The need for foreign talent in the UK has gradually increased as more businesses strive to remain competitive in a global market. With a shortage of skilled workers in various sectors, hiring overseas workers offers a solution to fill the gap. Foreign workers also bring diverse perspectives that can drive innovation and growth.

If you want to hire overseas workers for your company, this blog is for you. Here, we will explore how to hire foreign talent in the UK. Before that, let’s examine the advantages of employing overseas workers and the challenges companies face.

Advantages of Hiring Overseas Workers

Here are some well-known advantages of employing overseas workers:

1. Access to a Global Talent Pool

You can tap into a vast global talent pool when you search beyond local candidates. This allows you to find highly qualified individuals with specific skills that may be scarce in the domestic market. Hiring overseas workers helps you find candidates who will meet your job requirements and bring unique experiences and insights to benefit your company.

2. More Flexibility

Employing overseas workers offers you more flexibility regarding hours and working conditions. People from different cultures or working environments tend to be more flexible, which can benefit you if you plan to expand your business during peak season.

However, you must be fair about working conditions and refrain from exploiting them.

3. Increased Diversity

A diverse workforce fosters creativity and innovation by bringing together individuals from various backgrounds and cultures. Employing overseas workers contributes to this diversity, improving problem-solving capabilities and a broader range of ideas. With a diverse team, your company will become more adaptable and better equipped to meet the needs of a global customer base, ultimately giving you a competitive edge in the marketplace.

4. Improved Company Reputation

Hiring overseas workers can significantly improve your company's image, portraying it as progressive and inclusive. This global perspective can attract customers who value diversity and social responsibility. Moreover, foreign workers can help you build relationships with international markets, facilitating opportunities for expansion and partnerships that can further bolster your company's reputation.

5. Access to New Skills and Knowledge

Foreign workers bring unique skills and knowledge to your company, which can be advantageous. They often possess expertise in emerging technologies or methodologies that are not prevalent among the locals. By employing overseas workers for your operations, you can improve your products and services, stay ahead of competitors, and foster a culture of continuous learning within your teams.

Despite these advantages, UK companies often face many challenges in the hiring process. Let's examine them…

Challenges UK Companies Face While Employing Overseas Workers

One significant hurdle companies in the UK face when hiring overseas workers is navigating the complex visa application system. The UK government has established stringent eligibility criteria for the employment of foreign talent, making it difficult for potential candidates to secure visas, especially if they do not meet specific educational or income requirements.

The costs associated with sponsoring migrant workers can also be substantial, which includes application fees and additional expenses for family visas if applicable. For smaller businesses with limited resources, these costs may deter them from pursuing international hires.

The lengthy visa application process adds another layer of complexity. It can take months for applications to be processed. During this time, companies may struggle to fill vacant positions that local candidates could fill more quickly.

Lastly, visa approvals are always uncertain. Applications may be denied for various reasons, challenging workforce planning and stability.

How to Hire Foreign Talent in the UK: A Step-by-Step Guide

To understand how to employ foreign talent, you must know the key steps to ensure compliance with UK immigration laws. Here, we have explained how to hire foreign talent in the UK to help companies in this process:

Step 1: Determine if You Are Eligible for a Sponsor Licence

Before hiring overseas workers, you must assess your eligibility for a sponsor licence. This licence is necessary for most UK employers to recruit international talent legally. To qualify as a sponsor, your company must be a legitimate entity operating within the UK without any unspent convictions related to immigration violations or recent licence revocations.

In this context, it is essential to remember that there are specific individuals for whom you do not require a sponsor licence. This includes:

• Irish citizens
• People with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Individuals who possess indefinite leave to remain in the UK
• British Overseas Territories citizens (except for those from the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus)

Step 2: Check the Type of Licence You Need to Apply For

The second step of how to hire foreign talent in the UK involves checking which type of sponsor licence you will need for transferring staff to the UK. Here are the two types of sponsor licences you can apply for:

• Worker licence
• Temporary worker licence

Each of the above categories can further be divided into subcategories for visas, which are mentioned below.

