This page explains how migrants coming to the United Kingdom must have sponsorship under tiers 2, 4 and 5 of the points-based system to study or work.

Requirements that all sponsors must meet

You must meet the following requirements to become a licensed sponsor:

• you must be a genuine organisation or sole trader operating legally in the United Kingdom; 
• there must be no evidence that you are a threat to immigration control – the Home Office look at the history and background of your organisation and key personnel;
• you must nominate a level 1 user, a key contact and an authorising officer for the sponsorship management system; 
• you must be able to comply with your sponsor duties – the Home Office look at your processes such as your human resource (HR) systems to make sure you can carry out your duties;
• you must send all your supporting documents when applying; and
• you must meet the additional requirements for the tier and category you are applying under.

How migrants must apply for permission to enter or stay

All migrants who want to come under sponsorship must get permission to enter before they come to the United Kingdom, except non-visa nationals in the tier 5 - creative and sporting categories wanting to come for less than three months.

Migrants cannot apply for permission to enter or stay without a certificate of sponsorship. But a certificate of sponsorship does not guarantee that they will be given permission to enter or stay.