Employers - Planning Ahead

The Home Office has published new guidance for Tiers 2 and 5 sponsors. It implicitly encourages businesses to apply for a sponsor licence in readiness for the 1 January 2021 deadline when EU migrants will require sponsorship before they are entitled to work in the UK.

Employers are therefore encouraged to consider applying for sponsor licences now as such licences, once granted, are valid for 4 years and will provide substantial flexibility to employers when they embark on a recruitment drive.

The Home Office has indicated that it intends to start accepting applicants under the new points-based system from Autumn 2020. The majority of applications are anticipated to be considered within 2 months however there are likely to be delays once the volume of applications increase (as is anticipated) exacerbated by the effects of the restrictions imposed by Covid-19 pandemic as it continues.

For further details and comment, please contact our Business Immigration solicitors.