For Worker Licence:

• Skilled worker
• Senior or specialist worker visa (formerly known as the intra-company transfer visa)
• International sportsperson
• Minister of religion

For Temporary Worker Licence

• Scale-up worker
• Seasonal worker
• Creative worker
• Charity worker
• Government-authorised exchange
• International agreement
• Religious worker
• Service supplier
• Graduate trainee
• Secondment worker
• UK Expansion worker

Step 3: Apply for a Sponsor Licence

Applying for a sponsor licence involves submitting an online application through the Home Office's website. During this process, you must provide supporting documents demonstrating your legitimate need to employ overseas workers since it is no longer mandatory for companies to conduct a labour market test.

The application fee for a sponsor licence will vary based on your company’s size. Small businesses generally pay £536, while larger firms may have to pay up to £1,476 depending on the type of licence they require.

Applying for a Sponsor Licence: Requirements

As a part of the application process for a sponsor licence, you must meet certain obligations, such as:

• Setup appropriate HR systems that allow you to keep your records  up-to-date and fulfil all responsibilities related to being a sponsor
• Establish a process which ensures that only eligible candidates will be granted a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
• Stay prepared for visits from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for sponsor licence compliance assessment

If your sponsor licence is approved, you will receive an A-rated licence, which allows you to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to foreign employees. If you encounter any issues during this process, you can contact our experienced immigration advisors in the UK for help with your sponsor licence.

Step 4: Apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

The next step in how to hire foreign talent is applying for a certificate of sponsorship (CoS).

To apply for a visa, each worker you sponsor has to possess a valid CoS. You can apply for a CoS through the Online Sponsorship Management System (SMS), to which you will be granted access once your sponsor licence gets approved.

The application must include detailed information about your worker's duties and expected salary. The CoS is valid for three months.

The cost of applying for a CoS will vary depending on the type of licence your worker will require. It is £239 for a worker hired under the worker licence and £25 for a worker hired under the temporary worker licence.

Step 5: Your Future Employee Applies for a UK Work Visa

Once the CoS is issued, prospective employees can apply for their work visa using this document within three months.

The required documents and fees they must submit for a UK work visa will depend on the type of visa they are applying for, their citizenship and their unique circumstances.

All the documents they submit must be in English or Welsh.

Conclusion

Hiring overseas workers can benefit UK businesses seeking growth and innovation despite challenges in local labour markets. We hope this step-by-step guide simplifies the process of hiring foreign talent for your company.

For Corporate Immigration Assistance, Contact UK Visas

If you are looking for corporate immigration assistance in the UK for employing overseas workers, we can help you here at UK Visas. From sponsor licence assistance to helping your employees with their visa applications, our corporate immigration advisors can handle everything. Call us today for outsource immigration assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Employing Overseas Workers

Do UK companies hire foreign workers?

UK companies are actively hiring overseas workers to access a global talent pool. You can recruit skilled individuals from outside the UK who can contribute towards your business’s growth and encourage innovation. However, these workers must obtain the appropriate immigration permission to work legally in the country.

What do foreign workers need to work legally in the UK?

All foreign nationals except Irish citizens must apply for a work permit to gain legal employment in the UK. The most common route is through a Skilled Worker visa, which can be valid for up to five years. After this period, employees may apply for indefinite leave to remain or choose to return to their home countries.

What is the minimum salary requirement for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa?

As of April 2024, the minimum salary requirement for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa is £38,700 per year, up from £ 26,200. However, some roles mentioned on the "Immigration Salary List" may have a lower threshold of £30,960.

How long does it take to get a sponsor licence approved?

Most sponsor licence applications are processed within eight weeks. However, if you require a faster decision, you can go for a priority service by paying an additional £500, which may expedite the decision within ten working days. This is an essential piece of information to keep in mind if you are searching for information on hiring foreign talent to obtain your sponsor licence on time.

What is the cost of applying for a sponsor licence? The cost of applying for a sponsor licence varies based on the size of your organisation. For small or charitable sponsors, the fee is £536 for worker and temporary worker licences. On the other hand, medium and large businesses must pay £1,476 for a sponsor licence. This pricing structure helps to ensure that businesses of all sizes can participate in employing overseas workers.

Laura Charge

Laura, is a Level 1 IAA acccredited adviser with over 20 years experience of working within the Home Office and the UK Immigration Service. She brings a unique advantage to our team. Her expertise in Immigration law and writing skills are an asset.