Visa services for businesses

A sponsor licence is a permission granted by the UK Home Office to employers, allowing them to hire foreign workers from outside the UK.

If you wish to employ skilled workers, students, or temporary workers from overseas, your business must obtain a sponsor licence. This licence demonstrates that your organisation can fulfil its sponsorship duties and ensures that you comply with immigration laws and regulations.

Outside of it being a legal requirement, it allows your business to recruit skilled individuals from all over the world, helping you to fill roles that may be challenging to fill with local talent.

Simply UK Visa can assist you in obtaining and maintaining a sponsor licence, ensuring that you meet all the requirements and remain compliant with UK immigration laws.

Determining the appropriate visa for your employee depends on several factors, including the nature of their role, their qualifications, and the duration of their stay in the UK. Some key considerations include the following:

• Job Role and Eligibility: Assess whether the position is eligible for sponsorship under the UK’s immigration rules. For example, roles that qualify for the Skilled Worker visa must meet specific skill and salary requirements.

• Employee Qualifications: Ensure your employee meets the necessary qualifications and experience for the job, such as educational background, work experience, and professional accreditations.

• Length of Stay: Determine how long your employee intends to stay in the UK. Some visas are suitable for long-term employment, while others are designed for short-term or temporary roles.

• Specific Visa Requirement: Each visa category has its own criteria.

Navigating visa options can be complex. Consulting with our immigration experts can provide clarity and ensure you choose the right visa category for your employee. We offer professional advice and guidance to help you determine the most suitable visa for your employee’s specific situation.

Once submitted most applications are dealt with in less than 8 weeks. UKVI may need to visit your business.

You may be able to pay an extra £500 to get a decision within 10 working days. This service is limited to a small number of applications every working day. Faster decisions are allocated in the order that requests arrive (first come, first served).

UK visa processing times can vary, depending on factors such as the type of visa being applied for, the country where the application is made and the applicant’s own individual circumstances and eligibility.

Visa applicants are advised to take guidance on the current processing timescales for their specific type of application.

The processing date is typically counted from when the applicant has submitted their visa application.

Current processing times for applications can be found here:

• If they are applying from outside the UK, see here.
• If they are already in the UK, see here.

If you require a visa more urgently, priority service and super priority services for applications being made from outside the UK are available for work, business and family visa routes.

Yes! There are ways to expedite both the sponsor licence and visa application process.

The UK Home Office offers premium and priority services for certain types of visas, which can significantly reduce the processing time. These services typically involve an additional fee. We can guide you through the available options and help you choose the best one for your situation. We will also assist you in preparing and submitting a complete and accurate application to avoid any unnecessary delays.

The price indicated is our ‘Service Fee’. This covers the professional assistance we provide throughout your immigration process. Including consultation, document preparation and application assistance, all from your dedicated Simply UK Visa expert.

They do not include government application fees, or any additional costs required by the UK Home Office.

Government fees are charges by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for processing visa and immigration applications. These fees vary based on the type of application, such as work visas, family visas, or citizenship. These fees can include the visa application fee, Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), and biometric enrolment fee.

A full list of these fees can be found here.

Your dedicated Simply UK Visa expert will be on hand to guide you through exactly what fees apply to your specific application, giving you a clear indication of the total cost of the application.

At Simply UK Visa we understand obtaining a visa for your employee is just the start of their relocation to the UK, so for every single person we apply for a visa for we will assist them with the following services:

• Opening a UK bank account
• Organising a mobile phone SIM card
• National Insurance number application
• Understanding the UK’s public and private health systems
• Advising for registration to their local NHS doctor
• Selecting private health insurance, if required
• Verifying eligibility for the electoral roll and registering if eligible

We hope this will go some way to help settle your employee into their new life in the UK!