Sponsor Licences List - Types of Licences
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Sponsor Licences List - A quick look
There is a Sponsor Licence for ‘workers’, which allows companies to hire workers for skilled and long-term positions; and a Sponsor Licence for ‘temporary workers’, allowing companies to hire workers for temporary positions. It is also possible to apply for a licence to employ both types of workers.
The final licence type of our Sponsor Licence list is the Student Sponsor Licence, which is for educational institutions who want to sponsor students and child students.
No. Sponsor Licences allowing businesses to hire skilled and long-term employees are more expensive than those for temporary positions. Costs also depend on the size of the sponsoring company. For more details about Sponsor Licence fees, click here.
Sponsor Licence List - Licence Types
There are different Sponsor Licence types which vary depending on the kinds of jobs needing to be filled, and also for those who want to sponsor students instead of workers:
- Workers – for skilled or long-term employment
- Temporary Workers – for specific types of temporary employment
- You can also apply for a licence to be able to hire both kinds of workers.
- Students – sponsor both child students under 18 and students 18 or older to study in the UKÂ
Worker Licence
A ‘Worker’ Sponsor Licence allows businesses to hire workers for skilled or long-term positions.
Worker Visa routes include:
- Skilled Worker
The particular role must meet particular skill and salary requirements. - Senior or Specialist Worker
For multinational companies which need to transfer employees to the UK. - Minister of Religion
For individuals wanting to work in the UK for a religious organisation. - International Sportsperson
For elite sportspeople, including coaches.
Temporary Worker Licence
A ‘Temporary Worker’ licence will let you sponsor workers on a temporary basis. Temporary Worker Visa routes include:
- Creative Worker
To work in the creative industry for up to 2 years, for example as an actor, film crew member, artist or entertainer. - Charity Worker
For unpaid workers for a charity for up to 1 year. - Religious Worker
For individuals working in a religious order or organisation for 2 years. - Government Authorised Exchange
For work experience (1 year), research projects and training (2 years) to enable short term exchange of knowledge. - International Agreement
Where the worker is to do a job that is covered by international law, such as employees of an overseas government. - Graduate Trainee
For workers transferring to a UK branch of their employer’s company as part of a graduate training programme. - Service Supplier
For workers with a contract to provide services for a UK company for 6 or 12 months. - UK Expansion Worker
For workers sent to the UK to set up a new branch or subsidiary of an overseas business. - Secondment Worker
For workers transferring from overseas to work for a different UK business as part of a high-value contract. - Seasonal Worker
For workers in ‘edible horticulture’ (eg. fruit and vegetable picking) for up to 6 months.
In the event that a business has either a Workers licence, or a Temporary Workers licence, and needs to ‘upgrade’ it to be able to hire both kinds, it is possible to do so. There may be a fee to upgrade.
The costs of obtaining a Sponsor Licence depends on the type of licence a business applies for, and the size of that business. Find out about Sponsor Licence fees.
Student Licence
Educational institutions can sponsor students who wants to study in the UK. For example, a university can sponsor an overseas student to undertake a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or a PhD.
Study Visa routes include:
- Student Visa
- Child Student Visa (for 4 to 17 year olds with parental consent)
Prospective students must be issued with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies before they can apply for their visa.
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