Quick Guide

In order to be allowed to transfer employees from an overseas branch to the UK, employers need to obtain a Sponsor Licence from the UKBA.

Below is an overview of the most important aspects for Tier 2 (Intra Company Transfer) Sponsorship Licence Applications:

Who can apply for a licence?

• you must be a genuine organisation or sole trader operating legally in the United Kingdom
• you must not be a  threat to immigration control
• you must be able comply with your sponsor duties
• you must be able to proof common control or ownership with the overseas company you want to transfer workers from.

UKBA application fees

Small Companies - £310
Medium or Large Companies – £1025

Validity of licence

Sponsor licences are normally valid for 4 years

Who can you sponsor?

There are three categories of employees that you can sponsor for under the intra-company transfer category:

• Established staff - this route is for skilled employees that have worked for the employer at least 12 months before their transfer
• Graduate trainee - this route is for recent graduate recruits that transfer to a UK branch for training purposes. The Trainee need to have been working for the organisation at least 3 months prior to the transfer.
• Skills transfer - this route is for new recruits acquire the skills and knowledge that they will need for the future role overseas, or to impart their specialist skills or knowledge to the UK workforce. This route is not to fill vacancies at the UK branch.
  Examples of acceptable skill transfers are:
  • to up-skill a client because the skills are not available in the UK
  • a migrant worker is brought in to gain experience or skills to allow them to fulfil their obligations outside the UK when they return overseas.

Resident Labour Market Test

There is no requirement to advertise the job vacancy prior to sponsoring overseas staff in this category

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How can Forgate help?

Forgate can help you apply for a Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Sponsor Licence which enables you to transfer overseas staff to the UK branch for short or long-term assignments. Our experienced team can guide you through the entire application process to ensure that your application will be successful.

Our Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Sponsor Licence application service includes the following:

• We will guide you through the entire application process with professional advice
• We ensure that you provide the UKBA with the correct documents and information
• We check if you have the right procedures in place and make recommendation if changes are necessary and or advisable.
• We act as your official representative in front of the UKBA throughout the entire sponsor application process up until the decision of your application
• We will give you initial support with assigning Certificate of Sponsorships (COS) through the Sponsorship Management System after your application was successful

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Fees

Forgate has a transparent approach to fees. We charge a flat rate with no hidden charges. Our fees do not include Home Office or Embassy / High Commission fees and we do not follow a “no win, no fee” policy. Our services do not incur VAT

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Next Steps

Please contact us by Email (info@forgate.com) to start using this service

If you need more information about Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Sponsor Licence please visit Frequently Asked Questions

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