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Hire Global Talent With A Uk Sponsor Licence
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Sponsor Licence Form
If you are a company looking to hire an overseas national who is not an established worker and does not have immigration clearance to work in the UK, you must apply to the Home Office for a Sponsor Licence. From 31st December 2020, most EU, Swiss, and EEA nationals require sponsorship to work in the UK. Employers must apply for a specific Sponsor Licence based on the worker’s visa route. Each licence type has its own criteria, and careful application is essential to ensure compliance with UK immigration law.
Points for Sponsor Licence Application
Visa Duration
Effective from April 6, 2024, most UK Sponsor Licences are valid for ten years, and the previous four-year renewal requirement has been removed. This applies to new licences and those expiring after this date. However, licences for UK Expansion Worker and Scale-up routes are still valid for four years with no renewal option.
Eligibility Criteria
To get a Sponsor Licence, your UK organisation must be genuine and compliant. The Home Office checks your honesty, reliability, and HR systems. You must also meet route-specific criteria, such as offering a Skilled Worker a genuine job at the correct skill and salary level, or, for an Expansion Worker, having a UK footprint and a credible expansion plan.
Documents Required
Appendix A lists mandatory documents for a Sponsor Licence application. You need at least four documents proving your UK organisation is genuine and lawfully operating. The specific documents depend on your business type, but common examples include audited accounts, insurance certificates, and HMRC registration.
Processing Time
The standard processing time for a UK Sponsor Licence application is typically less than eight weeks. For an additional fee, a priority service is available, which aims for a decision within 10 working days. Processing times can vary based on application complexity, the quality of submitted documents, and whether a compliance visit is required.
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a fee paid by most visa and immigration applicants for over six months to access the National Health Service (NHS). It is not required for British citizenship applications, as permanent residents contribute via taxes like National Insurance.
In the UK, Sponsor Licences are categorised into two main types: Worker and Temporary Worker. Both types are required for UK organisations to hire most non-UK resident workers. A business can apply for one or both licences depending on its needs.
When applying for a Spouse visa, you must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge to cover your healthcare costs while in the UK. Since February 2024, the surcharge has been £1,035 per year, following a 86% increase. For in-country application, it will be for 30 months and out-country application, it will be for 33 months.
Additional costs for a UK Sponsor Licence application include the Immigration Skills Charge, paid per worker and varying by business size, and a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) fee for each sponsored employee. An optional priority service fee can also be paid for a faster decision.
British citizenship applications are typically processed within six months. However, some applications may take longer, especially if more information or checks are required by the Home Office.
To sponsor workers, a UK business must choose an appropriate application route. The main route is the Skilled Worker visa. Other options include the Global Business Mobility routes (e.g., UK Expansion Worker, Senior or Specialist Worker) for transferring overseas employees, and other specific routes for unique roles.
This visa allows you to get married or register a civil partnership, but you cannot work, study, or live in the UK. You must use this visa solely to visit and get married.
A Sponsor Licence lets UK businesses recruit skilled workers from abroad to fill talent gaps. It provides access to a wider global talent pool, supports business growth and expansion, and enables companies to bring in the specific expertise they need to remain competitive in their industry.
Secure the Sponsorship Licence Now
The right employees are ready to join you. A UK Sponsor Licence makes it possible; our immigration solicitors make it effortless.
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How Our Solicitors Simplify Your Sponsor Licence Journey
At UK Immigration Solicitors, we take the stress out of the Sponsor Licence process by guiding you through every requirement with precision.
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From Consultation to Visa Approval
Our immigration specialists streamline your application process by clearly identifying which evidence and strategies will strengthen your case.
By aligning your unique circumstances with Home Office requirements, we help you focus on high-impact preparations while addressing any potential weaknesses in your application.
From Consultation to Visa Approval
Our immigration specialists streamline your application process by clearly identifying which evidence and strategies will strengthen your case.
By aligning your unique circumstances with Home Office requirements, we help you focus on high-impact preparations while addressing any potential weaknesses in your application.
Maximising Your Approval Chances
Our goal is to maximise the chances of your visa being approved the first time. By carefully reviewing your circumstances, identifying potential weaknesses, and preparing strong supporting evidence, we significantly reduce the risk of refusals. Every application is checked by senior immigration solicitors who apply their expertise to make your case as clear, accurate, and persuasive as possible. This attention to detail is what improves success rates and helps our clients move forward with confidence.
