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Skilled Workers
Visa Sponsorship Licences

This page displays useful information, guidance and resources for practices regarding Visa Sponsorship and International Recruitment.

Funding available

Act now to become a visa sponsorship practice
BSW Training Hub are pleased to offer some financial support (£574 for cost of licence) to practices who apply for a visa sponsorship licence. To secure this funding and become a sponsoring practice please email Rachel Cooke to find out more.
Email now

Introduction

Over half of the doctors in GP training are international medical graduates (IMGs). This percentage is even higher for those training in the BSW area. Many of these doctors who are on Skilled Worker Visa (formerly Tier 2 Visa) are typically not eligible for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK when they qualify and must be employed by a practice with a Visa Sponsorship Licence to continue working in the UK.  These candidates have spent three years training in England as part of the NHSE programme and have excellent language skills and knowledge about the NHS.

In BSW many of the IMGs completing their GP training would like to stay in the area and are looking for employment. But only 27 of 83 (32%) BSW practices currently hold Visa Sponsorship Licences.  You can help support them into employment with your organisation by becoming a visa sponsor.

Benefits

Gaining the right

Gaining the right to be a UK visa sponsoring practice has many advantages and could form an important part of your general practice workforce planning.

An expanded workforce

With over 50% of ST3s due to complete their CCT in the next 12 months being non-UK residents, having a visa sponsorship licence means you can issue UK Certificates of Sponsorship for clinicians from outside the UK, applying on a Skilled Worker Visa (formerly a Tier 2 General work visa) and gives you access to an expanded workforce to employ from.

Becoming a sponsor

Further guidance and how to apply for a licence can be found here.

The process is an online application –gov.uk/apply-sponsor-licence

Useful resources

Once you’re a sponsor

You must assign a certificate of sponsorship to each foreign worker you employ.  This is an electronic record, not a physical document.  Each certificate has its own number which a worker can use to apply for a visa.  You’ll need to pay a fee of £525 when you assign a certificate to a worker.  For more information visit: gov.uk/uk-visa-sponsorship-employers/certificates-of-sponsorship

If you assign a certificate of sponsorship to a worker on a Skilled Worker or Senior or Specialist Worker visa, you will also need to pay the immigration skills charge.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Information for Visa Sponsorship
The Home Office has announced that from 6 April 2024, employers that already hold a sponsorship licence will no longer be required to apply for a licence renewal after four years. There is no action needed for employers. If a practice has a sponsorship licence that is due to expire on or after this date, the Home Office will automatically extend the expiry date on the licence by 10 years. This will help reduce visa sponsorship related admin and costs for practices.
End to sponsorship licence renewal

Visa Sponsoring Practices in BSW

A list of BSW practices that hold Visa Sponsorship Licences, and their contact details are as follows:

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