以下是留学网为大家独家整理并翻译的英国雇主签证赞助介绍，涉及雇主营业执照申请、执照升级降级、雇用规定等方面内容，希望能对有意在英国留学就业的学生有帮助。
一、概述
你可能需要赞助许可，才能在英国雇用欧洲经济区和瑞士以外国家和地区的人为你工作。
包括无薪工作，如经营慈善机构。
赞助别人不保证对方就能来英国或在英国居留。
怎样才能拿到赞助许可证
1.核实你的企业是否有资格申请
2.选择你想申请的许可证类型许可证类型取决于你想赞助的职工类型
3.确定你的企业谁来管理赞助
4.线上申请线上付费
英国签证移民局可能会到你的企业核实是否符合申请条件。
申请之后
如果申请成功，你将会收到执照评级(license rating)。
如果你有适合赞助的职位，你可以分发赞助证明。
执照有效期为4年。如果尽不到赞助者应该的责任，你可能会失去执照。
二、申请资格
申请执照，你不能有以下：
1.非法入境或其它特定罪行的未到期的刑罚，如诈骗、洗钱
2.任何未成功履行赞助职责的记录
你将需要适当的制度来管理受赞助的员工。
员工签证移民局会审核你的申请表和需要的证件。他们会去你的企业，以确保你值得信赖，有能力履行相关职责。
三、执照类型
你所需的执照取决于你想招聘的求职者是否属于：
1.有长期工作职位的二级技术人才
2.五级技术临时工
你可以申请涵盖上述一种或两种签证的执照。
二级
二级签证针对你想长期或永久雇用的技术性人才。可细分为：
1.二级一般该角色必须满足工作适应性要求
2.企业内部调换针对需要调动员工来英国的跨国企业
3.牧师针对来英国在宗教组织工作的人员(工作时长不超过3年)
4.运动员针对将在英国发展的体育精英人士和体育教练
五级
五级签证针对你想暂时雇用的技术性人才。可细分为：
1.创作和体育以运动员(工作时间1年以内)、演艺员、艺术家(工作时间2年以内)的身份工作
2.慈善人员针对无薪人员(工作时间1年以内)
3.宗教人员针对从事布道、牧师、非牧师工作的人员
4.政府授权的交换计划工作经历(1年)，研究项目或培训，如医疗、科学实训(2年)，以实现短期知识交换
5.国际协议所从事的工作受国际法管理的员工，如海外政府工作人员
四、赞助管理角色
申请执照的时候你需要指定人员管理企业内部的赞助事务。
他们使用的主要工具是赞助管理系统(SMS).
赞助管理角色有：
1.批核人员高级主管，负责监督员工和使用赞助管理系统的代表人
2.核心联络与英国签证移民局的主要联络点
3.一级用户使用赞助管理系统，负责执照的每日管理
以上角色可由一人或多人担当。
有了执照之后，你还可以指定二级用户。该用户需为赞助管理系统用户，准入条件比一级用户严格，比如不可以撤销赞助证明。
适合性核验
你和你的员工需接受核验，以确保你的适合担当上述角色。如果受赞助人有以下情况，你可能拿不到执照：
1.在期服刑
2.在过去12个月里被英国签证移民局罚过款
3.被人举报到英国签证移民局
4.违法
5.在过去12个月里因重大过失致使其所在企业执照被吊销
6.未缴纳增值税或其它消费税
你和你的员工还必须：
1.多数时候待在员工
2.不是特殊项目的承包人或顾问
3.不受限于破产限制令或债务免除限制令
4.没有不符合赞助者要求的记录
你的员工通常必须是带薪员工或公职人员。
人力资源专员和代理员
你必须有至少一名一级员工用户。你可以有由第三方组织雇用的其他一级或二级用户，让他们提供人力资源服务。你的二级用户可以是中介提供的临时员工。
法人代表
批核人员角色以外，你可以将任一角色分配给基于英国的法人代表。代表必须合格，有提供移民建议和服务的能力。
五、申请执照
执照需要在线申请。
申请结束的时候打印移交的表单你需要将表单和所需材料邮寄至英国签证移民局。
Sponsor casework operations
Sponsor applications team
UK Visas and Immigration 英国签证移民局
PO Box 3468 邮政信箱3468
Sheffield 谢菲尔德
