How do I sponsor a migrant worker?
General requirements
This page explains how migrant workers coming to the United Kingdom must have sponsorship under tiers 2 and 5 of the points-based system.
On this page
Requirements that all sponsors must meet
You must meet the following requirements to become a licensed sponsor:
- complete the appropriate online sponsor application;
- pay the correct fee;
- provide proof that you are based in the UK (see supporting documents);
- be able to provide original or certified copies of the documents listed in Appendix A, unless we say otherwise, to establish that you are genuine and operating or trading lawfully in the UK;
- meet the suitability criteria;
- show there are no reasons for us to believe that you represent a threat to immigration control; and
- agree to comply with the duties of sponsorship.
- if asked, be able to provide evidence of holding the appropriate planning permission or Local Planning Authority consent to operate your type/class of business at your trading address (where this is a Local Authority requirement);
- where you are a food business, if asked, be able to provide evidence of registration with or approval from a relevant food authority.
See the section on HR systems and compliance for more information on how we look at your processes.
Make sure you read the requirements for each tier and category for more information.
How migrants must apply for permission to enter or stay
All migrants who want to come under sponsorship must get permission to enter before they come to the United Kingdom, except non-visa nationals in the Tier 5 - Creative and sporting categories wanting to come for less than 3 months.
Migrants cannot apply for permission to enter or stay without a certificate of sponsorship. But a certificate of sponsorship does not guarantee that they will be given permission to enter or stay.
See also
Terms explained
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Certificate of sponsorship
A 'virtual document' assigned by an employer (which must be a licensed sponsor) to a migrant. The migrant must quote the certificate's reference number when applying for permission to work in the UK under Tier 2 or Tier 5 of the points-based system.
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Non-visa national
A non-visa national is a national or citizen of any country that is NOT listed in Appendix 1 of the immigration rules (nationals of countries listed in Appendix 1 are visa nationals). A non-visa national does not need a visa to come to the United Kingdom for less than six months, unless it is a requirement of the immigration category under which they are entering. A non-visa national coming to the United Kingdom for more than six months will need a visa.
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Settled
You are normally resident in the United Kingdom with no immigration restriction on the length of your stay. To be free of immigration restriction you must have the right of abode or indefinite leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom.