Which UK Visa do you need?

Visa Services for UK Businesses

Providing businesses with work visa support

Holmes & Partners help UK employers manage skilled worker visas and sponsorship licences. We manage the complexities of applications and documentation, ensure ongoing compliance and handle interactions with the Home Office for you.

UK Work Visa Types

UK work visas vary depending on requirements. Whether you are looking to hire individuals from overseas or set up a business in the UK, there are two main options available: the Global Business Mobility Visa or the Sponsor Licence.

Work Visa Applications with Holmes & Partners

How our visa application process works:

  1. Initial enquiry - We carry out an eligibility review, confirm the scope of work and provide a fee quote.
  2. Onboarding - Once formal instructions are received, an invoice is issued.
  3. Documentation issued - We will send you a client care letter, terms of business and a legal questionnaire.
  4. Document review and visa preparation - We review all evidence, provide advice where relevant and prepare the Home Office visa application.
  5. Visa application submission - The online visa application is completed and submitted on your behalf.
  6. Post-submission follow-up - If required, we handle follow-up queries from the Home Office, provide further evidence and address credibility issues.
  7. Decision received - We will notify you once a successful outcome has been confirmed.
  8. Status verification - A copy of the eVisa or digital immigration status is obtained and explained.
  9. Post-decision support - We continue to support your business, answering follow-up questions and providing next-step guidance on compliance and visa extensions.
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Hiring Skilled Workers

To employ skilled workers who are based overseas, businesses must:

  • Apply to the Home Office for a Sponsor Licence (formerly known as Tier 2 sponsor licence)
  • Ensure the job is skilled (RQF Level 6 or above) and meets the minimum salary threshold of £41,700 or the ‘going rate’
  • Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship to the worker once licensed, who then uses this to apply for their visa
  • Comply with UK immigration and employment laws to avoid suspension of the licence

    Need help hiring skilled workers? We make it simple.
    • Skilled Worker Visas
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    The Sponsor Licence Explained

    A sponsor licence (formerly known as a Tier 2 sponsor licence) allows UK organisations to employ skilled workers from overseas or within the UK. Once approved by the Home Office, your organisation can sponsor individuals under the Skilled Worker route and other relevant immigration categories.

    Applicants can often “switch” into the Skilled Worker visa from within the UK (from Student or Graduate visas ), making sponsorship a powerful and flexible recruitment tool for schools and businesses.

    How Do I Apply for a Sponsor Licence?

    Employers can apply for a sponsor licence through the Home Office. The process involves completing an online application form and submitting the Home Office with various documentation.

    How Long Does It Take to Get a Sponsor Licence?

    It can take up to eight weeks for the application to be processed, or longer if the Home Office conducts a compliance visit or requests further information.
    Find out more

    Global Business Mobility Visa Routes

    Our immigration consultancy can support with the following sponsored work routes.
    Graduate Trainee Visa

    Graduate Trainee Visa

    A Graduate Trainee Visa (replacing the Intra-company Graduate Trainee Visa) allows recent graduates of overseas businesses to work in a UK branch of their company as part of a structured training programme

    Secondment Worker Visa

    Secondment Worker Visa

    A Secondment Worker Visa allows overseas workers to temporarily work for a UK sponsor to deliver a Home Office registered contract between two employers.

    Service Supplier Visa

    Service Supplier Visa

    A Service Supplier Visa allows overseas employees and self-employed professionals to temporarily provide services to a UK company under a contract covered by a valid international trade agreement.

    Specialist Worker

    Specialist Worker Visa

    A Specialist Worker Visa (replacing the Intra-Company Transfer Visa) allows senior and specialist overseas employees the opportunity to work with a UK branch of their employer.

    UK Expansion

    UK Expansion Worker

    A UK Expansion Worker Visa (replacing the Representative of an Overseas Business Visa) allows senior managers or specialists to set up a UK branch of an overseas business that does not already trade in the UK.

    Why Choose Holmes & Partners?

    • Proven track record – We have a 100% success rate across sponsor licence applications.
    • Fully regulated and trusted – We are regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), ensuring our advice meets the highest compliance standards.
    • Expert knowledge and experience – Our team of experts are all experienced in visas and immigration, many on a first-hand basis.
    • Compliance assurance – We ensure licence continuity and ongoing compliance so your workforce remains secure.
    • End-to-end service – We do not leave you once your licence is granted. We remain as your trusted partner to carry out audits, visa renewals and provide support and advice when you need it.
    • Expert support for businesses of all sizes – We offer a tailored and personal approach, making sure every one of our clients receives excellent visa support.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Prices start from £2500+ VAT. Additional costs as part of the sponsorship process include the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC), which varies by business size, along with a fee for assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship for a worker. The typical cost of this is £525.

    At Holmes & Partners, our expert team handles the entire Home Office sponsor licence application process for you, ensuring a successful outcome. From there, we become your trusted partner for ongoing UK business immigration support and advice, compliance audits and visa renewals.

    Yes, Holmes & Partners can handle all UK visa processes on your business’s behalf. We understand that navigating requests and conversations with the Home Office can be complex, so we manage these for you, keeping the process smooth and stress-free.

    Yes, whenever a sponsored employee changes roles within your organisation, you must report it to the Home Office via the Sponsor Management System (SMS) within 10 working days.

    If the Occupation Code or core duties of the employee’s job significantly change, a new Certificate of Sponsorship must be issued along with repeat Right to Work checks. Failure to report a role change correctly can result in penalties or licence suspension.

    Yes, Holmes & Partners provides training for HR teams on right-to-work checks and sponsor licence compliance, while also managing complex Skilled Worker and sponsorship cases on your behalf.

    We ensure your HR team is confident in day-to-day compliance, while you have specialist legal support when more complex matters arise.

    Get In Touch Today

    Take the stress out of managing your immigration compliance and let us handle it for you. Contact a member of our expert team today.