Employer’s toolkit – recruiting migrants
Guidance and links to the new immigration system.
Free movement for EU citizens ended on the 31 December 2020, so those coming to the UK to work will need to apply for permission in advance. EU citizens who have status under the EU Settlement Scheme must provide their status to new employers from 1 July 2021. EU and non-EU citizens will be treated equally under the new points-based immigration system (PBS).
To recruit employees from outside the UK, employers must be a registered sponsor. There are a few routes, including the Global Talent and graduate routes that don’t require sponsorship and employers can recruit staff provided they obtain a current right to work document.
From 1 July 2021, employers will no longer be able to accept EU, EAA or Swiss passports or ID cards as valid proof of right of work, except for Irish Citizens (see our Article on Right to work checks EEA citizens).
The PBS has salary, skill level and language requirements, so it’s important to understand how the points are awarded before offering a role to a migrant worker.
The Home Office produced an Employer Brochure , incorporating resources and guidance to assist organisations who want to recruit staff from overseas. The introduction to the PBS provides details on how points are awarded for attributes and there is a useful one-page overview on becoming a licenced sponsor for the skilled worker route.
Podcast: Business and the future of immigration in 2021
Resources for employers to share with their EU, EEA and Swiss citizen employees:
- digital immigration status, known as an eVisa
- understanding your right to work in the UK: EU, EEA and Swiss citizens
The Home Office have also published helpful guidance for employers:
- PBS Employers factsheet
- Right to work employer factsheet
- Right to work checklist
- Updated Association of Labour Providers/ Home Office labour supply handbook
- Frontier workers guide
If you have any questions or if you need any assistance with sponsoring migrants or right to work, please contact Imelda Reddington: [email protected].
