Sponsor Licences

If you want to employ someone from outside the UK, you’ll usually need a Sponsor License. A Sponsor License is required when hiring anyone who is a citizen of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland who arrived in the UK after 31 December 2020. A Sponsor License is required for both paid and unpaid work.
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Types of licence  
The license you need will depend on whether the workers you want to fill those jobs are: temporary workers or workers with long-term job offers. You can apply for a licence to cover one or both types of workers. 

A Worker Licence lets you employ people long-term or permanently. It’s split into:

• Skilled Worker - the role must meet the suitability requirements set out by the government.
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• Intra-company visas - including Intra-company Transfer and Intra-company Graduate Trainee.
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• Minister of Religion - for people coming to work for a religious organisation.
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• Sportsperson- for elite sportspeople and coaches who will be based in the UK.

On the other hand A ‘Temporary Worker’ licence will let you employ people on a temporary basis. It’s split into:

• Creative or Sporting Worker - to work as a high-level sportsperson (up to 1 year), entertainer or artist. (up to 2 years)
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• Charity Worker - for unpaid workers at a charity (up to 1 year)
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• Religious Worker - for those working in a religious order or organisation (2 years)
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• Government Authorised Exchange Worker - work experience (1 year), research projects or training, for example practical medical or scientific training (2 years) toenable a short-term exchange of knowledge.
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• International Agreement Worker - where the worker is coming to do a job which is covered by international law, for example employees of overseas governments.
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• Seasonal Worker - for those coming to the UK for up to 6 months to do farm work.

The UK Home Office is putting more rules in place to make sure non-EEA nationals are employed legally in the UK. Our immigration lawyers understand that employing migrants can lead to positive business growth and a diverse environment in your business. We help UK businesses apply for and manage their sponsor licences so you can focus on running your business and recruiting the best talent.

Contact our team today online or on 01707 244710 if you need help applying for or managing your sponsorship licences.