S3 8WA
八成申请在8周内受理。英国签证移民局可能会对你的企业进行实地核验。
所需证件
你需要向英国签证移民局发送有效证件，以证明你的企业的真实性。如果不出示有效证件，你的申请会被拒绝。
你需要提供至少四个证件，除非：
1.你是英国政府认可的公共机构，比如地方当局
2.你属于伦敦证券交易所主要市场清单上的公司
证件必须是原件或有效复印件。申请之前核实好你的机构性质和所需证件。
复印件证实
复印件可由以下证实：
1.签发机关
2.执业律师、律师或公证人
证明人需要提供陈述，以证明你的复印件是原件的正确副本。证明人还需在复印件的每一页写上自己的姓名和证明人所代表的机构的名称。
在证明人看过原始邮件的情况下，以邮件附件形式发送的证件可以被核实。
执照费
申请执照需要付费。
小型企业、慈善机构执照申请费 中、大型企业执照申请费 二级
536英镑
1,476英镑
五级
536英镑
536英镑
二级和五级
536英镑
1,476英镑
在现有五级的基础上添加二级
免费
940英镑
在现有二级的基础上添加五级
免费
免费
符合以下情况的企业一般为小型企业：
1.年营业额在1020万英镑及以内
2.员工人数在50人及以内
如果不确定自己的企业属于哪个类型，可以联系业务帮助台(Business Helpdesk)。
你可以加入优质顾客服务计划，获取执照经理提供的额外帮助服务费每年至少8000英镑。
因失误被拒的申请
如果认为申请被拒是因为以下原因，你可以申请更改错误：
1.负责受理申请的工作人员操作失误
2.你提供的证件没有被考虑
只有在2016年4月1日及其后的申请，才有权更改。
不能仅因为不同意申请结果而申请更改。
帮助和建议
赞助者可以从Sponsorship, employer and education helpline 处获取建议。
电话：0300 123 4699 ;上班时间：周一至周四，上午九点到下午五点;周五，上午九点到下午四点半。
英国企业和一级投资者可以从业务帮助台出获得帮助。业务帮助台网站： businesshelpdesk@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk。
六、执照等级
申请得到认可之后，你将拿到A级执照。
A级全面赞助执照
持有A级执照你可以开始分发赞助证明。
你的企业将会被列入注册赞助商里。
降到B级
一旦未能履行赞助职责，你的A级执照将有可能被降到B级。
如果被降级，在作出改善、升级为A级执照之前，你不能签发赞助证明。
你仍旧可以向现有员工签发赞助证明，只要他们想延长签证有效期，或是正从某一工作许可证转入。
升级到A级
你需要遵照英国签证移民局的行动计划，以升级你的执照。
你需要为行动计划支付1476英镑。
你需要在接到签证移民局降级执照之日起的10个工作日支付费用。否则你的执照将被吊销。
行动计划的末尾
如果你完成了所有步骤，没有需要再改进的地方，你的执照就升级到A级。
如果完成不了所有步骤，你的执照将被吊销。
如果其它地方还需要改进，你将收到第二个B级执照，遵照新的行动计划。同时再次支付费用。
如果拿到第二个B级执照
在执照有效期4年内，你最多能持有两个B级执照。
如果第二个行动计划之后，你仍旧有需要改进的地方，你的执照将被吊销。
如何重新申请
如果申请没有成功，你不可以驳斥，到可以再次申请。再次申请之前，你可能需要等待等的时间取决于你的条件。
你需要开始新的申请。
如果你因为雇用非法劳工被罚款，被吊销执照，你需要等12个月才能重新申请执照。
七、赞助证
你需要为每位海外员工提供赞助证。赞助证是电子记录，不是实物证件。每个赞助证都有号码，以供员工申请签证的时候使用。
赞助证必须在签证之日起的三个月内使用。
非限制性证明
申请执照的时候会有人问你你需要多少二级证和五级证。这就是所谓的非限制性证明，因为你可以拿到多少没有限制。
限制性证明
限制性证明针对：
1.当前在国外且预计年收入低于155300英镑的二级一般员工
