If you are a business looking to employ eligible overseas workers, you must hold the appropriate sponsor licence for them. There are two main categories of sponsor licence in the UK: Worker and Temporary Worker. The specific route will depend on the type of role and the worker being sponsored.
What Types of UK Sponsor Licences Are Available?
There are two main types of UK sponsor licence:
- Worker licence: for skilled or long-term employment.
- Temporary Worker licence: for specific types of temporary employment.
A business can apply for one or both types depending on the workers and immigration routes it needs to sponsor.
What Is a Worker Sponsor Licence?
A Worker licence lets you sponsor employees for different types of skilled employment, including short-term, long-term or permanent placements.
Route | What it covers |
Skilled Worker | Eligible skilled roles meeting the relevant requirements |
Senior or Specialist Worker | Transfers or established employees within multinational businesses |
Minister of Religion | Eligible roles within religious organisations |
International Sportsperson | Eligible elite sportspeople and coaches |
What Is a Temporary Worker Sponsor Licence?
A Temporary Worker licence lets you sponsor people on a temporary basis, including volunteering and job shadowing.
Route | What it covers |
Creative Worker | People working in the creative industries, such as an entertainer or an artist |
Charity Worker | Unpaid workers at a charity |
Religious Worker | Workers in a religious order or organisation |
Government Authorised Exchange | Work experience, research projects or training to enable a short-term exchange of knowledge |
International Agreement | Jobs that are covered by international law, e.g. employees of overseas governments |
Global Business Mobility routes | Graduate trainees, service suppliers, UK expansion workers and secondment workers |
Scale-up Worker | People working for a fast-growing business |
Seasonal Worker | Jobs in horticulture or poultry during particular seasons |
What Is the Difference Between a Worker Sponsor Licence and a Temporary Worker Sponsor Licence?
The main difference is that a Worker Sponsor Licence is for long-term or permanent skilled employment, typically leading to settlement for the worker, whereas a Temporary Worker Sponsor Licence is strictly for short-term, specific assignments and generally does not lead to settlement.
The right licence depends on the immigration route and role, not just whether an employee is permanent or temporary.
Which UK Sponsor Licence Does Your Business Need?
The sponsor licence your business needs depends on:
- The individual you want to sponsor
- The role they will perform
- Whether the role meets the relevant route requirements
- Which immigration route the worker will use
Businesses can apply for both types of sponsor licences where appropriate.
What Are The Requirements to Become a Licensed Sponsor in the UK?
The core requirements for becoming a UK sponsor licence holder are:
- Be a genuine organisation operating in the UK
- Offer genuine employment that fits your business needs
- You have appointed honest and reliable personnel to manage the licence
- You have robust HR processes in place to monitor attendance and report changes to the Home Office
Need Help Deciding Which Sponsor Licence to Apply For?
Make the sponsor process easy with an experienced immigration consultancy like Holmes & Partners. We can guide you through the whole process, from deciding on the right sponsor licence to apply for to maintaining compliance with UK law. Get in touch today.
