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Organisation and vacancies
You must be a genuine organisation operating lawfully in the UK (or eligible overseas structure where applicable) and able to offer a genuine vacancy that meets the route rules, typically skill level, salary, and occupation codes for Skilled Worker.
Genuine business: Trading / operating evidence as required for your organisation type.
Eligible roles: Jobs that can meet the sponsored route rules you apply for, not aspirational titles.
Genuine vacancy: A real role you need filled, not a vehicle invented only to bring a named person in.
Suitable key people: An Authorising Officer, a Key Contact and Level 1 users who pass Home Office checks. Each must be based in the UK, have a National Insurance number (unless exempt) and normally be on your staff or an office holder, not a contractor or consultant.
Skill level and shortage lists
From 22 July 2025, new Skilled Worker sponsorship is mainly limited to degree-level jobs (RQF 6). The standard general threshold is £41,700 a year or the going rate, whichever is higher. A medium-skilled job can be sponsored only when it is on the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List.
Immigration Salary List entries, other than care workers (6135) and senior care workers (6136), have a removal date of 31 December 2026. An entry only counts where the certificate of sponsorship was issued before that date. Temporary Shortage List jobs only count where the certificate of sponsorship was issued before 31 December 2026. Care worker and senior care worker 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.
HR systems, what “appropriate” looks like in practice
You need processes to monitor right-to-work, keep records, and report worker changes. Auditors care about whether the system works when someone is on leave.
| Capability | Why it matters | Healthy signal |
|---|---|---|
| Right-to-work | Prevent illegal working | Checks documented; follow-ups diarised |
| SMS reporting | Deadlines are short | Named Level 1 + backup |
| Recruitment evidence | Appendix-style audits | Living folder per sponsored hire |
| Contact details | Must be able to reach workers | Process to update addresses/phones |
| Salary & role control | CoS accuracy | HRIS matches what was assigned |
Key personnel, choose for durability
Authorising Officer: The most senior person responsible for recruiting sponsored workers and meeting your sponsor duties. They must be a paid member of staff or an office holder, and can't be an outside representative.
Key Contact: Main Home Office contact, must be reachable.
Level 1 users: Run the sponsorship management system day to day. At least one must be an employee, director or partner who is a settled worker, such as a British or Irish citizen. Name a second Level 1 user to cover absences.
Backup: Relying on one person for sponsor system access is a hidden risk to your licence.
Role suitability before you advertise sponsorship
Even before the licence grant, test whether the roles you want to hire for can clear route rules (occupation, skill, salary). Advertising sponsorship for roles that cannot meet thresholds trains hiring managers to fail.
- 1
List target roles: Titles, duties, locations, salary bands.
- 2
Map to route theory: With counsel or a competent internal owner.
- 3
Fix bands early: If salary cannot clear thresholds, change the role or the model.
- 4
Only then publish: Sponsorship labels on Global Sponsor Hub must match what you can deliver.
Next steps
Continue to the application process and costs. If you are still deciding between models, read do I need a sponsor licence?.
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, apply for a sponsor licence | Official government or regulator page with the current rules, fees and forms. |
| GOV.UK, Skilled Worker: your job | Official government or regulator page with the current rules, fees and forms. |
| GOV.UK, Immigration Salary List | Official government or regulator page with the current rules, fees and forms. |
| GOV.UK, Appendix Skilled Worker | Official government or regulator page with the current rules, fees and forms. |
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Explore employer toolsCommon questions
Do startups qualify?+
Often yes, if they are genuine, can evidence the business, and can meet duties. Early-stage companies should be extra careful with documentation and key personnel choices.
Can our external accountant be Authorising Officer?+
No. Your Authorising Officer must be a paid member of staff or an office holder in your organisation. They can't be a representative or someone from another organisation. Specialists on Global Sponsor Hub can check your key people before you apply.