Skilled Worker Visa and Sponsor LicenceÂ
The Skilled Worker route is the UK’s primary pathway for hiring international professionals. Navigating complex salary thresholds, SOC 2020 occupation codes, and strict Home Office compliance can be daunting. Our team can help you manage the complexities ensuring flawless execution so you can focus on scaling your business.Â
- Sponsor Licence Application Support
- Visa Application Support
- Ongoing Compliance Support
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What is the Skilled Worker Route?
The Skilled Worker route allows licensed UK employers to recruit overseas professionals to fill specific skilled vacancies. Replacing the old Tier 2 (General) visa, it is a vital tool for businesses facing domestic skill shortages. Â
Whether you are recruiting top-tier talent directly from overseas or retaining an international student already in the UK, this route provides a robust, long-term hiring solution. It permits the employees who hold skilled worker visa to bring their dependent partners and children, and crucially, it offers a direct pathway to permanent UK settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) after five years of continuous employment.Â
Licenced UK Sponsors
You can hire employees from overseas once you become a Licenced UK Sponsor (under Skilled Worker Route)
Dependants are Welcome
Employees who hold Skilled Worker visa can bring dependent partners and children to the UK.
Pathway to permanent settlement
Employees sponsored as Skilled Worker can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain/ settlement after five years of continuous employment.
Who is it needed for
Sterling & Wells supports UK employers applying for a sponsor licence, managing visa applications, and meeting their ongoing sponsorship compliance obligations as well as the overseas professionals and their dependants going through the process.
You're in the right place if you are:
- UK-based businesses seeking a Sponsor Licence to hire from overseas.
- UK employers needing to issue Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).
- Licensed sponsors requiring compliance support.
- Non-UK professionals applying for Skilled Worker visas.
- Dependants of visa holders processing family joining or extension applications.
What You Need to Know About the Skilled Worker Route
What is the Skilled Worker Route?
The Skilled Worker route allows licensed UK employers to recruit overseas professionals to fill specific skilled vacancies. Replacing the old Tier 2 (General) visa, it is a vital tool for businesses facing domestic skill shortages. Â
Whether you are recruiting top-tier talent directly from overseas or retaining an international student already in the UK, this route provides a robust, long-term hiring solution. It permits the employees who hold skilled worker visa to bring their dependent partners and children, and crucially, it offers a direct pathway to permanent UK settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) after five years of continuous employment.Â
Licenced UK Sponsors
You can hire employees from overseas once you become a Licenced UK Sponsor (under Skilled Worker Route)
Dependants are Welcome
Employees who hold Skilled Worker visa can bring dependent partners and children to the UK.
Pathway to permanent settlement
Employees sponsored as Skilled Worker can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain/ settlement after five years of continuous employment.
Who Needs Skilled Worker Visa UK?
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UK-based businesses seeking a Sponsor Licence to hire from overseas.
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UK employers needing to issue Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).
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Licensed sponsors requiring compliance support.
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Non-UK professionals applying for Skilled Worker visas.
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Dependants of visa holders processing family joining or extension applications.
Does Your Employee Qualify?
The Skilled Worker route operates on a points-based system. Your employee must score 70 points across mandatory and tradeable criteria.Â
The 70-Point Requirement:
Our Services
Every service is designed to move your business forward with confidence, precision, and full regulatory compliance.Â
Sponsorship Licence Application Support
We prepare and submit your Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence application from the ground up. Our team conducts a thorough pre-application audit to ensure your documents, and organisational structure meet Home Office expectations before anything is filed.Â
- Full eligibility assessment and gap analysisÂ
- Curation of mandatory corporate and financial evidence (Appendix A)Â
- Key Personnel vetting (Authorising Officer, Key Contact, Level 1 Users) and SMS configurationÂ
- Complete online application submission and fee calculationsÂ
- Continuous Home Office liaison and application tracking
Visa Application Support
We review the required documentations and handle the assignment of Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) for international hires of business and professional individuals. Our team ensure precise occupation coding and salary calculations along with visa application support. Â
- Strategic SOC 2020 occupation coding and role mappingÂ
- Precise salary threshold, going rate, and tradeable points calculationsÂ
- Management of Defined CoS (for overseas candidates) and Undefined CoS (for in-country candidates)Â
- Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) assessments and fee facilitationÂ
- End-to-end management of employees and dependant visa applicationsÂ
Compliance Support
We proactively safeguard your A-rating by guiding your business through strict Home Office reporting and record-keeping duties. Our team provides ongoing support to ensure your sponsor system remain fully compliant with UK immigration law.Â
- Guidance on reporting worker activity (absences, resignations, role changes) via the SMS Â
- Guidance on reporting corporate and structural changes (mergers, address changes) Â
- Strategic guidance on Appendix D record-keeping requirementsÂ
- Guidance on compliant digital and manual Right to Work checks to establish a statutory excuseÂ
- Proactive risk mitigation and mock audits to prepare for unannounced Home Office compliance visitsÂ
Our Process including Timeline
Licence Preparation (Weeks 1 to 2)
Compile supporting documents: proof of trading, HR systems evidence, key personnel appointments. With complete records this can take as little as five working days.Â
Home Office Processing (Weeks 2 to 10)
UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) processes the Sponsorship Licence application within approximately eight weeks. A pre-licence compliance visit may occur.Â
Licence Granted: CoS Requested (Weeks 10 to 11)
SMS account is activated. Defined CoS requested for the specific hire. UKVI typically responds within five to seven working days. The 3-month assignment window then begins.Â
Visa Application Submitted (Weeks 11 to 14)
Applicant completes the online application, pays the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and visa fee, and books the biometric appointment. B2 English evidence required for new applicants from January 2026.Â
Decision and UK Entry (Weeks 14 to 17)
Standard processing: approximately 3 weeks. Priority service: 5 working days. On grant, the applicant can then travel. Evisa confirming their right to work and live in the UK) is issued within 10 working days of arrival. The Individual applicant can then begin work from their CoS start date.Â
Frequently
Asked
Questions
Straightforward answers to the questions we hear most often from employers navigating the Skilled Worker visa UK.
What is the Skilled Worker route?
What is a Skilled Worker visa?
Does my business need one? 
What are our legal responsibilities? 
What is the difference between a Defined and Undefined CoS? 
Who is eligible to apply? 
What are the 2026 English Language requirements? 
What is a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)? 
Can my family join me? 
Meet Our Team
Meet our Lead Advisor and the dedicated Sterling & Wells Immigration support team—a partnership built to provide you with expert guidance.
Our Related Blog
Dive into our latest articles on Skilled Worker Visa UK and more.
Book a Free Discovery Call
Whether you are applying for a Sponsor Licence for the first time, managing an established sponsorship licence, or applying for a skilled worker Visa, we are here to help. Book a free 15-minute discovery call with our immigration team to discuss your requirements and find out how we can support you.Â
- No obligation whatsoever
- 15 minute discovery
- Tailored to your business