GCP Tier 2 - For sponsored skilled workers

Tier 2 is a scheme that is available for individuals who have a job offer from a UK-based employer that is willing to provide sponsorship.

Any UK employer wishing to recruit a skilled worker from outside of the EEA will need to obtain a sponsor licence, which involves preparing and submitting a number of documents to demonstrate a company’s trading presence, efficient HR systems and compliance with immigration rules. This license enables UK companies to sponsor migrants through Certificates of Sponsorship and the types that would be applicable to technical and engineering professionals are:

Tier 2 (ICT) Intra-Company Transfers; to allow employers to bring key members of staff from an overseas branch of the same company to their UK office. They must have been employed by an overseas branch of the same company for at least six months and the company does not have to advertise the position before applying.

The three main requirements for Tier 2 (General) new hires are:

• The position on offer must be at NVQ Level III or above
• The employee has the qualification and / or experience to do the job
• The position is either one of the recognised shortage occupations or the employer has advertised the position and can demonstrate that a suitably qualified resident worker was not available to fill the post