Success Rate Optimisation
We carefully analyse every detail of your application to maximise the chances of approval. By addressing weaknesses, strengthening supporting evidence, and ensuring full compliance with Home Office rules, we optimise your case for success. This thorough approach significantly improves approval rates and gives you confidence throughout the process.
Risk Mitigation Strategies
We identify potential risks in your application early and put safeguards in place to address them. By preparing strong evidence, clarifying complex points, and anticipating Home Office concerns, we minimise the chance of delays or refusals.
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Evidence-based case preparation
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Home Office compliance checks
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Success rate optimisation
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Risk mitigation strategies
From Consultation to Visa Approval
Our immigration specialists streamline your application process by clearly identifying which evidence and strategies will strengthen your case.
By aligning your unique circumstances with Home Office requirements, we help you focus on high-impact preparations while addressing any potential weaknesses in your application.
Maximising Your Approval Chances
Our goal is to maximise the chances of your visa being approved the first time. By carefully reviewing your circumstances, identifying potential weaknesses, and preparing strong supporting evidence, we significantly reduce the risk of refusals. Every application is checked by senior immigration solicitors who apply their expertise to make your case as clear, accurate, and persuasive as possible. This attention to detail is what improves success rates and helps our clients move forward with confidence.
Success Rate Optimisation
We carefully analyse every detail of your application to maximise the chances of approval. By addressing weaknesses, strengthening supporting evidence, and ensuring full compliance with Home Office rules, we optimise your case for success. This thorough approach significantly improves approval rates and gives you confidence throughout the process.
Risk Mitigation Strategies
We identify potential risks in your application early and put safeguards in place to address them. By preparing strong evidence, clarifying complex points, and anticipating Home Office concerns, we minimise the chance of delays or refusals.
Work With Trusted, SRA-Regulated UK Immigration Experts
Your immigration journey is too important to risk on unqualified or unregulated help. Every case we handle is prepared by SRA-regulated solicitors who apply structured legal reasoning, precise documentation checks and full compliance with Home Office and UKVI rules.
Our accreditations are your assurance that you are working with a reputable, experienced and highly trained legal team. We combine decades of immigration expertise with strict professional standards to give you clarity, confidence and complete peace of mind — no matter which visa or application route you are pursuing.
What is a Sponsor Licence?
A Sponsor Licence allows a company based in the UK to hire employees from outside the country.
A Sponsor Licence is typically required to hire foreign nationals, including Skilled Workers and UK Expansion Workers. Everyone who arrived in the UK after December 31, 2020, whether they are citizens of the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland, or not, falls into this category.
Employing an Irish citizen, a person with established or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, an individual with indefinite leave to remain in the UK, or a foreign national with other work authorisation in the UK does not require a Sponsor Licence.
To obtain a sponsorship licence, you must submit an application to the Home Office and pay a fee.
Applying for a Sponsor Licence is open to businesses of any size and in any industry, as long as they meet the business eligibility and job suitability criteria for that particular category.
Do You Know?
Scale‑up or UK Expansion Worker licences are valid for four years only and cannot be renewed, but remain subject to compliance.
Types of Sponsor Licences
There are two primary types of Sponsor Licences in the UK.
Sponsor Licence Type | Visa Categories Covered |
Worker Sponsor Licence | Skilled Worker Visa Senior or Specialist Worker Visa (Global Business Mobility) |
Temporary Worker Sponsor Licence | Religious Worker Visa Government Authorised Exchange Visa International Agreement Visa Seasonal Worker Visa Graduate Trainee Visa Service Supplier Visa UK Expansion Worker Visa Secondment Worker Visa |
Sponsor Licence Rating
After the Home Office issues a Sponsor Licence to a company in the UK, the company is given a rating. This grade indicates that the company can fulfil its sponsorship obligations and follow UK immigration rules.
Criteria | A-Rating (Fully Compliant) | B-Rating (Needs Improvement) |
Can Sponsor New Workers? | Yes | No |
Home Office Monitoring | Standard compliance checks | Increased scrutiny; subject to an Action Plan |
Action Plan Required? | No | Yes, required to return to A-rating |
Risk of Non-Compliance | May result in a downgrade to a B rating | High risk, may lead to suspension or revocation |
Licence Privileges | Full access to all sponsor functions | Limited access; no CoS allocation until improvement |
Who Needs a Sponsor Licence?
