UK Business Visas

To employ Irish residents that don’t have an Irish passport, employers need to apply for a sponsor licence.

Any foreign worker without the immigration rights to work in the UK can be sponsored to help them get a visa. Some foreign workers might be considered ‘settled workers’, allowing them to work in the UK without sponsorship.

Settled workers can be any of the following:

• British citizens
• Irish citizens, with some exceptions
• British Overseas Territories citizens
• Commonwealth citizens with the right to abode
• EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens if they have a Leave to Remain under the EU Settlement Scheme
• Anyone else with Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK

Irish citizens can work in the UK as long as they don’t have an international travel ban, deportation order, or an exclusion decision against them. Irish citizens can apply under the EU Settlement Scheme to remain in the UK, though it isn’t required.

When a certificate is assigned to a worker, the UK sponsor will need to pay the visa fee assigned to each certificate. This visa fee will depend on the type of sponsor licence being applied for. Certificate fees are as follows:

• Temporary Worker: £21
• Worker: £99
• International Sportsperson (12 months or less): £21
• International Sportsperson (more than 12 months): £199

Along with these charges, an additional immigration skills charge might be due. This charge will not apply to many different scientist professions, research and development managers, higher education professionals, and sports players and coaches.

The immigration skills charge will have to be paid when assigning a certificate of sponsorship. Costs will depend on the size of the organisation:

• Small or charitable: £364 (initial 12 months), £182 (additional 6 month periods)
• Medium or large: £1,000 (initial 12 months), £500 (additional 6 month periods)

An organisation will fall into the medium or large category if two of the following apply:

• A turnover of more than £10.2 million
• Assets greater than £5.1 million
• The UK employer or business employs more than 50 workers

The Innovator Visa replaced the former UK Entrepreneur Visa (Tier 1). This visa allows non-UK business professionals to come to the UK without the need for sponsorship to set up a new business in the UK. Furthermore, this business or project with UK employees must be new and different from anything else available in the business sector.

The UK Innovator Visa allows visa holders to stay for 3 years in the UK. Visa holders may renew their visa as many times as needed. Foreign nationals are eligible to apply for settlement in the UK at the end of 3 years spent in the country.

Requirements

• The business must be a new enterprise
• The business idea and plans must be original and approved by an endorsing body
• The UK business project needs to include ideas and plans for a viable business that has the potential to succeed and grow
• The visa applicant must be able to read, write and speak English adequately

Applying for an Innovator Visa

Applications can be made online, and you can also include your partner and any children if eligible. When you apply, documents will be required to prove your identity, and you might also be required to make an appointment for the collection of biometric information (photograph and fingerprints).

When all of the necessary documents have been provided, it can take as long as 8 weeks to receive your decision if you are in the UK. When applying outside of the UK the decision should arrive in 3 weeks.

Fees

• When applying outside the UK: £1,036
• Extending or switching when in the UK: £1,292

These fees apply to you and each member of your family that is also applying. There is also a healthcare surcharge to pay along with the Innovator visa charge. The price you pay will depend on your circumstances and could be more than the visa charge.

The Start-up visa is similar to the Innovator visa though only permits you to stay in the UK for 2 years, and this cannot be renewed. You might be able to switch to an Innovator visa after 2 years if the business is sustainable and you meet other criteria.

Requirements

• The visa applicant has received an endorsement by either a UK higher education institution or a business organisation
• The business is new
• The business idea needs to be innovative
• The business must have the potential to succeed

Start-up Visa Application

Applications can be made online, and your immediate family can be included in the application. Documents to prove identity are required, and you should find out the result in under 8 weeks.

Fees

• When applying outside the UK: £378
• Switching when in the UK: £508

These fees will also be charged for each partner and child attached to the application. The health surcharge will also need to be paid during the application for each applicant.

If you are a leader in your field or have the potential to be one, you could qualify for a Global Talent visa which allows you to work in the UK for 5 years. If you are a pioneer or have been very successful in academia, research, digital technology, and the arts or culture, the Global Talent visa is an option.

Requirements

To be accepted for this visa, you’ll need an endorsement or a recognized award in your field. What exactly is required varies but could simply be a job offer in some cases.

Applying for a Global Talent Visa

The online application requires proof of identity, which means documentation is required and possibly an appointment for biometric information collection. When these documents have been provided, it can take up to 8 weeks for the decision.

Fees

Application for the Global Talent visa costs £623. This is paid in two parts, £456 for the endorsement application, and £167 when actually applying for the visa. Even if you have an award that gives you eligibility, the cost will be £623.

You can also include your partner and children when applying. Each person will be charged an additional £623 in addition to the healthcare surcharge which is payable each year.