Step one: the sponsor licence
A UK employer needs a valid sponsor licence before it can sponsor a worker from overseas on the Skilled Worker route. You apply to the Home Office, show you're a genuine operating business, nominate the key personnel who'll run sponsorship, and demonstrate HR systems that can meet the compliance duties.
Step two: the Certificate of Sponsorship
Once licensed, you assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to each worker. The CoS records the job, SOC code and salary, and the worker uses it to apply for their Skilled Worker visa. The role must meet the skill level and salary/going-rate rules in force.
Staying compliant and A-rated
New licences start A-rated. Keeping that rating means meeting record-keeping, reporting and right-to-work duties on an ongoing basis. Recruitroo prepares the licence application and can run compliance for you so the rating is maintained.
Skilled Worker salary thresholds
Rules last reviewed: 16 July 2026. Final eligibility is always decided by DETE (Ireland) or the Home Office / UKVI (UK) — treat this as indicative guidance, not legal advice.
United Kingdom — Skilled Worker thresholds (rules from 22 July 2025)
| Requirement | Figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General salary threshold | £41,700 | Or the occupation's going rate, whichever is higher |
| Reduced floor — new entrants / shortage-list roles | £33,400 | New entrants: 70% of the going rate, subject to this floor |
| Hourly floor | £17.13 | Applies regardless of annual salary |
| Skill level | RQF 6 | Sub-RQF 6 roles only via the Temporary Shortage List / Immigration Salary List; care worker route closed to new overseas applicants since 22 July 2025 |
| English language (first-time applicants) | B2 | From 8 January 2026 |
Source: Home Office / UKVI Skilled Worker route rules.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a sponsor licence to hire EU citizens in the UK?
EU citizens with pre-settled or settled status can work without sponsorship. But EU citizens who arrived after the end of free movement and don't have that status generally need to be sponsored like any other overseas worker, so you'd need a licence.
How long does a sponsor licence application take?
Standard processing varies with Home Office workload and how complete your application is; a priority service may be available. We prepare the application to be right first time to avoid avoidable delays.
What can stop a sponsor licence being granted?
Common issues are missing or inconsistent documents, HR systems that can't evidence compliance, or key-personnel problems. Our case-readiness review is designed to catch these before submission.
Last reviewed: 16 July 2026. This guide is general information for employers, not legal advice — final decisions rest with the Home Office / UKVI.
Sources: UK Home Office / UKVI.