License types and rating

What is sponsorship?

Any UK employer that wants to hire someone who doesn't have permission to work in the UK must first get authorisation from the Home Office. This authorisation is known as a sponsor licence, and an employer that holds one is called a sponsor.

Workers, in turn, need a job offer from an approved sponsor to enter or remain in the UK. When applying for a visa, they have to prove the offer by providing a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). A CoS is essentially a reference number assigned by the sponsor. By assigning one to a worker, the sponsor confirms the job offer and commits to carrying out its duties and responsibilities as a sponsor.

How to become a sponsor?

Employers apply to the Home Office for authorisation to employ certain people. The process involves completing an online application form and submitting supporting documents that show the organisation can meet its responsibilities and duties as a sponsor.

What are the sponsor licence types?

When applying to become a sponsor, employers choose which immigration route(s) they want to sponsor workers on. For convenience, these routes are grouped into "Worker" and "Temporary Worker" routes:

• Worker Routes:
  • Skilled Worker
  • International Sportsperson
  • Minister of Religion
  • The following Global Business Mobility (GBM) route:
    • Senior or Specialist (formerly known as Intra-company Transfer)
• Temporary Worker Routes:
  • Creative Worker
  • Charity Worker
  • Religious Worker
  • Seasonal Worker
  • Scale-up
  • Government Authorised Exchange
  • International Agreement
  • The following Global Business Mobility (GBM) routes:
    • Graduate Trainee
    • UK Expansion Worker
    • Service Supplier
    • Secondment Worker