more.

This guide primarily focuses on the sponsor license application process for skilled workers, but the fundamental requirements and duties apply to other routes as well.

Sponsor license requirements:
The Home Office evaluates an employer's eligibility and suitability during the application process, with a dedicated sponsor applications team handling sponsorship applications. There are no constraints on the size or type of organization that can hold a sponsorship license, as long as they meet the specified eligibility and suitability criteria.

Eligibility criteria:


 * 1) The organization is genuine and operates lawfully in the UK, with registration at Companies House for limited companies.
 * 2) The organization is based in the UK, with a physical presence or a virtual model evidencing lawful operations.

Suitability criteria:
UKVI assesses if a potential sponsor offers genuine vacancies meeting skilled worker criteria, possesses HR and recruitment systems for compliance, is honest and reliable, does not pose an immigration control threat, and has the required planning permissions for business operations.

Genuineness test:
The genuineness test involves presenting business reasons justifying the need for a sponsor license and a specific role. It can be applied during the application, compliance visits, or Certificate of Sponsorship requests. The test examines role requirements, fit within the organization, and alignment with Standard Occupation Codes.

If concerns arise about vacancy genuineness, the Home Office may request additional information or evidence, necessitating accurate job descriptions. The visa applicant may face additional scrutiny, particularly in high-risk sectors, and must provide relevant information or attend an interview.

Even for organizations applying in anticipation of future needs, the Home Office assesses the fit of planned roles with the organization and scrutinizes their genuineness.