On this page · 4 sectionsShowHide
Skill level and shortage lists
From 22 July 2025, new Skilled Worker jobs are mainly degree level (RQF 6). The standard general threshold is £41,700 a year or the going rate, whichever is higher. A medium-skilled job must be on the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List, and those lists only count where the certificate of sponsorship was issued before 31 December 2026. Care worker (6135) and senior care worker (6136) roles can only be sponsored for people already in the UK, until 22 July 2028. Last checked: 13 October 2026. See Skilled Worker: your job, the Immigration Salary List and Appendix Skilled Worker.
Start with the decision pages
What is a sponsor licence?: Read the explainer
Do I need one?: Decision guide
Eligibility: Who can apply
Costs: Fees overview · Calculator
Application and operations
Application process: Step overview
Processing times: What to expect
Certificates of Sponsorship: CoS explained
Duties & compliance: Ongoing obligations
Risk and licence continuity
For most Worker and Temporary Worker sponsor licences, the four-year renewal requirement was removed on 6 April 2024. The licence normally remains valid until it is surrendered or revoked. UK Expansion Worker and Scale-up licences are exceptions and are limited to a maximum of four years.
Read common mistakes and licence continuity, suspension and revocation before you scale sponsored hiring.
For advice on your own situation, find a specialist.
Next step
Start hiring
Create a free company profile. Connect your careers page for free international job imports, or post your first job free.
What's next
Related guides and links
More on this site: related guides, official government pages with the current rules and fees, and quick links to jobs and specialists.
Related guides
Guides that pair well with this page
Official sources
Official sources
The official government pages this guide is checked against.
| Source | Why open it |
|---|---|
| UK, sponsor a worker | Official government or regulator page with the current rules, fees and forms. |
| UK, apply for a sponsor licence | Official government or regulator page with the current rules, fees and forms. |
Keep exploring
Everything in one place
Employer jobs stay on the hub. External roles open elsewhere but say so. Specialists are listed in the directory. Guides sit next to search.
Ready to act
Open International Hiring HubCommon questions
Is this only about Skilled Worker?+
Skilled Worker is the most common employer route discussed here, but sponsor licences can cover other worker routes depending on your authorisations. Match the route to the role using current GOV.UK guidance, or find a specialist.