UK employers · International ERP talent
Great talent.
Wider horizons.
A clear way forward.
Sponsoring overseas talent can be simpler than you think. Open your search to ERP specialists beyond the usual shortlist, with a clear view of the process and costs.
For businesses hiring in the UK. No sponsor licence yet? Start here.
Open the door
to more possibilities.
Worker licence fee
Small or charitable sponsors; other fees apply
Most licence decisions
Visa processing takes additional time
Start with the skills you need
We’ll help you explore the talent available
Why consider sponsorship?
The right skills may be
outside your current search.
Reach a wider specialist market
Look beyond candidates who already have unrestricted UK work rights, across SAP, NetSuite, Sage Intacct and the wider ERP ecosystem.
Find people open to your location
Include specialists considering relocation. Agree office attendance, location and a fair salary around the role and the individual.
Build a route for future hires
An appropriate licence can support further eligible hires, subject to certificate allocation and your ongoing sponsor duties.
The sponsorship journey
From “could we?”
to your next colleague.
Three stages. Six practical steps. Your business manages the sponsor application; Henley Morgan helps you find the ERP talent.
- 01
Get ready
Prepare your business
Check the role and your business
Confirm your organisation is eligible and check the job’s occupation code, skill level and salary requirements.
Put the essentials in place
Choose your sponsorship managers, review your HR processes and gather the supporting documents listed in Appendix A.
- 02
Get licensed
Apply to the Home Office
Apply and submit your documents
Complete the online application, pay the licence fee and send the submission sheet and required evidence within the stated deadline.
Receive your decision
Most licence applications are decided in under eight weeks. The Home Office may make checks or visit your business.
- 03
Make your hire
Recruit and support your team
Choose your candidate and sponsor
Once licensed, obtain and assign the appropriate Certificate of Sponsorship. Your candidate then applies for their visa.
Welcome them and keep records
Confirm their right to work before they start. Maintain the required records and report changes throughout their employment.
Understand the investment
Know the fees.
Plan the hire.
A new small sponsor’s standard government fees for one three-year hire total £2,576. Adjust the estimate to match your plans.
Usually small if at least two apply: turnover ≤ £15m, assets ≤ £7.5m, or ≤ 50 employees. Check your category ↗
Check the exemptions on GOV.UK ↗Estimated employer government fees
£2,576
One employee · 3 years · including a new licence
- Worker sponsor licence
- £611
- Certificate of Sponsorship
- £525
- Immigration Skills Charge
- £1,440
Illustrative standard Skilled Worker fees, checked 5 November 2026. Excludes recruitment and legal fees, optional priority services, the employee’s visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge, relocation and dependants. Skills charges use the sponsorship period on the certificate; additional part years are charged in six-month blocks. Verify the current fees and any exemptions before applying.
Official fee sources: Sponsor licence · Certificate of Sponsorship · Immigration Skills Charge
A few things worth knowing
Your questions,
answered.
The practical details that help you decide whether to explore sponsorship.
Can a small business sponsor an employee?
Yes, if the business meets the Home Office’s eligibility and sponsorship requirements. You are usually a small sponsor if at least two apply: annual turnover of £15 million or less, assets of £7.5 million or less, or 50 employees or fewer. Charitable sponsors also qualify for the lower fee category.
Read the relevant GOV.UK guidance ↗Which ERP roles can be sponsored?
Eligibility depends on the actual duties and occupation code, not just the job title. Check the current eligible occupation list and salary rules for each role. The standard salary requirement is usually at least £41,700 or the occupation’s going rate, whichever is higher; different rules and exceptions can apply. Applicants must also meet the relevant English language and other visa requirements.
Read the relevant GOV.UK guidance ↗How long should we allow?
Most sponsor licence applications are dealt with in under eight weeks. A limited priority service may offer a decision within ten working days for an additional £750. Document preparation, certificate allocation and the candidate’s visa application take additional time, so a licence decision is not a guaranteed start date.
Read the relevant GOV.UK guidance ↗Do we need an immigration solicitor?
You can apply directly using the Home Office guidance. Your team still needs to understand and fulfil the sponsor duties. A regulated immigration adviser or solicitor can help with complex circumstances or uncertainty about eligibility. Henley Morgan’s role is recruitment: helping you understand the ERP talent available and find suitable candidates.
Read the relevant GOV.UK guidance ↗Can we recruit someone who is already in the UK?
Potentially. Some candidates already in the UK can switch to a Skilled Worker visa or change sponsor, depending on their current permission and circumstances. Check their eligibility and right to work before agreeing a start date. An Immigration Skills Charge exemption can apply in some cases, including certain switches from a Student visa.
Read the relevant GOV.UK guidance ↗Who pays, and what happens after the hire?
The employer must pay the sponsor licence fee, Certificate of Sponsorship fee and any Immigration Skills Charge, and must not pass these fees on to the worker. Visa application and health surcharge costs are separate. You must continue to meet your record keeping and reporting duties. A sponsor licence does not guarantee that an individual visa will be approved.
Read the relevant GOV.UK guidance ↗Let’s start with your vacancy
Could sponsorship
open up your search?
Tell us which ERP skills you need, where the role is based and whether you already have a sponsor licence. We’ll talk through the recruitment options with you.
+44 (0)207 096 0211Henley Morgan provides recruitment services. For advice on your business’s immigration eligibility or application, speak to a regulated immigration adviser or solicitor.
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Start a conversation with our ERP recruitment team.
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General information for UK employers, checked 5 November 2026. This guide is not legal or immigration advice. Rules and fees can change; always check the current GOV.UK guidance. Sponsorship and visa approval depend on individual circumstances.