From your first sponsor licence to global mobility at scale — we advise UK employers, founders and HR teams at every stage of business immigration.
Sponsor licences · Skilled Worker · Global Business Mobility · Innovator Founder · business visitors.
Reviewed by the Morgan Smith Immigration team — IAA-regulated UK immigration specialists. Last reviewed 2026-07-16.
TL;DR
Morgan Smith Immigration advises UK employers, founders and HR teams on business immigration: sponsor licences (£611–£1,682, decisions usually within 8 weeks), Skilled Worker and Global Business Mobility visas (from £340), and the Innovator Founder route (£1,357). Most visa decisions take 3 weeks outside the UK.
£611+
Sponsor licence fee
8 weeks
Typical licence decision
3 weeks
Typical visa decision (outside UK)
Sponsor Licence Services
Everything a sponsoring employer needs — from first application to compliance defence.
Global Business Mobility
Five routes for international businesses moving people into the UK.
Founders & Talent
Routes for entrepreneurs and exceptional individuals building in the UK.
Business Visitors
Short-term business activity without sponsorship.
Legacy & Closed Routes
Holding status under a closed route? These pages cover deadlines and your options.
What Our Clients Say
Independent Google reviews from the businesses and applicants we have supported.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from UK employers about business immigration.
Which visa does our business need to hire an overseas worker?
For most permanent hires the worker applies for a Skilled Worker Visa, which requires your business to hold a sponsor licence. For moving existing staff between your overseas and UK offices, the Global Business Mobility routes — such as Senior or Specialist Worker — are usually the right fit.
Does our company need a sponsor licence?
Yes, for most overseas hires — including many EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who arrived after 31 December 2020. A Worker licence costs £611 for small or charitable sponsors and £1,682 for medium or large sponsors, and usually continues for as long as the business stays compliant.
How long does a sponsor licence application take?
Standard applications are usually decided within 8 weeks. Where available, the pre-licence priority service considers eligible applications within 10 working days for a £750 fee.
What is the Global Business Mobility route?
A family of five sponsored routes for international businesses: Senior or Specialist Worker, UK Expansion Worker, Graduate Trainee, Secondment Worker and Service Supplier. The temporary routes cost £340 per person; Senior or Specialist Worker starts at £819.
Can we transfer staff from our overseas office to the UK?
Yes. Use Senior or Specialist Worker where you have an established, trading UK entity, or UK Expansion Worker where the UK branch has not started trading yet. Both require sponsorship and a Certificate of Sponsorship.
Which route suits founders and entrepreneurs?
The Innovator Founder Visa — for founders whose business idea is endorsed as new, innovative, viable and scalable by an approved endorsing body. The application fee is £1,357 outside the UK, the grant is 3 years, and settlement may be possible after 3 years.
What happened to the Innovator, Start-up and Investor visas?
The Innovator Visa became the Innovator Founder Visa in April 2023, and the Start-up Visa closed to new applicants the same year. Tier 1 Investor closed in February 2022 — extensions ended on 17 February 2026 and settlement applications must be made before 17 February 2028. The Sole Representative route was replaced by UK Expansion Worker.
What does UK business immigration cost overall?
Typical government fees: sponsor licence £611–£1,682, Certificate of Sponsorship £525 (or £55 for temporary routes), worker visa fees from £340 (temporary Global Business Mobility) or £819 (Skilled Worker), plus the £1,035-per-year Immigration Health Surcharge. Our service fees are quoted per case.
Can someone visit the UK for business without sponsorship?
Short business trips — meetings, negotiations, conferences and similar permitted activities — may be possible as a business visitor without sponsorship. Visitors cannot take employment or do productive work, so the boundary matters; see our Business Visit Visa page.
Can Morgan Smith Immigration manage everything end to end?
Yes. Our IAA-regulated immigration advisers handle sponsor licence applications, compliance systems, Certificates of Sponsorship and the workers’ visa applications — one team across the whole process. We cannot guarantee Home Office outcomes, but we make sure every application is properly prepared.
Sources
Legal information on this page is based on guidance from GOV.UK, the UK Home Office / UK Visas and Immigration, legislation.gov.uk, and Free Movement. Rules change frequently — speak to our team to confirm current requirements.
Plan Your Business Immigration Strategy
One IAA-regulated team for your sponsor licence, compliance and every worker visa that follows.