Does every foreign hire need visa sponsorship?

No. Someone who is already a citizen or permanent resident of the country, or who holds an independent right to work there, needs no sponsorship. Sponsorship is required only when a worker's right to work depends on the employer securing a permit for them. Checking existing status first can save weeks of process.

Is the worker's visa tied to the employer?

Usually yes. Most employer-sponsored work permits are linked to a specific employer and role, which is why changing jobs often means a new application. If the sponsoring employer, including an Employer of Record, ends the employment, the permission connected to that sponsorship can also end, subject to any grace period the country allows.

How long does visa sponsorship take?

It varies widely by country and route, from a few weeks to several months, and depends on whether the employer already holds a sponsor licence. Because a worker cannot start until authorisation is granted, sponsorship timelines are often the critical path in a cross-border hire, so they are best started as early as possible.

Who pays for work authorisation and sponsorship?

That depends on the country and the specific fees. Some charges must legally be met by the employer, while others can fall to the worker; a few countries prohibit passing certain costs to the worker at all. The allocation should be agreed in writing up front and checked against local rules before the process begins.

Glossary

Work Authorization & Visa Sponsorship

Work authorization and visa sponsorship are the legal permissions a worker needs to be employed in a foreign country, and the employer's duty to apply for, hold, and renew them, a responsibility that usually sits with the registered legal employer or Employer of Record.

Reviewed by Teamed's in-house employment-law team·Last updated 28 July 2026

Also known as: work authorisation, employer visa sponsorship

What is Work Authorization & Visa Sponsorship?

Work authorisation and visa sponsorship describe two linked things: the permission a worker must hold to be legally employed in a country that is not their own, and the employer's role in obtaining and maintaining that permission. Authorisation can take the form of a work permit, a residence visa with work rights, or a status granted by treaty or citizenship.

Sponsorship is the active part. In many countries an employer must hold a sponsor licence, submit the application, and take on reporting duties for as long as the worker is employed. The permission is usually tied to a specific employer, so it does not automatically transfer if the person changes jobs.

In cross-border hiring, the legal employer carries these duties. Where a company has no local entity, an Employer of Record that is registered in the country can often sponsor and hold the worker's permit under its own licence, letting the hire proceed without the company setting up its own operation there.

What is the difference between work authorisation and visa sponsorship?

Work authorisation is the permission itself, the legal status that lets a person work in a country. Visa sponsorship is the process by which an employer secures and supports that permission, often by holding a licence and submitting the application. A worker can hold authorisation through citizenship or treaty without any sponsorship; sponsorship is only needed where the employer must actively obtain it.

Can an Employer of Record sponsor a work visa?

In several countries, yes. Because an Employer of Record is the registered legal employer, it can sometimes hold a sponsor licence and place the worker's permit or residence visa under its own local registration. Whether this is possible depends on the country and the visa route; some routes restrict sponsorship to the end-client, so it needs checking case by case.

What happens if a worker's permission lapses?

Employing someone whose authorisation has expired is unlawful, and the consequences fall on the employer as well as the worker: fines, loss of a sponsor licence, and in serious cases criminal liability. This is why sponsorship carries ongoing duties. The employer has to track expiry dates and start renewals early so the worker keeps a continuous right to work.

Key facts

UK Skilled Worker general salary threshold: £41,700 per year, or the going rate for the role if higherThe general threshold rose from £38,700 to £41,700 on 22 July 2025. A UK employer must hold a sponsor licence to sponsor a Skilled Worker, and pay at least this amount or the published going rate, whichever is higher.Source: GOV.UK· verified 2026-07-28

Frequently asked questions

Does every foreign hire need visa sponsorship?
No. Someone who is already a citizen or permanent resident of the country, or who holds an independent right to work there, needs no sponsorship. Sponsorship is required only when a worker's right to work depends on the employer securing a permit for them. Checking existing status first can save weeks of process.
Is the worker's visa tied to the employer?
Usually yes. Most employer-sponsored work permits are linked to a specific employer and role, which is why changing jobs often means a new application. If the sponsoring employer, including an Employer of Record, ends the employment, the permission connected to that sponsorship can also end, subject to any grace period the country allows.
How long does visa sponsorship take?
It varies widely by country and route, from a few weeks to several months, and depends on whether the employer already holds a sponsor licence. Because a worker cannot start until authorisation is granted, sponsorship timelines are often the critical path in a cross-border hire, so they are best started as early as possible.
Who pays for work authorisation and sponsorship?
That depends on the country and the specific fees. Some charges must legally be met by the employer, while others can fall to the worker; a few countries prohibit passing certain costs to the worker at all. The allocation should be agreed in writing up front and checked against local rules before the process begins.

Related terms

Note

This is general information, not legal advice. Statutory rules vary by country and change over time.

Glossary

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Last verified 2026-07-28