Thinking of hiring international talent? The Skilled Worker Visa is a common route for employers to hire non-UK nationals into their businesses. It’s important for you, as an employer, to understand the full process before you start the process.
In this article, we’ll discuss:
- What a skilled worker visa is
- The steps to hiring a non-UK national
- What your financial responsibilities are
What is the UK Skilled Worker Visa?
A Skilled Worker Visa is permission for skilled non-UK nationals to live and work in the UK for an approved employer. To be eligible, the worker needs:
- A job offer from an employer with a sponsor licence
- The job to be a skilled occupation, i.e. at RQF level or higher
- A Certificate of Sponsorship from the employer
- The job to meet the minimum salary threshold
- To be able to speak and understand English
How to Hire a Non-UK National
Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence
Obtaining a sponsor licence is the first step in hiring non-UK nationals. It is a complex and strict process, however, and can take up to eight weeks (if you need a site visit, it may take longer). We would always recommend using an immigration consultancy to ensure a smooth and accurate application.
A sponsor licence comes with ongoing responsibilities like Right to Work checks, reporting and record-keeping to name a few.
Step 2: Assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is an electronic document that you issue as an employer to an international worker that allows them to apply for a UK work visa.
This confirms that the employer has met the conditions to sponsor the worker. The worker then has three months to apply for their work visa.
A defined CoS is for workers applying from outside the UK, and undefined CoS is for non-UK workers that are already in the UK and are extending or changing their work visa.
When you are assigning the CoS, you must follow strict regulation and deadlines to ensure that the visa does not get refused.
Step 3: Monitor and Maintain Ongoing Compliance
As aforementioned, there are ongoing responsibilities when hiring a non-UK national. They include:
- Keeping accurate records (employee contact details, visa copies, absences).
- Reporting duties (e.g., changes in employment, absences, termination).
- Regular Home Office compliance checks.
What Are The Financial Responsibilities for Employers?
There are a number of financial responsibilities that you have as an employer of a non-UK national. They include:
- Sponsorship Licence application fee. This varies by organisation size and licence type. For a smaller or charitable organisation, it costs £574, whereas for a medium or larger business, the application fee is £1,579.
- Certificate of Sponsorship fee. You’ll need to pay a fee each time you assign a CoS to a worker, which also depends on the type of sponsor licence you have.
- Immigration Skills Charge. You may have to pay an additional charge when you assign a CoS, depending on the occupation and the length of time the worker is applying for.
Need Help Navigating the Skilled Worker Visa Process?
While hiring non-UK nationals comes with responsibilities, it opens the doors to world-class talent. Make the sponsor process easy with an experienced immigration consultancy like Holmes & Partners. We can guide you through the process from start to finish. Get in touch with us today.
