Your employer’s sponsor licence: the three questions to ask

A job offer from a UK employer is only the start of a Skilled Worker application. Before you resign from anything at home, ask the employer three questions.

1. Do you hold a sponsor licence, and is it A-rated?

Only licensed sponsors can issue a Certificate of Sponsorship. You can check the public register of licensed sponsors yourself, but ask the employer directly as well. A licence that is suspended or downgraded can stop your application.

2. Which occupation code is the role under?

Every sponsored role sits under an occupation code, and the code sets the rules that apply, including the going rate for the job. A role described one way in the advert and coded another way on the certificate is a common cause of refusal.

3. Does the salary meet the threshold for that code?

The salary has to meet both the general threshold and the going rate for the code, whichever is higher, unless a discount applies to you. Allowances and bonuses often do not count.

If any answer is unclear, send us the offer letter. We read it within one working day and tell you what to ask next.