A Sponsor Licence is required for any UK firm that plans to hire skilled individuals from outside the UK or Ireland who do not have indefinite leave or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. Regardless of the organisation’s size or the anticipated number of foreign personnel, this criterion remains unchanged.
1. Types of Organisations
Various organisations across sectors require a Sponsor Licence to legally employ foreign nationals under sponsored visa routes:
Large Corporations: Use Sponsor Licences to transfer staff globally and hire overseas specialists efficiently.
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): Address local skill shortages by legally hiring international talent with a Sponsor Licence.
Startups: Fast-growing startups, particularly in tech, use Sponsor Licences to access global expertise and scale quickly.
Educational Institutions: Require a Sponsor Licence to employ foreign academic staff, and a separate one for sponsoring international students.
Charities and Non-Profits: Use Sponsor Licences to legally hire overseas experts like fundraisers and project managers.
2. Industries That Rely on International Talent
Some sectors are particularly dependent on skilled workers from abroad, making a Sponsor Licence UK crucial for workforce planning:
Technology and IT: Hire international developers, engineers, and data experts to drive innovation and fill skill gaps.
Healthcare and Social Care: NHS and care providers rely on overseas staff; sponsorship is key to meeting workforce demands.
Engineering and Construction: Specialist roles often need global talent; sponsorship helps maintain project timelines and quality.
Financial Services: Supports hiring global professionals like analysts and compliance experts, sustaining the UK’s finance leadership.
Hospitality and Catering: Post-Brexit shortages make sponsorship essential for hiring skilled chefs and managers from abroad.
Education and Research: Enables institutions to attract top international academics and researchers to uphold standards.
Requirements for Sponsor Licence Application
You must meet numerous general and route-specific requirements before you can apply for a Sponsorship application.
General Requirements for a Sponsor Licence
- You must be a legitimate organisation actively operating within the UK.
- Submit company-related documents (varies by business type and visa route).
- The Home Office will assess whether your organisation and key personnel are:
- Honest, dependable, and reliable.
- Free from any behaviour not conducive to the public good.
- Background checks will be conducted on business owners and key staff.
- You must demonstrate that you can meet all compliance and reporting duties.
- The Home Office will evaluate your HR and recruitment systems for adequacy.
Sponsor Licence Requirements by Visa Route
As an employer, you must meet additional requirements specific to the visa route under which you wish to sponsor an overseas worker.
Requirements for Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence
- Offer a job that meets the required skill level for the Skilled Worker route.
- Ensure the role meets the minimum salary threshold.
- The job must be genuine, not created solely for sponsorship.
- A direct employment relationship must exist (no outsourcing to third parties).
Requirements for UK Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence
- The job must meet both the skill and salary thresholds for this visa route.
- The role must be genuine and not for third-party work.
- There must be a qualifying link between your UK entity and the overseas business.
- Your business must have a UK footprint but not be actively trading in the UK yet.
- The overseas business must be active and trading for at least 3 years (unless exempt).
- You must have a genuine intention and ability to establish a UK trading presence within 2 years.
- The expansion must be within the same line of business conducted overseas.
- The UK entity must be wholly owned or part of the same legal entity as the overseas business.
For other visa routes like Senior or Specialist Worker, Scale-up, International Sportsperson, Minister of Religion, Creative Worker, the Sponsor Licence requirements will vary. Always refer to route-specific guidance. If your application for a Sponsor Licence fails to meet all relevant requirements, your sponsor licence will be refused.
Pro Tip
Use the Sponsor Management System (SMS) promptly to report any changes or issues with sponsored workers.
Documents Required for Sponsorship Licence Application
It is essential to gather all of the necessary proof before beginning the Sponsor Licence application. This is likely the most complex component of the application process, and employers frequently fail to meet the supporting documentation requirements.
Appendix A & Mandatory Documents
Appendix A outlines the required documents for a Sponsor Licence application. You must submit at least four mandatory documents to prove your organisation is genuine and lawfully operating in the UK. The right documents depend on your organisation type and UK operating history.
