How do I sponsor a migrant worker?
Supporting evidence you must send
This section explains the documents you should provide to support your application for a licence to sponsor migrants under the points-based system.
On this page
Mandatory documents
Certain documents are always required. We call these 'mandatory documents'. These are marked as category A in Appendix A of the Guidance for Sponsors.
We will not accept a Companies House certificate as one of the documents required, because this document is not listed in Appendix A.
Primary documents with exceptions
The documents marked as category B in Appendix A of the Guidance for sponsors are required (mandatory) for certain types of organisation in certain sectors.
Planning permission and/or local planning authority consent is a category B document in Appendix A. However, this will not appear on the submission sheet which you send in as part of your valid application, and you do not need to send evidence of it as a supporting document to validate your application. If you want to send it as one of your mandatory documents, you can. If you do not send it, but we decide that we need to see it before we can make a decision on your application, we will write to you and ask for it.
Secondary documents
The documents marked as category C in Appendix A of the Guidance for sponsors can be provided in addition to the mandatory documents, but cannot replace the mandatory documents.
For example, if you are a registered charity, you must send proof of your charitable status, which is a mandatory document. You will then need to send three more pieces of evidence, which you can choose from category C.
Sending original documents
You must send the original documents or certified copies.
A certified copy is one that includes a signed statement by the issuing authority or by a solicitor or notary. The certifier must confirm that it is an accurate copy of the original document. Each document must be certified, clearly detailing the certifier's name, their signature and the organisation that they represent. If a certifier's details cannot be verified, we will reject the document. Sometimes, when a document has more than one page, the certifier does not want to certify every page. We will accept the document if the pages are all attached together (such as stapling) and the top page is certified as described. The certification must also clearly state how many pages have been certified.
If we ask for any documents that are not in English or Welsh, they must be accompanied by a certified translation. The translator's credentials should be provided, with their official confirmation that the translation is accurate.
We reserve the right to ask for original documents.
Missing documents
If you do not provide us with all the required documents when you apply, we will reject your application.
How we return your documents
We will send our decision letter and return your original documents to the address given for your authorising officer on the online sponsor application. We will not send them to any other address. We send all documents by recorded delivery.
Additional documents
We may need to make further checks or ask for further documents so we can be sure that you meet the requirements for the category in which you have applied.
For example, we may email you to ask for evidence that you hold the appropriate planning permission or Local Planning Authority consent to operate your type or class of business at your trading address (where this is a Local Authority requirement).
If we need to email you to ask for more documents we will always email either the person you have named as your Key Contact or the person you have named as your Authorising Officer
List of supporting documents
You should read the list of supporting documents in Appendix A of the full policy guidance in the Guidance for sponsor applications. It tells you which supporting documents you must send.
To use the list, you should:
- choose your type of organisation;
- read the guidance, which gives you further instructions on the types of documents your organisation needs to send; and
- find out which mandatory documents (category A), primary documents with exceptions (category B), and secondary documents (category C) you must send.
Terms explained
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Mandatory documents
Documents that you must send with your application.
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Working days
Monday to Friday are counted as working days. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays are not counted as working days. Ten working days may be two weeks or less, depending on where the weekends fall.