If you want to hire someone from outside the UK and Ireland, you almost certainly need a Sponsor Licence and must issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) before the worker can apply for a Skilled Worker visa. Once the worker arrives, you must conduct a right-to-work check before they start, and conduct a follow-up check before their visa expires. Sponsoring a worker also makes you responsible for reporting certain changes to the Home Office.
What is the Skilled Worker visa?
The Skilled Worker visa replaced the Tier 2 (General) visa in December 2020. It allows people from outside the UK and Ireland to work in the UK in eligible skilled roles. Workers can stay for up to 5 years initially, with the option to extend or apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 5 years of residence.
For employers, the Skilled Worker visa route is the primary pathway for recruiting non-UK, non-Irish nationals.
Do I need a Sponsor Licence?
Yes — to hire someone on a Skilled Worker visa, you must hold a Sponsor Licence issued by the Home Office.
You do not need a Sponsor Licence if you are hiring:
- British citizens
- Irish citizens
- EU, EEA or Swiss nationals with settled or pre-settled status
- Workers who already hold a Skilled Worker visa for another employer (they apply to transfer their sponsorship)
You do need a Sponsor Licence if you are recruiting someone who currently has no right to work in the UK and will need to apply for a Skilled Worker visa.
Applying for a Sponsor Licence costs £536 (small/charitable sponsors) or £1,476 (medium/large sponsors). Processing typically takes 8 weeks.
The sponsorship process — step by step
Step 1 — Apply for a Sponsor Licence
Apply via the Home Office sponsorship management system. You will need to demonstrate that your business is genuine and compliant. The Home Office may conduct a pre-licence audit.
Step 2 — Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
Once licensed, you issue a CoS for the specific worker and role. The CoS confirms:
- The job title and SOC code (the skill level must meet the minimum threshold)
- The salary (must meet the minimum salary threshold — £38,700 from April 2024 for most roles, or the "going rate" for the occupation, whichever is higher)
- The start date and duration
Step 3 — Worker applies for Skilled Worker visa
The worker uses the CoS reference number to apply for their visa. Processing typically takes 3 to 8 weeks from outside the UK.
Step 4 — Conduct right-to-work check before day one
Before the worker starts, you must verify their right to work using the online share code service.
Right-to-work checks for Skilled Worker visa holders
Skilled Worker visa holders must prove their right to work via the online share code service — not by showing a physical document.
| Step | Action | |---|---| | Worker generates share code | At gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status | | You check the code | At gov.uk/view-right-to-work | | Result shows | Right to work confirmed, expiry date, any conditions | | You keep | Screenshot of result + date of check |
The share code result will show the expiry date of the Skilled Worker visa — record this and set a follow-up check reminder.
Follow-up checks — critical for Skilled Worker visa holders
Skilled Worker visas are time-limited — typically granted for the duration of the job plus 14 days, up to a maximum of 5 years. You must conduct a follow-up right-to-work check before the visa expires.
Why this matters: if the visa expires and the worker has not yet applied for an extension or ILR, their right to work ends. Continuing to employ them after expiry without a valid check removes your statutory excuse and exposes you to a penalty of up to £60,000.
If the worker has applied to extend: use the Employer Checking Service (ECS) to confirm their continued right to work while the application is pending.
Sponsor Licence duties — your ongoing obligations
Once you sponsor a worker, you take on reporting duties with the Home Office:
| Event | Reporting obligation | |---|---| | Worker does not start | Report within 10 working days | | Worker's salary changes materially | Report via Sponsor Management System | | Worker changes role or location significantly | Report or issue new CoS | | Worker is absent for more than 10 consecutive days (unauthorised) | Report within 10 working days | | Worker's employment ends | Report within 10 working days |
Failure to meet these obligations can result in suspension or revocation of your Sponsor Licence — preventing you from sponsoring any future workers.
Minimum salary requirements (2026)
From April 2024, the general minimum salary for Skilled Worker visas increased significantly:
| Threshold | Amount | |---|---| | General minimum salary | £38,700 per year | | "Going rate" for the occupation | Whichever is higher | | New entrant rate (recently graduated, under 26, switching from student visa) | £30,960 per year | | Health and Care Worker visa (subset of Skilled Worker) | Lower thresholds apply per NHS pay bands |
These thresholds are reviewed periodically. Always check the current figures on gov.uk before issuing a CoS.
Skilled Worker visa to ILR — what employers need to know
After 5 years on a Skilled Worker visa, workers can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). If granted, they have a permanent right to live and work in the UK — no further sponsorship or follow-up checks required.
Once a worker has ILR, conduct a fresh right-to-work check via share code. The result will confirm their unlimited right to work. After that, no further checks are needed.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Skilled Worker change employers while on their visa? Yes — but they need a new Certificate of Sponsorship from the new employer and must apply to transfer their visa. The new employer must also hold a Sponsor Licence. The worker cannot start the new job until the visa transfer is approved.
What is the minimum skill level for a Skilled Worker visa? Roles must be at RQF Level 3 or above (equivalent to A-level standard) and appear on the list of eligible occupations. Check the current list on gov.uk.
Can a Skilled Worker bring family members to the UK? Yes — Skilled Worker visa holders can bring a partner and children as dependants. Dependants have their own right to work in the UK with no restrictions.
What happens if my Sponsor Licence is revoked? If your Sponsor Licence is revoked, all workers you currently sponsor have their visas curtailed — typically given 60 days to leave the UK or find a new sponsor. This is a serious outcome for your employees and your business.
Do I need a Sponsor Licence to employ someone already on a Skilled Worker visa with another employer? Yes. The worker must transfer their sponsorship to you. You must hold a Sponsor Licence and issue them a new Certificate of Sponsorship.