Common documents include:
- Latest audited annual accounts.
- Employer’s liability insurance certificate.
- VAT registration
- Recent corporate bank statement.
- HMRC registration (e.g., PAYE and accounts office reference).
- Proof of business premises (ownership or lease).
Pro Tip:
Submitting more than four documents can strengthen your application if any concern is anticipated.
Additional Supporting Documents
Employers must also submit key business information, usually within a covering letter:
- Reason for applying for a Sponsor Licence.
- Industry sector.
- Operating hours.
- Organisational chart (owners, directors, board members).
- Employee list (if fewer than fifty staff).
- Names of all with access to the application email.
- Contact details, including an active email address.
Role-Specific Information (For Skilled Worker Licence)
If sponsoring a skilled worker, provide:
- Job title and relevant SOC code.
- Job description and key duties.
- Required skills, experience, and qualifications.
- Proposed salary for the role.
- Where the role sits in your organisation’s structure.
- Indicate which roles are vacant and require sponsorship.
Applying Through Head Office or Branches
Organisations with multiple UK locations can choose from:
- One licence covering the head office and all UK branches.
- One licence for the head office and selected branches.
- Separate licences for the head office and each branch.
- Regional grouping under one licence.
Note:
A single licence is easier to manage, but if compliance issues arise, sanctions may affect the whole group. Separate licences reduce collective risk but may require more admin.
Fees and Processing Time
When applying online for a Sponsor Licence, your organisation must pay the applicable fee based on its size and type.
Licence Type | Large Sponsors | Small/Charitable Sponsors |
Worker Sponsor Licence | £1,579 | £574 |
Temporary Worker Sponsor Licence | £574 | £574 |
Student Sponsor Licence | £574 | £574 |
Worker & Temporary Worker Sponsor Licence | £1,579 | £574 |
Worker & Student Sponsor Licence | £1,579 | £574 |
Worker, Temporary Worker & Student Sponsor Licence | £1,579 | £574 |
Add Worker Licence to the existing Temporary/Student Licence | £1,005 | — |
Immigration Skills Charge (per worker, per year)
Organisation Type | Fee |
Large/Medium Organisation | £1,000 |
Small Business/Charity | £364 |
Do You Know?
If your sponsorship licence application is refused, there’s no formal appeal, but you can reapply after addressing concerns once the six‑month cooling‑off period ends.
Sponsor Licence Compliance Duties
According to the Home Office’s Sponsor Guidance, the responsibilities are as follows:
- Record-keeping
- Monitoring & reporting
- Absence monitoring
- Notifying the Home Office of changes in circumstances
Record Keeping
- Maintain records of each sponsored worker’s right to work documents (e.g., passport, visa/immigration status).
- Record and retain National Insurance numbers, where applicable.
- Keep a history of contact details, including current and previous addresses and phone numbers.
- Ensure there is a system to track and update contact changes.
- Retain employment contracts for all sponsored workers; terms must match those listed on the Certificate of Sponsorship (e.g., salary, role).
- Conduct and record right to work checks as per Home Office guidelines.
- Carry out follow-up checks for workers with time-limited visas to confirm continued permission to work.
- Non-compliance can lead to fines or enforcement action by the Home Office.
Monitoring & Reporting
The company must put in place methods and processes to manage and monitor sponsored personnel, notifying within ten working days if the sponsored individual:
- Fails to begin work as expected.
- Has ten consecutive days of unauthorised absence.
- Has their contract ended earlier than intended, e.g., resignation?
- Moves from one immigration category to another, such as from a skilled worker visa to indefinite leave to remain (despite the fact that the Home Office should keep track of this).
As an additional requirement, sponsors must inform the Home Office if they have any valid concerns or proof that a sponsored worker is not abiding by the terms of their UK presence.
Absence Monitoring
The sponsor is responsible for authorising and documenting any sponsored employee absences, whether for illness, yearly leave, study leave, or international travel. The employer should have and adhere to an effective sickness absence procedure.
With the exception of protected absences, it is required to notify any unapproved absences exceeding 10 days or four weeks of unpaid leave.
Notifying The Home Office Of Changes In Circumstances
Sponsors must inform the Home Office of any significant changes, including updates to key personnel, via the Sponsorship Management System (SMS). These individuals must remain employed or engaged throughout.
