Sponsorship Licence application

The UK Work Permit scheme has been replaced by Tier 2 of the new Points Based system which now covers skilled workers from outside the European Economic Area who have a job offer from a British employer.

Tier 2 is made of two stages:

1. Sponsorship by the British Employer
The first stage is the issuing of a Certificate of Sponsorship by a British employer. In order to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship the British employee must apply for and be granted a Sponsor License.

The Sponsor's License gives British employers permission to offer work to non E.E.A. Nationals. In return for this delegation of power – the British employer must show that it can conform with the duties imposed upon it. These duties are as follows;

2. Points Based System application by the non E.E.A. National
Subsequent to the British employer issuing the Certificate of Sponsorship, the prospective employee can then apply for permission to live and work in the United Kingdom. The employee's application is assessed on the following criteria;

• qualifications;
• future expected earnings;
• sponsorship;
• English language skills; and
• available maintenance (funds).

3. Costs
The Home Office charges £310.00 for a Sponsor Licence application by a small employer and £1025.00 for an application by a large employer. There is also a fee of £170.00 for each Certificate of Sponsorship