2.四级移民者的家人(受抚养人)
你必须通过赞助管理系统(SMS)为以上人员申请限制性证明。拿到营业执照的时候你就可以申请了。
每月限制性证明的数量有限。每个申请通过积分系统接受评估你可以在移民规则附录1中查看系统是如何工作的。
什么时候拿到证明
申请会在当月10号之后的第一个工作日受理。这就是所谓的分配日(allocation date)。如果你是在当月5号之后申请，你的申请将在下个月的分配日受理。
你的申请也有可能在下个月的分配日受理，以便可以核实申请细节。
如果申请成功，你的限制性证明将于分配日出现在你的赞助管理系统的账户上。如果申请没有得到认可，你可以再次申请。
紧急申请
特殊情况下，限制性证明可以在第二个月的分配日之前签发。这不包括由于你自己的过失而被推迟的申请。
你可以通过赞助管理系统账户申请，邮件至Tier2Limits@ukba.gsi.gov.uk解释申请为何紧急。
赞助证明费
每个赞助证都需要付费。克罗地亚、马其顿和土耳其公民赞助证免费。
每个赞助证费用
二级
199英镑
四级
21英镑
五级
21英镑
八、工作适合度
如果员工从事的二级(五级)工作有工资和技能水平的适度比率，你可以赞助他们。
苏格兰技术类工作
如果你想提供技术类工作，工作必须达到苏格兰学分和资格框架规定的九级及以上。该规定同时适用于二级一般和企业内部调动。
创意类工作
对于以下人员，有单独的工资和技能水平适度比率：
1.芭蕾舞蹈演员和其它舞蹈演员
2.电影、电视演员
3.剧院和歌剧院表演者
4.电影、电视工作者
工作广告
如果你提供的工作不在短期职位表上，你需要为工作做广告。这就是所谓的执行居民劳务市场测试。
属于以下类别的求职者，你在招聘中不得排斥：
1.二级一般
2.二级牧师或五级宗教工作者，除非不是核心职位或涉及到宗教小团体内部的生活(比如僧侣和修女)
3.创意、娱乐部门的五级创意、体育人士，除非你能解释清楚为什么求职者不适合该职位
你需要投放2则广告。遵照如何执行居民劳务市场测试的条款。
广告多长时间
在英国，每则广告多数情况下必须投放28天，投放可以连续，可以分两个阶段。
如果分两个阶段，每则广告仍旧需要28天，且每个阶段不能少于7天。
你必须能够说明你没有招到适合的人才。
九、雇主职责
你需要：
1.证实你的海外员工具备工作所需的技能、资格或专业认证，保存证件副本
2.只在工作适合赞助的情况下向员工分发赞助证
3.所赞助的员工与签证条件不符时告知英国签证移民局
如果上述职责没有尽到，你的执照会被降级、暂停或吊销。
监督员工
你需要有人力资源系统以便你：
1.监控员工的移民身份
2.为每位员工保存相关证件副本，包括护照和工作权
3.跟踪、记录员工的出勤
4.保持、更新员工联系资料
5.遇到问题(如员工不来上班)时汇报英国签证移民局
企业变更
企业有重大变更时，需要在20个工作日之内汇报。比如：
1.停业和破产
2.企业性质改变
3.企业合并、接管
其它情况如企业搬迁、分配角色改变，也需要汇报英签证移民局。
使用赞助管理系统登记变更信息。
登记时间可长达18周。在申请登记时你可以选择优质服务，仅需5个工作日办理申请。服务费200英镑。
你必须确保未满18周岁的海外员工做好如下安排：
1.出国来英国
2.抵达英国
3.在英国生活
18岁以下员工的赞助
你需要出具未成年员工父母同意上述安排的同意书。
你必须为有需要的员工建立揭露与阻挡服务档案。如果不这样做，你的执照会被吊销。
16岁以下员工的赞助
对于16岁以下员工的赞助，你必须得到员工工作地的地方教育部门的许可。
1. Overview
You might need a sponsor licence to employ someone from outside theEuropean Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland to work for you in the UK.
