UK business immigration services
We offer immigration assistance, advice and support to help you meet your resourcing needs. Contact us now to see how we can help.
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Registered with IAA in the UK (Number: F2001-00004). - Successful results
Confirmed as the largest-by-volume UK immigration consultant in the world. - Long established
Advising on UK immigration for over 25 years.
Sponsor licence guidance
If you are looking to recruit any Skilled Workers from outside of the UK, you will need to apply for a skilled worker sponsor licence.
Below are the steps you can follow to apply for a Skilled Worker sponsor licence:
1. Eligibility
You must check that your business is eligible to apply for a sponsorship licence
2. Type of license
You must choose the type of licence you wish to apply for – this will be dependent on the type of overseas worker you want to sponsor
3. Assign responsibility
You must choose someone to manage sponsorship within your business, known as the authorising officer
4. Application
You can then make an application and pay the relevant fee
5. Compliance visit
After you make your application, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) may make a visit to your business’s premises to check that it is suitable to employ workers from outside the UK
We're here to help. Speak to our business immigration experts today.
What is the Immigration Skills Charge?
The Immigration Skills Charge is the fee employers are required to pay when hiring an employee from outside the UK, including citizens from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland who arrived in the UK after 31 December 2020.
Immigration Skills Charge costs
The amount you need to pay is dependent on two things:
- The size of your organisation
- How long the worker will work for you
The Immigration Skills Charge 2023 fee is as follows:
| Period | Small or charitable sponsors | Medium or large sponsors |
|---|---|---|
| First 12 months | £364 | £1,000 |
| Each additional six months | £182 | £500 |
If you’re employing someone for longer than six months but less than a year, you will need to pay for 12 months.
The fee must be paid in a single payment.
We're here to help. Speak to our business immigration experts today.
Immigration compliance audits
Immigration compliance is essential. The Home Office can conduct an onsite compliance inspection of any UK employer without notice. Our immigration audit service can help identify and resolve any areas of non-compliance and help you avoid costly penalties.
How can we can help
We understand the complexity of UK immigration law and the issues that could lead to non-compliance. The UK government regularly implements policy changes that could have a significant impact on your business. We remain up to date on all new and proposed regulations on your behalf and can advise on the best way to manage your company’s immigration strategy.
Our experienced specialists will ensure:
- That you have the correct processes and human resources practices in place that enable you to meet your sponsorship duties
- You are compliant with your legal responsibilities as an employer to prevent any breach of immigration law
We're here to help. Speak to our business immigration experts today.
The updated points-based UK immigration system
In order to qualify as a Skilled Worker, applicants must obtain a total of 70 points.
A core 50 points will be earned from a job offer at a certain skill level from a licenced sponsor, with the applicant being able to show evidence of their English Language ability.
An additional 20 points may be obtained via a “mix and match/ tradeable” process, largely dependent on the salary rate offered, but also encompassing roles that are recognised as being a shortage occupation and those jobs requiring a relevant PhD-level qualification.
The below table outlines all of the opportunities for points.
| Characteristics | Mandatory/Tradeable | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Offer of a job by an approved sponsor | Mandatory | 20 |
| Job at an appropriate skill level | Mandatory | 20 |
| Speaks English at the required level | Mandatory | 10 |
| Salary of £20,480 to £23,039 or at least 80% of the going rate for the profession (whichever is higher) | Tradeable | 0 |
| Salary of £23,040 to £25,599 or at least 90% of the going rate for the profession (whichever is higher) | Tradeable | 10 |
| Salary of £25,600 or above or at least the going rate for the profession (whichever is higher) | Tradeable | 20 |
| Job in a shortage occupation as designated by the Migration Advisory Committee | Tradeable | 20 |
| Education qualification: PhD in a subject relevant to the job | Tradeable | 10 |
| Education qualification: PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job | Tradeable | 20 |
We're here to help. Speak to our business immigration experts today.
