UK Expansion Worker sponsor licence or Skilled Worker sponsor licence?

If you are looking to set up a business in the UK and you need a visa to do so, you will need to decide how you would like to go about being able to obtain this visa. 

Usually, there are two options: you have an overseas business and you would like to come to the UK to set up a subsidiary or branch, or you register a business in the UK which is set up by a British or settled employee, and you come to the UK to join the business once it is up and running.

Both ways require the business to obtain a sponsor licence, which will allow it to sponsor migrants who need work visas to come to the UK. The two different licences have a number of similarities, e.g. the application process, and the information you need to provide about your business, but differ as to the purpose of the licence and the length of time you can have the sponsor licence for.

Both licences are valid for a total period of 4 years, but unlike the Skilled Worker licence, a UK Expansion Worker licence cannot be renewed. The Home Office expects you to have established a thriving business at the end of the first 2 years of holding an Expansion Worker licence, and would then expect you to obtain the Skilled Worker licence.

Both licences will allow you to sponsor your worker(s) to come to the UK. The main difference is that Skilled Workers can stay in the UK for any length of time, depending on their sponsorship, but Expansion Workers have a limit of up to 12 months stay in the UK, with the option to extend to a maximum of 2 years, at which point the visa holder must apply for a Skilled Worker visa (or any other visa they may be eligible for at that point).

It is very important to understand that the UK Expansion Worker licence is only a ‘way into’ the UK, but is not a long-term sponsorship solution. After 2 years, your business must apply for a Skilled Worker sponsor licence. If you find that you do not meet the various eligibility requirements for the UK Expansion Worker licence, you could always explore the option of applying for a Skilled Worker licence straight away.

How Gherson can assist

Gherson’s Immigration Team are highly experienced in advising on UK visa matters. If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

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