How do I sponsor a migrant?
Tier 5 - creative and sporting workers
This page explains the requirements you must meet to get a licence and sponsor migrants under the tier 5 - creative and sporting workers category of the points-based system to work.
On this page
How to get a licence for the creative category
To get a licence for creative workers and their entourage, you must be operating, or intend to operate, in the creative industries. For example, as a national body, event organiser, producer, venue, agent or other similar organisation. Where applicable, you must follow the codes of practice when taking into account the needs of the resident labour market in that field. Find the codes of practice for the creative sector.
Requirements for sponsoring a migrant in the creative category
Due to the nature of this sector, at times a migrant may need to perform a number of engagements at various venues. If the migrant has only one sponsor (for example an agent) for all their engagements, and there is no more than a maximum of 14 calendar days between each engagement, the sponsor can issue a single certificate of sponsorship to cover the whole period. However, if the migrant is sponsored by the individual venues, producers or promoters, then each sponsor should issue a certificate of sponsorship to cover its own show. These certificates of sponsorship must not overlap.
If there is no more than a maximum of 14 calendar days between each engagement, then permission to enter will be given to cover the whole period. However, if there is a gap of more than 14 calendar days between engagements, then this will not be possible. The migrant will have to leave the United Kingdom and apply for permission to enter again.
How to get a licence for the sporting category
To get a licence as a sponsor of sports people, you must be a sporting body, sports club, events organiser or other organiser operating, or intending to operate in the sporting sector.
An agent cannot be a sponsor under this category.
Requirements for sponsoring a migrant in the sporting category
This category is for:
- sportspeople who are internationally established at the highest level in their sport; and/or
- sportspeople whose employment will make a significant contribution to the development
and operation of their particular sport in this country; and/or
coaches who must be suitably qualified for the job.
All sponsors in this category must have a governing body endorsement to be able to assign a CoS to a migrant. In addition, all migrants in this category must have a governing body endorsement to get permission to enter or stay. You must make sure that they follow the criteria set for the category, before issuing a certificate of sponsorship.
If a sport does not have a governing body recognised by the home country sports councils, we will ask the sports councils and other relevant sporting bodies, for example, the Central Council of Physical Recreation, which is the national alliance of governing and legal representative bodies of sport and recreation, whether there is an appropriate body. Find out more about the sports governing bodes.
See also
Terms explained
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Certificate of sponsorship
This is a virtual document (a unique reference number) that an organisation gives to migrants they want to employ, and that the migrant uses when applying.under the points-based system for coming to the United Kingdom to work, train or study. Also known as confirmation of acceptance for studies.
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European Economic Area
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Irish Republic, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are not members of the European Union (EU) but citizens of these countries have the same rights to enter, live in and work in the United Kingdom as EU citizens.
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Resident labour market test
This is the process an employer must follow before employing a person who is not a permanent resident of the United Kingdom if he/she is first required to show that no resident worker could be found to take a job.