If the organisation changes its address, this must be reported to ensure site visits reach the correct location.
Sponsors should also keep separate records of any UK branch openings or closures, as the SMS does not track branch details.
The same reporting duties apply to overseas affiliates or subsidiaries; UKVI should be notified when such entities are established or closed.
Appointing Key Personnel for a Sponsor Licence
Before submitting your Sponsor Licence application, you must assign specific individuals to manage and oversee the licence. These roles are essential for maintaining compliance with Home Office requirements and using the Sponsorship Management System (SMS).
Role | Main Duties | Who Should Fill This Role? |
Authorising Officer | ● Oversees the Sponsor Licence and compliance ● Holds ultimate responsibility for SMS use | A trusted senior employee with authority over HR or recruitment |
Key Contact | ● Primary communication link with the Home Office ● Handles queries and updates | Someone reliable and knowledgeable about your organisation |
Level 1 User | ● Manages daily SMS functions ● Assigns Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) ● Updates licence details | Must be trained on SMS use and fully understand sponsorship duties |
Level 2 User | ● Supports Level 1 User ● Performs limited SMS tasks (e.g., reporting changes) | Can be added post-licence; carries fewer responsibilities |
Note:
One person can hold more than one of these roles, or the roles may be assigned to separate individuals.
As an additional requirement, sponsors must inform the Home Office if they have any valid concerns or proof that a sponsored worker is not abiding by the terms of their UK presence.
Absence Monitoring
The sponsor is responsible for authorising and documenting any sponsored employee absences, whether for illness, yearly leave, study leave, or international travel. The employer should have and adhere to an effective sickness absence procedure.
With the exception of protected absences, it is required to notify any unapproved absences exceeding 10 days or four weeks of unpaid leave.
Notifying The Home Office Of Changes In Circumstances
Sponsors must inform the Home Office of any significant changes, including updates to key personnel, via the Sponsorship Management System (SMS). These individuals must remain employed or engaged throughout.
If the organisation changes its address, this must be reported to ensure site visits reach the correct location.
Sponsors should also keep separate records of any UK branch openings or closures, as the SMS does not track branch details.
The same reporting duties apply to overseas affiliates or subsidiaries; UKVI should be notified when such entities are established or closed.
Appointing Key Personnel for a Sponsor Licence
Before submitting your Sponsor Licence application, you must assign specific individuals to manage and oversee the licence. These roles are essential for maintaining compliance with Home Office requirements and using the Sponsorship Management System (SMS).
Role | Main Duties | Who Should Fill This Role? |
Authorising Officer | ● Oversees the Sponsor Licence and compliance ● Holds ultimate responsibility for SMS use | A trusted senior employee with authority over HR or recruitment |
Key Contact | ● Primary communication link with the Home Office ● Handles queries and updates | Someone reliable and knowledgeable about your organisation |
Level 1 User | ● Manages daily SMS functions ● Assigns Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) ● Updates licence details | Must be trained on SMS use and fully understand sponsorship duties |
Level 2 User | ● Supports Level 1 User ● Performs limited SMS tasks (e.g., reporting changes) | Can be added post-licence; carries fewer responsibilities |
Note:
One person can hold more than one of these roles, or the roles may be assigned to separate individuals.
Sponsor Licence FAQs
The typical processing time for a Sponsor Licence application with the Home Office is around eight weeks.
Starting from 6 April 2024, Sponsor Licences will remain valid until they are withdrawn or cancelled. As a result, there is now no need to renew a sponsor’s licence.
All information must be accurate and submitted through the Sponsor Management System (SMS) account in order to renew a Sponsor Licence in the UK. The necessary fee must also be paid.
There are several possible reasons for refusing a Sponsor Licence application; however, the most common ones are missing or incorrect information, noncompliance with regulations, and problems with key personnel.
Yes, if you can evidence lawful trading, a genuine vacancy and the ability to meet ongoing sponsor duties.
Weak HR systems, incomplete documents, unclear role justification, and concerns you cannot meet monitoring and reporting duties.
No formal test is required, but you must still show the role is genuine and not created solely to secure a visa for a specific individual.
Four years, subject to ongoing compliance and successful renewal. UKVI may conduct audits at any time during the licence period.
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