Early legal Careers

Possibly. If the individual does not already have permission to live and work in the UK, you will need a sponsorship license to employ them from outside the UK.

Yes, since freedom of movement between the UK and the European Union ended on December 31, 2020. A sponsorship license is required to employ EEA and Swiss citizens who arrive in the UK after that date and do not have permission to live and work in the UK. However, European and Swiss nationals who arrived before December 31, 2020, can continue to be employed, provided they apply for status on the EU Settlement Scheme by June 30, 2021, and their application is granted.

No, as they already have permission to live and work in the UK.

No, Irish citizens are allowed to live and work in the UK without requiring permission.

There are two main routes: the Worker route and the Temporary Worker route. The Worker route covers Skilled Workers, Health and Care Workers, Senior or Specialist Workers (intra-company transfers), Ministers of Religion, Scale-up Workers, and International sportspeople. The Temporary Worker route replaces the old Tier 5 Immigration Rules and includes various categories such as Charity Workers, Creative or Sporting Workers, Government Authorised Exchange Workers, and more.

You need to complete an online application form and provide information about your business. Supporting documents listed in Appendix A of the Sponsorship Guidance are required. Additionally, you must assign specific duties associated with the sponsorship license to key personnel within your staff. The number of workers you plan to sponsor in the first year will determine the number of Certificates of Sponsorship you can assign.

The fee varies depending on the type of license, the size of your organization, and whether it has charitable status. Detailed information about current fees can be found on the Home Office website.

It is possible. The Home Office may visit your business premises to assess your trustworthiness and capability to fulfil sponsorship duties. Digital inspections were introduced in late August 2022.

Upon successful approval, your organisation will be added to the Register of Sponsors on the Home Office website. The sponsorship license will be valid for 4 years unless revoked by the Home Office or voluntarily surrendered before its expiration. If you wish to continue sponsoring migrants beyond the initial 4 years, you must apply for license renewal before it expires. As a sponsor, you will be granted access to the Sponsorship Management System (SMS), allowing you to sponsor workers who meet the relevant criteria by assigning them a Certificate of Sponsorship. When assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship, you may be required to pay an Immigration Skills Charge, unless an exemption applies. The charge amount depends on your organisation’s size and the duration of sponsorship, and it cannot be passed onto the worker. Once you have assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship, the prospective employee will need to apply for permission to enter or remain in the UK in order to work for your company. The Home Office Sponsor Register categorises companies into ‘A’ and ‘B’ ratings. What rating will my company receive? When your license is initially granted, you will be awarded an A-rating if the Home Office assesses your business as eligible and suitable for holding a sponsorship license. However, during the course of your sponsorship license, the Home Office has the authority to downgrade your organisation to a B-rating if it determines that you are not fulfilling your sponsorship duties or behaving in a manner inappropriate for sponsors. If you are downgraded, you will receive a sponsorship action plan at a cost, outlining the necessary steps to regain an A-rating. Failure to meet the plan's requirements will result in the revocation of your sponsorship license.

No, unless you are a sole trader looking to sponsor someone to work within your own business.