How do I sponsor a migrant worker?
Categories of skilled worker
This page explains the different categories of skilled worker that you can apply to sponsor under Tier 2 of the points-based system.
On this page
What is the Tier 2 (General) category?
Tier 2 (General) is for migrants who have a skilled job offer to fill a job that you have not been able to fill with a settled worker.
The job must be at or above National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 6 (or the equivalent in Scotland) - or:
- at NQF level 4 or above if the migrant is already in the UK under Tier 2 (General), Tier 2 (Intra company transfer) or a work permit if that permission to stay was granted under the rules in place between 6 April 2011 and 13 June 2012; or
- At NQF level 4 or above if the migrant is a Croatian national; or
- at NQF level 3 or above if the migrant is already in the UK under Tier 2 (General), Tier 2 (Intra company transfer) or a work permit if that permission to stay was granted under the rules in place before 6 April 2011
The migrant must be paid at the appropriate salary as set out in the guidance for sponsors.
What is the Tier 2 (Intra company transfer) category?
Tier 2 (Intra company transfer) enables multinational companies to transfer their employees to the UK under 4 sub-categories:
- Long-term staff and Short-term staff - these routes are for established, skilled employees to be transferred to the UK branch of their organisation to fill a post that cannot be filled by a settled worker. Long-term staff can come to the UK for 3 years (which can then be extended by another 2 years). Short-term staff can come to the UK for up to 12 months.
- Graduate trainee - this route allows the transfer of recent graduate recruits to a UK branch of the organisation, for training purposes
- Skills transfer - this route allows the transfer of new recruits to a UK branch of the organisation to acquire the skills and knowledge that they will need overseas, or to impart their specialist skills or knowledge to the UK workforce.
If you want to apply for a Tier 2 (Intra company transfer) licence, all of the branches (or entities) listed in your application must be linked by common ownership or control. You will need to provide evidence of this. Because of the nature of these transfers, you will not have to meet the resident labour market test.
Jobs must be at or above NQF level 6 (or the equivalent in Scotland) - or:
- at NQF level 4 or above if the migrant is already in the UK under Tier 2 (General), Tier 2 (Intra company transfer) or a work permit if that permission to stay was granted under the rules in place between 6 April 2011 and 13 June 2012; or
- at NQF level 3 or above if the migrant is already in the UK under Tier 2 (General), Tier 2 (Intra company transfer) or a work permit if that permission to stay was granted under the rules in place before 6 April 2011.
The migrant must be paid at the appropriate rate as set out in the guidance for sponsors.
In some of the sub-categories, the migrant must have been working for your overseas branch for a minimum period directly before the transfer.
What is the Tier 2 (Sportsperson) category?
Tier 2 (Sportsperson) is for elite sportspeople and coaches:
- who are internationally established at the highest level; and
- whose employment will make a significant contribution to the development of their sport at the highest level in the UK; and
- who intend to base themselves in the UK.
Migrants under this category must be sponsored by a club (or equivalent) that is a licensed Tier 2 (Sportsperson) sponsor.
What is the Tier 2 (Minister of religion) category?
Tier 2 (Minister of religion) is for people coming to the UK to fill a religious role within a genuine (bona fide) religious organisation if there is no suitable settled worker to fill the role. The role can involve:
- preaching or performing pastoral duties;
- work as a missionary; or
- work in a religious order within a community which involves a permanent commitment, like a monastery or convent.
Pastoral duties include:
- leading worship regularly and on special occasions;
- giving religious education to children and adults by preaching or teaching;
- officiating at marriages, funerals and other special services;
- offering counselling and welfare support to members of the congregation;
- recruiting, training and co-ordinating the work of any local volunteers and lay preachers.
Work as a missionary is not just preaching and teaching. It can include:
- the organisation of missionary activity (but not administrative or clerical work, unless filling a senior post);
- supervising staff;
- co-ordinating the organisation of missionary work;
- being in charge of a particular activity such as accounts/finance, personnel management or IT; and
- translating religious texts (which is classed as missionary work, not clerical work).
The work in a religious order must be in the order itself, or must be outside work directed by the order.
If a migrant is a member of a religious order and studying for a qualification, a formal full-time course of study or training in an academic institution not looked after by the order, they should apply as a student under Tier 4 of the points-based system.