Non-UK Employee Visas and the Skilled Worker Route

Introduction

Migrant staff are an integral part of the UK workforce and bring a wealth of skills and diversity to organisations faced with critical skills shortages in the domestic market. By law, UK employers are required to have a valid sponsor licence in order to hire international workers under the UK’s skilled worker route.

Managing the recruitment and employment process, however, is complex and poses a real challenge to organisations. Getting it right is imperative to avoid punitive fines and other illegal working sanctions, such as losing a sponsorship licence.

Non-UK Employee Visas Course Overview

This comprehensive course leaves your team equipped to handle this complex and ever-changing area of employing workers from overseas.

Learning objectives:
  • How to legally employ migrants using the Skilled Worker route

  • The Points Based System and qualifying criteria

  • Where you might be vulnerable to illegal workers and how to avoid punitive fines

  • How to remain compliant and not risk your sponsorship license

  • How to prepare for a Home Office audit

  • Planned changes and updates for 2024 and beyond, including e-visas and the EU settlement scheme

  • Update on home office requirements: what must your organisation be aware of?

  • An overview of becoming a licenced sponsor (optional if you do not already have a sponsor license)

  • Sponsor compliance duties

  • Summary of immigration routes for staff coming into the UK

  • Understanding immigration status: alternative options to sponsorship

  • Skilled worker visas

  • Considerations before you sponsor an individual to work for you

  • Issuing a certificate of sponsorship & the visa application process

  • Understanding the different types of certificate (defined versus undefined)

  • The visa application process

  • Sponsor compliance

  • UKVI audits

Employees new to this area, with limited experience of employing overseas workers, or more experienced team members looking for a refresher.

ADMINISTRATION, HR, RECRUITMENT, ONBOARDING, COMPLIANCE, BACKGROUND CHECKING, VETTING, GLOBAL MOBILITY, PEOPLE AND CULTURE, COLLEAGUE SERVICES, IMMIGRATION, LEGAL, TALENT. 

Contact Details

WhatsApp Image 2025-07-23 at 10.00.28

Catherine Ouston,
Head of In-House Training

📥 teamtraining@bfi.co.uk
📞 +44(0)1983 861133

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All in-house training includes:

End-to-end support: Pre-course SWOTs, tailored expert trainers, interactive learning, full documentation, and 3-month impact reviews.

What our delegates say:

“Very well structured and helpful – one of the best courses I have attended so far in my professional development.”

Really useful as I am new to managing Sponsor License, immigration and compliance and am very wary of getting it wrong. The trainer was so approachable and took time to answer all my questions.”

“Absolutely brilliant – packed with information but well-paced so not too overwhelming. I learned so much today.”

“Please let me know when this runs again as I will be sending key team members to make sure we don’t make any overseas hiring mistakes.”
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