- Sponsorship
- Scale- Up Sponsor Licence
Scale- Up Sponsor Licence
You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government.
Can I apply for the UK Skilled Worker visa?
We can help you. It’s what we do.
Overview
You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government. This UK work visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. This category is for all foreign nationals who have been offered a skilled job to fill a gap in the workforce which cannot be filled by an already settled worker in the UK. There are a number of complex scenarios which should be discussed and explored in detail before you can apply.
You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government. This UK work visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. This category is for all foreign nationals who have been offered a skilled job to fill a gap in the workforce which cannot be filled by an already settled worker in the UK. There are a number of complex scenarios which should be discussed and explored in detail before you can apply.
International Sportspersons visa
This category is for highly skilled sportspersons who must be recognised by a governing body as an elite sports person or a sports coach. The applicant must demonstrate that their employment in the UK will encourage the sport to become more elite and prominent in the UK.
To apply for ILR you must have spent continuous period of 5 years in the UK and must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. You must also meet the English language requirement, pass the Life in the UK test and meet the salary threshold requirement of at least £35,800.
Indefinite leave to remain
The skilled worker visa lasts for up to five years. If you want to stay longer, you can apply to extend your, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements. After five years, you may also be entitled to apply for indefinite leave to remain, which gives you the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as you like. You must apply to extend or update your skilled work visa UK if you change jobs or employer.
To apply for ILR you must have spent continuous period of five years in the UK and must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. You must also meet the English language requirement, pass the Life in the UK test and meet the salary threshold requirement of at least £25,600 per year.
What is a scale-up sponsor licence?
A scale-up sponsor licence is ideal if you are looking to recruit talented individuals to continue the growth of your business. It is designed for organisations that intend to sponsor workers via the scale-up route. In addition to the general requirements for a sponsor licence, you must be able to provide evidence that your business has experienced fast-growth over the last 3 years.
A scale-up is defined as a company that has the following:
- An annualised growth of at least 20% for the previous 3-year period based on either employment or your turnover; and
- A minimum of 10 employees at the beginning of the relevant 3-year period.
What are the required documents for a scale-up sponsor licence application?
As part of your scale-up sponsor licence application, you must provide various documentation in support of your submission – the documents required will vary depending on the type of licence you own and the focus of your company.
With no specific documentation required for this application, the Home Office does require however information to allow it to assess whether the business meets the requirements for holding a scale-up sponsor licence – for example:
- At least one PAYE reference number
- A VAT registration number
- A Companies House reference or UTR number
By providing this information, this should be enough to help the Home Office determine whether your business meets the definition of a Scale-Up. If you are considering applying for a scale-up sponsor licence, our team can help you by assessing whether your business will qualify successfully as a scale-up as part of this application service.
What are the scale-up sponsor duties and how can I show compliance?
As a sponsor licence holder, you need to effectively demonstrate to the Home Office that you are reliable, organised, dependable and capable of managing a sponsor licence. It’s important to show these qualities, as much of the time applications are refused based on the company failing to show that they fully understand the duties and responsibilities involved in holding a licence. If the applying business fails to show that it has adequate procedures and systems in place for complying with licence duties, the application may be refused.
What if I already hold a sponsor licence?
If your organisation already holds a sponsor licence, but you wish to make use of the scale-up route, you can simply add a route to your licence. To do this, you would need to access your SMS (Sponsorship Management System), as well as ensuring that the business meets the requirements for a Scale-up sponsor licence. The Level 1 User would be required to provide the necessary documentation to UKVI, to demonstrate that you meet the requirements of the licence. Our team can advise you in how to add additional routes effectively and generally about the steps involved with this process.
How much does a scale-up sponsor licence cost?
As the scale-up route is classed as a ‘temporary worker’ route, the Home Office fee for the relevant sponsor licence is £536 – you may not need to pay this if you hold an existing sponsor licence. Unlike other routes, there is no Immigration Skills Charge involved for the Scale-up sponsor route.
How long is a scale-up sponsor licence valid for?
Like most sponsor licences, a scale-up sponsor licence will be valid for 4 years from the date in which it was granted unless it has been surrendered or revoked. However, unlike most other routes, it is not possible to renew the Scale-up sponsor licence beyond 4 years. It is crucial that as a sponsor licence holder, you comply with your duties for the duration of your licence.
What if my application for a scale-up sponsor licence is refused?
In a situation where your application is refused, this can have serious implications on your organisation – such consequences can include a 6–12-month cooling period, during which any further applications will be refused. In effect, we advise contacting our team so that we can assist you in preparing your applications properly and accurately to ensure that you do not receive a refusal on your application. We can help review your application and advise on the best course of action going forward.
How can Bridge Partners Immigration help?
At Bridge Partners, our immigration team are renowned for their experience in sponsor licences and can provide comprehensive support with a range of aspects, from obtaining to maintaining your sponsor licence. We can confidently provide expert advice in securing a scale-up sponsor licence or help you add the scale-up route to an existing licence. If you would like to discuss this application process in further detail or to find out about your eligibility as a sponsor licence holder please do not hesitate to contact us today.
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Frequently Asked Skilled Worker visa Application Questions
Someone can be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa if they have a job offer from a sponsoring company in the UK for a job that is on the list of skilled worker occupations. In addition, the skilled worker must have the required skills and experience to undergo the role in the company and have the required level of English language ability.
The minimum salary for the Skilled Worker visa is either £25,600 per year, £10.10 per hour or the “going rate” for the particular occupation code, whichever is highest. For each job on the Home Office occupation list, there is a “going rate” which details the recommended annual and hourly salary that an individual must earn for the role. The rates are based on a 39-hour week of work. Those applying for the Skilled Worker visa need 50 points to do so. These are gained from sponsorship, skill level and English language requirements. However, 20 further tradable points can be given to those that meet the minimum salary requirement.
You cannot move to the UK without a job offer from a company that has a UK sponsor licence, unless you apply for the Global Talent visa where this is not a requirement. When you are applying for a Skilled Worker visa you must provide a certificate of sponsorship reference number which proves that you have a job offer and therefore permission to work in the UK with a registered sponsor.
The general Skilled Worker visa requirements are that you must have a job offer from a company that is a UK-registered sponsor and have a certificate of sponsorship that confirms that you have permission to work in the UK within a specific job role. You must be paid the required minimum salary for the occupation, have the required skill level and English language ability to do the job and have enough funds to support yourself in the UK.
Once all the correct documentation has been submitted, it takes around 3 weeks for an application for a Skilled Worker visa to be processed by the Home Office when applying outside of the UK. For applications within the UK, the standard processing time is 8 weeks, although this can take around 9 weeks on average.
For the Skilled Worker visa, you will need to provide a valid passport and proof that you have a job in the UK with details about your job role, salary, and employer information. You will also need the reference number for your certificate of sponsorship which proves that you have an approved job offer with a registered UK sponsor. In addition, you will need to provide bank statements that show you are able to support yourself in the UK and proof of the required qualifications needed for the role such as an English language test and degree certificate.
Yes, you can study whilst on a Skilled Worker visa. There is no restriction on the number of hours you can study as long as it does not interfere with your work. Another requirement is that workers who study must first get an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate for their studies and present it to the education provider.
Skilled Workers are not allowed to run their own businesses.