Primary Care Visa Support Scheme
Disclaimer
CWTH provides guidance only and cannot give visa-related advice. We are not an immigration agency. For visa or immigration issues, please contact the Home Office Employer Helpline: 0300 123 4699 (Monday–Friday, 9am–4pm) or consult a qualified immigration lawyer regarding your personal circumstances.
Did you know?
- The Skilled Worker Visa applies to all primary care staff, including GPs, nurses, allied health professionals, and other healthcare staff.
- Over 50% of Coventry and Warwickshire GP trainees are non-UK nationals.
- To recruit a non-UK resident, a practice must hold an approved Home Office sponsorship licence.
Introduction
All non-UK residents wishing to live and work in the UK require a visa. The Skilled Worker Visa enables employers to recruit skilled non-UK residents, including healthcare professionals. Skilled workers can:
- Bring their family members to the UK.
- Apply for settlement in the UK after five years of lawful residence.
- Work in eligible roles across primary care or other healthcare settings
Guidance documents, presentations and FAQs are available to support practices through the Home Office application process.
Benefits of Becoming a Sponsor
- Supports long-term workforce planning.
- Sponsorship licences now run for 10 years (as of April 2024).
- Reduces reliance on costly locums and recruitment agencies.
- Access a wider pool of candidates, particularly non-UK residents completing ST3/CCT.
- Supports International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who need a visa to remain in the UK post-CCT
As International Medical Graduates (IMG) complete their GP training and obtain their CCT, their HEE sponsored visas (which allowed them to train in the UK) are no longer valid. These GPs need to obtain new visas to allow them to remain in the UK and work as newly qualified GPs.
How to Become a Sponsor
To apply for a sponsorship licence, your practice will need to
- Complete an online application – processing typically takes 8 weeks.
- Prepare documentation in advance, following Home Office guidance.
- Pay the application fee:
- £536 for small practices
- £1,476 for medium/large practices
Once approved, your practice will be added to the Register of Sponsors and receive access to the Sponsorship Management System (SMS).
Your Responsibilities Once Licensed
Certificate of sponsorship allocation & certificate
- Receive a Certificate of Sponsorship allocation and licence certificate.
- Confirm your allocation annually with the Home Office (free of charge).
- Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to each non-UK resident employee.
- Maintain electronic records for each sponsored worker to support their visa application.
- Pay the Immigration Skills Charge when assigning a certificate (see Home Office guidance).
UK visa sponsorship for employers: Certificates of sponsorship – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Immigration skills charge
To be paid when you assign a certificate of sponsorship to the worker e.g:
For more information visit: https://www.gov.uk/uk-visa-sponsorship-employers/immigration-skills-charge
Certificates of Sponsorship
Each non-UK worker must be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). These are electronic records, not physical documents. Each certificate has a unique number used to apply for a visa.
Key Points:
- Workers must apply for their visa within 3 months of the certificate being assigned.
- Applications cannot be submitted more than 3 months before the job start date.
- Check if your worker requires an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate before assigning a CoS
Defined Certificates
- For applicants applying for a Skilled Worker visa from outside the UK.
- Apply via the SMS once your licence is active.
- Typically approved within one working day; may take longer if UKVI needs additional checks
Undefined Certificates
- For Skilled Workers applying from inside the UK.
- Estimate how many undefined certificates are required during your first year when applying for your licence
Provisional Licences
- If your licence is provisional, initially only one CoS can be assigned to the authorising officer.
- After visa approval, you can upgrade to an A-rating licence and request up to 9 additional CoS through the SMS.
Frequently asked questions
Click here to access frequently asked questions around this process.
Home Office Helpline
Telephone: 0300 123 4699
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am–4pm
Use this line for guidance on sponsorship licences, certificates, or visa processes