How do I sponsor a migrant worker?
Tier 5 - creative and sporting workers
This page explains the requirements you must meet to get a licence and sponsor migrants under the tier 5 - creative and sporting workers category of the points-based system to work.
On this page
How to get a licence for the creative category
To get a licence under Tier 5 that allows you to sponsor creative workers and their entourage, you must be operating, or intend to operate in the creative industries, for example, as a national body, event organiser, producer, venue, agent or other similar organisation. You must send us all of the relevant supporting documents listed in Appendix A of the guidance for sponsors.
How to get a licence for the sporting category
Approval from a governing body
To get a licence under tier 5 that allows you to sponsor sports people, you must send us the documents listed in Appendix A of the guidance for sponsors, including an endorsement from the governing body for your sport, which must be recognised by us. A governing body is one that is recognised by one of the home country sports councils, for example Sport England. Find the list of approved governing bodies.
If your sport does not have a governing body recognised by a sports council, please email PBSsportpolicy@ukba.gsi.gov.uk. We will consult the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Central Council of Physical Recreation and/or other sports councils to find out if there is an appropriate body that could act as the governing body recognised by us. In giving its approval, the governing body confirms that you are a genuine club (or equivalent), and you have a legitimate need to bring migrants to the UK as sportspeople
Requirements for sponsoring a migrant in the sporting category
This category is for:
- sportspeople who are internationally established at the highest level in their sport; and/or
- sportspeople whose employment will make a significant contribution to the development of their sport in the UK.
All sponsors in this category must have an endorsement from the governing body for their sport. If your sport does not have a governing body recognised by a sports council, please email PBSsportpolicy@ukba.gsi.gov.uk. We will consult the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Central Council of Physical Recreation and/or other sports councils to find out if there is an appropriate body that could act as the governing body recognised by us. In giving its approval, the governing body confirms that you are a genuine club (or equivalent), and you have a legitimate need to bring migrants to the UK as sportspeople.
Terms explained
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Certificate of sponsorship
A 'virtual document' assigned by a licensed sponsor to a migrant who wishes to work for them in the UK. The migrant must quote the certificate of sponsorship reference number when applying for permission to enter or remain in the UK under Tier 2 or Tier 5 of the points-based system or, where the migrant is a Croatian national, when applying for worker authorisation.
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European Economic Area
The European Economic Area (EEA) consists of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Although Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are not members of the European Union (EU), their citizens have the same rights as EU citizens to enter, live in and work in the UK.
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Resident labour market test
This is the process an employer must follow before employing a person who is not a permanent resident of the United Kingdom if he/she is first required to show that no resident worker could be found to take a job.