CORPORATE & COMMERCIAL LAW  / EMPLOYMENT LAW FOR BUSINESSES / BUSINESS IMMIGRATION /
CONSTRUCTION LAW / DISPUTE RESOLUTION & LITIGATION / 

Business Immigration

Expanding your workforce internationally requires compliance with UK immigration laws. Forest & Co assists businesses with sponsoring skilled workers, securing business visas, and ensuring Home Office compliance. Our legal experts help companies navigate the complexities of right-to-work checks, sponsor licences, and visa sponsorship obligations, reducing the risk of legal penalties and maintaining a compliant workforce.

To hire non-UK nationals under the Skilled Worker route or other visa categories, UK employers must hold a valid sponsor licence. At Forest & Co, we support businesses in securing and maintaining their Home Office licence — ensuring compliance at every stage.

We assist with:

  • Applying for a sponsor licence (Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, etc.)
  • Drafting compliant HR systems, policies, and record-keeping frameworks
  • Assigning Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS)
  • Ongoing sponsor duties, reporting, and renewals
  • Preparing for and responding to Home Office audits and compliance visits
  • Licence suspensions, downgrades, and revocation appeals

We work with companies across all sectors — from startups to global firms — and understand the balance between business needs and legal responsibilities. Whether you are hiring your first overseas employee or expanding your international talent pipeline, we provide clear, practical guidance to help you operate confidently within the UK’s immigration framework.

The Skilled Worker visa and Global Business Mobility routes (formerly Intra-Company Transfer) allow UK employers to recruit international talent to fill essential roles. At Forest & Co, we guide businesses through every stage of sponsoring overseas employees — ensuring full compliance and timely approvals.

We assist with:

  • Assessing eligibility under the Skilled Worker or ICT routes
  • Assigning and managing Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS)
  • Preparing and submitting visa applications for employees and their dependants
  • Advising on minimum salary thresholds and sponsorship conditions
  • Navigating the immigration rules for hybrid, remote, or flexible working
  • Visa extensions, switching routes, and ILR (settlement) eligibility

Whether you are recruiting a new hire from abroad or transferring a senior staff member from an overseas office, we ensure that your sponsorship obligations are met and your application is presented accurately.

We also support HR teams and in-house managers with practical advice on:

  • Right to work timelines and visa lead times
  • Relocation, dependants, and post-arrival duties
  • Avoiding compliance breaches that could jeopardise your sponsor licence

With Forest & Co, your business can secure the talent it needs — without being overwhelmed by red tape.

All UK employers are legally required to carry out right to work checks before employing staff, regardless of nationality. Failure to comply can result in hefty fines, criminal sanctions, and reputational damage. At Forest & Co, we help businesses implement robust systems to meet their obligations and avoid enforcement action.

We advise on:

  • Statutory right to work checks (manual, online, and IDVT routes)
  • Preventing illegal working and avoiding Home Office penalties
  • Record-keeping and audit trails
  • Right to work checks for EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals
  • Ongoing checks for employees with time-limited permission
  • Policy reviews and staff training on compliant onboarding processes

If you are unsure whether your current procedures meet legal requirements, we can carry out a compliance audit and help you close any gaps before a Home Office visit.

We also assist employers who are:

  • Facing civil penalty notices or investigations
  • Unsure how to manage right to work re-checks or expiries
  • Hiring temporary, remote, or international staff under different visa routes

With Forest & Co, you can hire confidently and legally — knowing your business is protected from costly compliance mistakes.

The UK offers a number of specialist immigration routes for high-value individuals, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders. At Forest & Co, we help businesses and individuals navigate these complex visa categories — from concept development to successful entry and settlement.

We assist with:

  • Innovator Founder Visas – for entrepreneurs with scalable, innovative business ideas endorsed by a recognised UK body
  • Global Talent Visas – for recognised leaders or emerging talents in fields such as technology, science, academia, and the arts
  • Investor and legacy Tier 1 cases – including extension and settlement advice
  • Endorsement preparation and connecting with authorised endorsing bodies
  • Source of funds documentation and business plan review
  • Advice for employers hiring under these routes

These visa categories are highly selective and involve detailed requirements, from proving innovation and leadership to demonstrating funding, industry recognition, or business viability.

We also support businesses and sponsors who:

  • Want to bring in high-level individuals under non-standard immigration routes
  • Are considering endorsement partnerships or investment pathways
  • Need support navigating the compliance requirements tied to these visas

Whether you are an individual innovator or a business recruiting global talent, Forest & Co provides expert guidance to help you meet UK immigration standards and build a future here.

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Frequently Asked Questions

A sponsor licence is required if your business wants to employ non-UK nationals under the Skilled Worker or Global Business Mobility visa routes. It gives you permission to issue Certificates of Sponsorship and sponsor eligible workers. We can help you apply and manage the licence.

The standard processing time is around 8 weeks, but this can vary. An optional priority service may reduce this to 10 working days (subject to availability). Preparing your application properly the first time helps avoid delays.

You must carry out right to work checks, report certain changes to the Home Office, and maintain accurate HR records. Sponsors are expected to monitor immigration status and compliance throughout an employee’s visa period.

The Skilled Worker visa allows you to hire qualified individuals for eligible UK-based jobs. The ICT (now Global Business Mobility) visa is for multinational companies transferring staff to a UK branch — usually short-term and without leading to settlement.

Yes. Licences can be suspended or revoked for non-compliance. We can help you stay compliant, respond to audits, and challenge enforcement action where needed.

Right to work checks ensure that you are employing someone legally. If done correctly, they provide a statutory excuse against penalties. If done incorrectly, you could face fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker.

Absolutely. We support individuals and employers with business plans, endorsement preparation, and visa applications under routes such as Innovator Founder, Global Talent, and legacy investor visas.

Sponsorship must be based on a genuine employment relationship. Sponsoring close family members through your business can raise compliance issues, but we can advise on alternative options or structure matters properly.