The concept of sponsorship is at the heart of the points-based system. If you want to employ a migrant, you must be their sponsor during their stay in the United Kingdom (unless they are coming here for six months or less in certain circumstances). And before you can sponsor a migrant, you must obtain a sponsor licence.
You must meet the following requirements to become a licensed sponsor:
- You must be a genuine organisation or sole trader operating legally in the United Kingdom;
- There must be no evidence that you are a threat to immigration control – The Home Office look at the history and background of your organisation and key personnel;
- You must nominate a level 1 user, a key contact and an authorising officer for the sponsorship management system
- You must be able to comply with your sponsor duties – The Home Office look at your processes such as your human resource (HR) systems to make sure you can carry out your duties;
- You must send all your supporting documents when applying; and
- You must meet the additional requirements for the tier and category you are applying under.
Harbour HR can assist you to confirm if you can be a sponsor, how to apply for a sponsor licence, how you can sponsor migrants once you have a licence, and what your duties are as a sponsor.
