Overview of sponsor licences

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You can explore a variety of visa options to serve your diverse business needs.  

You can also a book a free one-to-one appointment for advice on the right type of licence for you.

Introduction to sponsor licences

You’ll need a sponsor licence if you want to hire international workers.  

With a sponsor licence, you’ll act as your worker’s sponsor. You’ll do this by giving them a certificate of sponsorship.   

A worker needs a certificate of sponsorship to apply for a visa on the Worker and Temporary Worker immigration routes.   

Read about certificates of sponsorship.  

There are two main types of licence: 

• A ‘worker’ sponsor licence 
• A ‘temporary worker’ sponsor licence. 

You might be able to add other immigration routes to your licence if you meet the criteria.  

For example, if you want to sponsor an expansion worker to expand your business into the UK, you’ll need to apply to add a ‘UK Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence’ to your licence. Read about Expansion Worker visas.

Overview of a worker sponsor licence

With a ‘worker licence’ you can sponsor people on the following visas: 

• Skilled Worker visas 
• Senior or Specialist Workers (Global Business Mobility workers) visas 
• Ministers of Religion visas 
• International Sportsperson visas 

Overview of a temporary worker sponsor licence

With a ‘temporary worker licence’ you can sponsor: 

• Global Business Mobility visas: 
  • Senior or Specialist Worker visas 
  • Graduate Trainees
  • Service Supplier visas 
  • UK Expansion Worker visas 
  • Secondment Worker visas 
• Seasonal Worker visas 
• Government Authorised Exchange visas 
• Creative Worker visas 
• Religious Worker visas 
• Charity Worker visas 
• International Agreement visas  

Photo credit: Visit Scotland / Kenny Lam