Employers need to understand the immigration restrictions before making international hires post Brexit.
Currently UK employers benefit from the ability of European Economic Area (EEA) citizens to live and work in the UK free of immigration restrictions. The repercussions of the end of this freedom of movement are beginning to filter through the employment sector as employers begin to understand that future EEA nationals will need to be sponsored.
The EU Settlement Scheme has provided some relief, although possibly also causing some complacency, as many employers will expect their current EEA employees to have applied under the EU Settlement Scheme and secured their right to work in the UK. However, any EEA nationals wishing to come to work in the UK from January 2021 will be subject to the post-Brexit immigration rules.
For UK employers it means EEA nationals will fall into the same category as nationals from outside the EU, such as Pakistan, India, China or Bangladesh, and will require sponsorship to work in the UK. This is only possible if the employer in question has already applied for, and secured, a sponsorship licence.
The government has made provisions for companies to pre-emptively apply for a sponsorship licence. The next four months may well see a significant increase in sponsorship license applications to the Home Office.
If you are a company and require a sponsor license, contact us on info@fountainsolicitors.com