This includes unpaid work, like running a charity.
Sponsoring someone doesnt guarantee that theyll be allowed to come to or stay in the UK.
How to get a sponsor licence
Check your business is eligible.
Choose the type of licence you want to apply for - this will depend on what type of worker you want to sponsor.
Decide who will manage sponsorship within your business.
Apply online and pay the fee.
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) may visit your business to check its suitable.
After you apply
Youll be given a licence rating if your application is successful.
Youll be able to issue certificates of sponsorship if you have jobs that are suitable for sponsorship.
Your licence will be valid for 4 years. You may lose your licence if you dont meet your responsibilities as a sponsor.
2. Eligibility
To get a licence, you cant have:
unspent criminal convictions for immigration offences or certain other crimes, eg fraud or money laundering any history of failing to carry out your sponsorship duties Youll need appropriate systems in place to monitor sponsored employees.
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will review your application form andsupporting documents. They may visit your business to make sure youre trustworthy and capable of carrying out your duties.
3. Types of licence
The licence you need depends on whether the workers you want to fill your jobs are:
Tier 2 - skilled workers with long-term job offers
Tier 5 - skilled temporary workers
You can apply for a licence covering either tier or both.
Tier 2
Tier 2 is for skilled workers who you want to employ long-term or permanently. Its split into:
General - the role must meet the job suitability requirements Intra-Company Transfer - for multinational companies which need to transfer employees to the UK Minister of Religion - for people coming to work for a religious organisation (for up to 3 years) Sportsperson - for elite sportspeople and coaches who will be based in the UK Tier 5
Tier 5 is for skilled workers you want to employ on a temporary basis. Its split into:
Creative and Sporting - to work as a sportsperson (up to 1 year), entertainer or artist (up to 2 years) Charity Worker - for unpaid workers (up to 1 year) Religious Worker - for those doing preaching, pastoral and non-pastoral work (2 years) Government Authorised Exchange - work experience (1 year), research projects or training, eg practical medical or scientific training (2 years) to enable a short-term exchange of knowledge International Agreement - where the worker is coming to do a job which is covered by international law, eg employees of overseas governments 4. Sponsorship management roles
You need to appoint people within your business to manage the sponsorship process when you apply for a licence.
The main tool theyll use is the sponsorship management system (SMS).
The roles are:
authorising officer a senior and competent person responsible for the actions of staff and representatives who use the SMS
key contact your main point of contact with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)
level 1 user responsible for all day-to-day management of your licence using the SMS
These roles can be filled by the same person or different people.
You can also appoint an optional level 2 user once you have your licence. This is an SMS user with more restricted access than a level 1 user, eg they cant withdraw a certificate of sponsorship.
Suitability checks
You and your staff will be checked to make sure youre suitable for these roles. You may not get your licence if anyone involved in sponsorship has:
an unspent criminal conviction
been fined by UKVI in the past 12 months
been reported to UKVI
broken the law
been a key person at a sponsor that had its licence revoked in the last 12 months
failed to pay VAT or other excise duty
You and your allocated staff must also:
be based in the UK most of the time
not be a contractor or consultant contracted for a specific project
not be subject to a bankruptcy restriction order or undertaking, or a debt relief restriction order or undertaking
not have a history of non-compliance with sponsor requirements
Your allocated staff must usually be paid members of staff, or office holders.
Read the full guidance on appointing key personnel.
HR contractors and agency staff
You must have at least one level 1 user who is your employee. You can have other level 1 or level 2 users employed by third-party organisations contracted to provide you with HR services. Your level 2 user can be a temporary member of staff supplied by an agency.
