The Border and Immigration Agency have now issued details of the application process for employers wishing to apply for a license to employ foreign workers under the new points based system, which replaces the existing work permit system.

As from Autumn this year any employer wishing to employ workers under the new Tier 2 system on a work permit must be licensed as a sponsor.

The cost of the application is £300 for a small
sponsor and £1000 for all other sponsors.

A small sponsor will be a company that comes under s382 and 383 of the Companies Act as a small company or is unincorporated and employs less than 50 people.