(Daily Point) — The United Kingdom’s Home Office has announced significant changes to its work visa sponsor licence issuance system, which are expected to benefit both foreign workers and local employers, according to a report by VisaGuide.

Effective April 6, a key amendment involves the elimination of the requirement to renew UK work visa sponsor licences every four years, extending this period to a decade instead. This means that sponsor licences, which previously required renewal every four years, will now automatically be extended for a period of ten years.

This adjustment comes as welcome news for local businesses, as obtaining a sponsor license is essential for hiring labor from overseas, including citizens from EU member states, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland, who entered the UK after December 31, 2020.

It’s worth noting that certain categories of individuals, such as Irish citizens, individuals with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, and those with indefinite leave to remain in the UK, do not require sponsorship from local employers.

Following the implementation of these changes, local employers with sponsor status will no longer need to go through the process of renewing their licences, as they will be automatically extended for ten years from the date of issuance.

Previously, sponsors were required to submit renewal applications at least 90 days before the expiry date, with processing times sometimes stretching up to eight weeks.

In a further development, the UK’s Home Office has announced plans to refund application fees for sponsors who have already initiated the renewal process for their licences.