Sponsor Workers from Overseas
To sponsor workers under any of the categories of the points-based system you must have a licence granted by the Home Office.
There are two types of licence for sponsoring workers from overseas:
- ‘Workers’ – for skilled or long-term employment
- ‘Temporary workers’ – for specific types of temporary employment for example work experience, training, and research positions.
You are permitted to apply for a licence which covers both temporary and worker categories however the Skilled Worker Licence is the popular choice for businesses wanting to get ahead by gaining access to international skills.
Sponsoring Workers through the Worker licence
The worker licence will let you sponsor people in different types of skilled employment. The skilled work can be for a short term, long-term or permanent depending on the worker’s visa.
The licence is split into the following subcategories:
- Skilled Worker – the role must meet the suitability requirements and be a genuine role.
- Intra-company – this includes Intra-company Transfer and Intra-company Graduate Trainee. For multinational companies which need to transfer established employees or graduate trainees to the UK to impart their skills. This route does not lead to settlement in the UK.
- Minister of Religion – for people coming to work for a religious organisation
- International Sportsperson – for elite sportspeople and coaches who will be based in the UK
Sponsoring workers through the Temporary Worker licence
The Temporary Worker licence will let you sponsor people on a temporary basis, including for volunteering and job-shadowing. You can only get a Temporary Worker licence for specific types of employment and visas.
The licence is split into:
Points Based System Categories
- Creative Worker – to work in the creative industry, for example as an entertainer or artist (for up to 2 years) A Creative Worker is someone who can make a unique contribution to the UK’s rich cultural life, for example, as an artist, dancer, musician or entertainer.
- Charity Worker – Charity Worker route is for a person who wants to come to the UK to do voluntary work for up to a maximum of 12 months.
- Religious Worker – The Religious Worker route is for a person who wants to support the activities of religious institutions in the UK by conducting religious work such as working in a religious order or undertaking non-pastoral work for a religious organisation.
- Government Authorised Exchange – for people who wish to come to the UK through an approved scheme that aims to share knowledge, experience and best practice. Work experience (1 year), research projects or training, for example practical medical or scientific training (2 years) to enable a short-term exchange of knowledge for up to 12 months. Most of these roles are supernumerary (in excess of your normal staffing requirements).
- International Agreement – is for a person who wants to come to the UK to provide a service covered under international law, such as private servants in diplomatic households, employees of overseas governments and international organisations, or under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) or another agreement under which the UK has commitments.
Non-points Based System – Seasonal Worker
For workers in edible horticulture, poultry production work, haulage driving work involving transportation of food goods, or specified pork butchery work doing seasonal work in the UK with a sponsor.
There is also a Seasonal Worker visa available to fulfil the shortfall which came about during Brexit. The route is available for the following role shortages:
- pork butchery workers for up to 6 months
- poultry production workers – until 31 December 2021
- HGV drivers involved in food transport – until 28 February 2022
Need some support ?
Our team specialises in Points Based System Sponsorship Licences and sponsoring workers. We advise employers on how to navigate complex Immigration rules with a proven record, and we are very competitive. For a complimentary consultation please Call Us.