UK-based legal representatives
You can allocate any of the roles to a UK-based legal representative, apart from the authorising officer role. Your representative must be qualified to give immigration advice or services.
5. Apply for your licence
Apply online for your licence.
Print out the submission sheet at the end of the application - you need to post it to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) with the correct supporting documents.
Sponsor casework operations
Sponsor applications team
UK Visas and Immigration
PO Box 3468
Sheffield
S3 8WA
Most applications (8 out of 10) are dealt with in less than 8 weeks. UKVI may need to visit your business.
Supporting documents
You need to send the correct supporting documents to prove that youre a genuine business. Your application could be refused if you dont.
You need to provide at least 4 documents - unless:
youre a public body recognised by the UK government, eg a local authority
youre a company listed on the London Stock Exchange Main Market
The documents must be the originals or certified copies.
Check whether youre a public body and what documents you need to provide before you apply.
Certify a copy of a document
A copy of a document can be certified by either:
the issuing authority
a practising barrister, solicitor or notary
The certifier must provide a statement confirming that the document is an accurate copy of the original document and write their name, signature and the name of the organisation they represent on every page of the copy.
Printouts of documents sent as an email attachment can be certified if the person certifying them has seen the original email containing the file.
Licence fees
You need to pay a fee when you apply.
your annual turnover is 10.2 million or less
you have 50 employees or fewer
Contact the Business Helpdesk if youre unsure which category your business fits into.
You can join the premium customer service scheme to get extra support from a licence manager - this costs at least 8,000 a year.
Applications refused because of a mistake
You can apply to correct a mistake with your application if you think it was refused because:
the caseworker processing your application made a mistake
your supporting documents werent considered
You can only do this if you applied on or after 1 April 2016.
You cant apply just because you disagree with the decision.
Help and advice
Sponsors can get advice from the sponsorship, employer and education helpline:
Sponsorship, employer and education helpline
Telephone: 0300 123 4699
Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm
Friday, 9am to 4:30pm
Find out about call charges
UK businesses and Tier 1 (Investors) can get help from the Business Helpdesk:
Business Helpdesk businesshelpdesk@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
6. Your licence rating
Youll get an A-rated licence if your application is approved.
A-rating - full sponsor licence
An A-rated licence lets you start assigning certificates of sponsorship.
Your business will be listed in the register of sponsors.
Downgrading to B-rating
Your A-rated licence may be downgraded to a B-rating at a later stage if you dont continue to meet your sponsor duties.
If this happens, you wont be able to issue new certificates of sponsorship until youve made improvements and upgraded back to an A-rating.
Youll still be able to issue certificates to workers you already employ who want to extend, or who are switching from a Work Permit.
Upgrade to an A-rating
You need to follow an action plan provided by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to upgrade your licence.
You have to pay 1,476 for an action plan.
You must pay the fee within 10 working days of the date UKVI tells you about the downgrade. If you dont, youll lose your licence.
At the end of the action plan
Youll be upgraded to an A-rating if you complete all the steps and theres nothing else you need to improve.
Youll lose your licence if you dont complete all the steps.
If you need to make other improvements, youll be given another B-rating and will have to follow a new action plan. Youll have to pay the fee again.
If you get a second B-rating
You can only have 2 B-ratings in the 4 years that your licence is valid.
Youll lose your licence if you still need to make improvements after your second action plan.
How to reapply
You cant appeal if your application is unsuccessful, but you can reapply. You may have to wait before reapplying - the time will depend on your circumstances.
You need to start a new application.
You have to wait up to 12 months before reapplying if youve been fined for employing illegal workers and you lost your licence.
7. Sponsorship certificates
You need a certificate of sponsorship for each foreign worker you employ. This is an electronic record, not a physical document. Each certificate has its own number which a worker can use to apply for a visa.
Certificates must be used within 3 months from when theyre issued.
Unrestricted certificates
When you apply for your licence youll be asked to estimate how many Tier 2 and Tier 5 certificates youll need. These are called unrestricted certificates because theres no limit on how many you can get.
