Jump to content

How do I sponsor a migrant?

An interview panel

Sponsor takeovers

This page explains how you should apply for a licence to be on the register of sponsors for the points-based system if you are taking over responsibilities for any migrants working or studying in your organisation.

If a business (or part of a business) where sponsored migrants work or study transfers from one organisation to another, along with its employees or students, the new owner will need a sponsor licence.

This applies, for example, when the assets of an organisation are bought and its employees transfer to the new organisation under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE). More information on TUPE is on the website of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, which you can find on the right side of this page.

How the new sponsor should inform us of the takeover 

If a licensed sponsor is involved in a takeover they must inform us, using the sponsorship management system. 

If the organisation taking over is a licensed sponsor

If an organisation that is not a registered sponsor is taken over by a company that is a registered sponsor, the existing sponsor will need to tell us about the takeover within 28 calendar days of it happening.

If the organisation taking over is not a licensed sponsor

If an organisation that is a registered sponsor is taken over by a company that is not a registered sponsor, then:

  • the existing sponsor must tell us about the takeover within 28 calendar days of it happening; and
  • the new organisation must apply for a sponsor licence within 28 calendar days of the takeover happening. (If it does not, we are likely to reduce the permission to stay in the United Kingdom for all the sponsored migrants who have transferred to the new organisation to 60 calendar days, to allow them time to find a new sponsor. This is because they will no longer be working for, or studying with a licensed sponsor.)

If both companies are licensed sponsors

If one registered sponsor organisation is taken over by another registered sponsor organisation, then;

  • the sponsor organisation which has been taken over must tell us about the change and tell us who has taken responsibility for their respective migrants, within 28 calendar days of it happening; and
  • the sponsor organisation which has taken over the other sponsor organisation must tell us about the change within 28 calendar days of it happening, and inform us of all the migrants that they have taken over responsibility for.

  • back to top

    Additional notifying responsibilities

Tier 4 sponsors must also, where required,notify their inspection or accreditation or accreditation body of any change in ownership of their irganisation.

back to top