Restricted certificates
These are for:
Tier 2 (General) workers currently abroad wholl be paid less than 155,300 a year
family members (dependants) of Tier 4 migrants
You must apply for restricted certificates for these workers through the sponsorship management system (SMS). Youll get access to this when you get your licence.
Theres a limited number of restricted certificates available each month. Each application is assessed using a points system - you can see how the system works in the Immigration Rules appendix A.
When you get the certificate
Applications are considered on the first working day after the 10th day of the month. This is called the allocation date. If you apply after the 5th day of the month then your application will be held until the next months allocation date.
Your application may also be held until the next months allocation date so that the details of your application can be checked.
Your restricted certificate will appear in your SMS account on the allocation date if your application has been approved. You can apply again if your application isnt approved.
Urgent applications
A restricted certificate can be issued before the next allocation date in exceptional circumstances. This doesnt include applications which have been delayed for reasons which you could have avoided.
Use your SMS account to make the application and then emailTier2Limits@ukba.gsi.gov.uk explaining why its urgent.
Certificate costs
You need to pay for each certificate of sponsorship. Certificates are free for citizens of Croatia, Macedonia and Turkey.
8. Job suitability
You can sponsor a worker if the tier 2 or tier 5 job theyre going to do has a suitable rate of pay and skill level.
Offering a skilled job in Scotland
If you want to offer someone a skilled job, it must be Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level 9 or above for both Tier 2 (General) and Intra-Company Transfer.
Creative jobs
There are separate rates of pay and skill levels for:
ballet dancers and other dancers
film and TV performers
theatre and opera performers
film and TV workers
Advertising the job
You may need to advertise the job youre offering if its not on the shortage occupation list. This is known as carrying out the resident labour market test.
You must advertise any job you offer to a worker in the following categories:
Tier 2 (General)
Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) or Tier 5 (Religious Workers) unless its a non-essential position or involves living within a religious order (eg as a monk or nun)
Tier 5 (Creative and Sporting) in the creative and entertainment sector, unless you can explain why the job cant be done by a settled worker
You must place 2 adverts. Follow the rules in the How to carry out the resident labour market test section of the guidance for sponsors.
The adverts make sure that there are no suitable workers already living permanently in the UK. It must be a genuine vacancy.
How long to advertise the job for
Each advert must run in the UK for 28 days in most cases, either continuously or in 2 stages.
If you advertise in 2 stages, each advert still needs to run for a total of 28 days and neither stage can be less than 7 days.
You must be able to show that you didnt find a suitable worker.
9. Your responsibilities
You must:
check that your foreign workers have the necessary skills, qualifications or professional accreditations to do their jobs, and keep copies of documents showing this
only assign certificates of sponsorship to workers when the job is suitable for sponsorship
tell UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) if your sponsored workers are not complying with the conditions of their visa
Your licence may be downgraded, suspended or withdrawn if you dont meet them.
Read the full guidance on sponsor requirements and duties and not employing workers illegally.
Monitoring employees
You must have HR systems in place that let you:
monitor your employees immigration status
keep copies of relevant documents for each employee, including passport and right to work information
track and record employees attendance
keep employee contact details up to date
report to UKVI if there is a problem, eg your employee stops coming to work
Changes to your business
You must report any significant changes in your own circumstances within 20 working days, for example if you:
stop trading or become insolvent
substantially change the nature of your business
are involved in a merger or take-over
You must also tell UKVI if youre changing your details, like your address or allocated roles.
To register a change of circumstances use the sponsorship management system (SMS).
Requests can take up to 18 weeks. While youre making your request you can choose to pay 200 to use the premium service which takes up to 5 working days.
Sponsoring under-18s
You must make sure that foreign workers under 18 have suitable care arrangements for their:
travel to the UK
arrival in the UK
living arrangements in the UK
You must also get a letter from their parents giving consent to the care arrangements.
You must get a Disclosure and Barring Service check on any of your workers who need it.
Youll lose your licence if you dont do this.
Children under 16
You must get a licence from the local education authority in the area where the child will work.