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UK Sponsor Licence Renewal
If you want to get a UK Sponsor Licence Renewal you should talk to our Immigration solicitors.
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Sponsorship licence holders can legally hire foreign workers in the UK by renewing their sponsor licences. Within three months of the expiration of your current sponsor licence, you can renew it. This may occasionally be extended under specific conditions.
You must use the Sponsor Management System (SMS) to submit an application for the renewal of a sponsorship licence. This is the same tool that is used to grant sponsorship licences to foreign workers and holders of skilled worker visas.
Quick facts for Sponsor Licence Renewal Success
Sponsor Licence Duration
From 6 April 2024, most UK Sponsor Licences are valid for 10 years, replacing the previous four-year renewal requirement. This change applies to both new applications and existing licences that expire after that date. However, licences issued under the UK Expansion Worker and Scale-up routes remain valid for four years and cannot be renewed. Our business immigration solicitors can advise whether your organisation qualifies under the new 10-year validity rules.
Renewal Eligibility Criteria
To renew or maintain a Sponsor Licence, your organisation must continue to be genuine, compliant, and trustworthy. The Home Office (UKVI) will assess your HR systems, record-keeping, and reporting accuracy. You must also meet route-specific requirements - such as offering a Skilled Worker role at the correct skill and salary level, or, for Expansion Worker licences, maintaining a credible UK presence and realistic expansion plan.
Documents Required for Renewal
When applying for renewal, you must demonstrate that your business remains lawfully trading and compliant. Under Appendix A, at least four supporting documents are mandatory.Typical examples include,Audited company accounts HMRC registration and PAYE reference Employer’s liability insurance certificate Evidence of business premises or leaseSubmitting outdated or incomplete documents can lead to refusal - our solicitors carefully review and prepare your file to ensure full compliance.
Processing Time
The standard processing time for a Sponsor Licence Renewal is usually up to eight weeks. If you need a faster decision, the priority service (limited daily quota) aims to deliver results within 10 working days for an additional fee. We handle every step - from updating your Sponsor Management System (SMS) to liaising with UKVI - to help you avoid unnecessary delays or compliance issues.
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 Renewal 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.
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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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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 UK Sponsorship Licence Renewal?
Sponsorship licence holders can legally hire foreign workers in the UK by renewing their sponsor licences. Within three months of the expiration of your current sponsor licence, you can renew it. This may occasionally be extended under specific conditions.
You must use the Sponsor Management System (SMS) to submit an application for the renewal of a sponsorship licence. This is the same tool that is used to grant sponsorship licences to foreign workers and holders of skilled worker visas.
To renew your sponsoring licence, you have to submit current and complete records of all employees you have supported while holding your existing sponsorship licence
What is the UK Visa Sponsor Renewal Process?
It is still possible for you to hire and employ foreign workers for your firm if you renew your sponsor licence.
In order to request a renewal of a sponsorship licence, you need to send in a request via SMS. The cost of renewal will change according to the size of your business.
Verify that all the information in the SMS is accurate before submitting your application. This involves verifying the accuracy of the information provided for the SMS users (authorising officer and level 1/2 users).
It’s crucial to confirm that these positions have been updated because they may change while you have your sponsor licence. Along with updating all employee information, you should also confirm that any new company websites have been added to the SMS. If any of this information is incorrect or missing, your renewal may be denied.
After submitting your application and payment to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), you will get a sheet’ created by the SMS after the licence renewal declaration screen. Kindly fill out, sign, and mail this to the Sponsor Licencing Unit.
What Exactly Are Compliance Visits?
One of the Home Office Compliance Officers may come to see you throughout the sponsor licence renewal process. These visits will serve the aim of verifying the following information in order to determine your eligibility for the renewal of a sponsor licence:
- You’re fulfilling the requirements and duties of your sponsor licence.
- You’ve put in place the processes and practices required to fulfil your sponsorship commitments.
- The data you provided in your sponsor licence application is true and correct.
- You are fulfilling your duty to prevent illegal working.
A Compliance Officer could also want to have a conversation with the employees you are sponsoring to confirm their personal details and make sure the right processes are being followed concerning their sponsorship and working conditions.
You have to make sure that you have appropriately prepared for your compliance visit and that your processes, information, and documents are in order, or your sponsor license renewal application may be denied.
What are the steps in the process after I submit my license renewal application?
The Home Office will carefully evaluate your application to make sure you fulfil the requirements when you apply for your sponsor licence renewal.
This will involve verifying that you continue to meet all requirements for eligibility and policies regarding sponsor licence holders. For example, you may want to ensure that you have all of the essential HR systems, personnel, and procedures in place to handle overseas workers.
Every certificate of sponsorship that your company has issued up to this point will be reviewed by the Home Office. The Home Office may get in touch with you and request more papers to help with the application evaluation procedure.
If this occurs, you have to make sure that you deliver these files within five days after the initial request. If you don’t, there’s a chance that your renewal application may be rejected, or revoked or the amount given to your certificate of sponsorship reduced.
Overview of Streamlined Renewal Process
The streamlined sponsor licence renewal process allows companies to obtain more quick processing for licence renewals in certain cases.
Typically, you must have successfully renewed your licence at least twice in the past and not have any other compliance issues. The Home Office typically chooses not to complete the following tasks for streamlined licence renewals:
- Checks for companies and insolvency
- Use reviews for the sponsorship certificate
- Reviews of licence structures
- Check out the history reviews.
- Unresolved review requests for changes
- Reviews of risk profiles
- Verification of registration and accreditation details
- Additional trading checks
- Referrals for compliance visits
What is the best time to renew my sponsor licence?
It’s a good idea to renew your Sponsorship Licence about three months before it expires. Sometimes, the Home Office might ask you to renew earlier, but they’ll let you know in a letter from UKVI.
Sponsor licences typically have a four-year maximum validity period. The sponsor management system’s summary page contains the expiration date of your existing licence.
Please be aware that after your licence expires, you won’t be able to submit a request to renew your sponsor license. For this reason, it’s crucial to make sure your renewal application is submitted far in advance of the expiration date to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances.
What Happens If My Sponsor Licence Renewal Is Refused?
Prior to deciding on your next course of action, it’s critical to figure out why your application for the renewal of a sponsor licence was denied.
Refusal may be due to the following reasons:
- Not providing the Home Office with sufficient information or records
- Fail to meet sponsor duties and requirements
- Paying the wrong amount or not paying the licence renewal fee
- Not maintaining and submitting the appropriate paperwork about foreign employees
- Not passing compliance inspections
- Failure to conform to Home Office reporting requirements
If you think that your sponsor licence renewal was denied due to an error or because the supporting documents were not properly reviewed, you should consider requesting a review. Moreover, if you decide to go with this plan of action, you must be confident that you have a valid reason for review.
If not, you will need to reapply for a sponsor licence before you can provide sponsorship certificates to overseas workers. If you choose to do this, be sure you’ve taken care of any underlying concerns or issues that resulted in the denial of your licence renewal.
What Does It Cost to Renew a UK Sponsorship Licence?
The amount you must pay for the renewal of a sponsor licence will be determined by the size of your company and the kind of licence you want to renew.
The fees for different types of licences vary based on the size of the organization. For small or charitable sponsors, the fee is £536 for a Worker licence, £536 for a Temporary Worker licence, and £536 for a combined Worker and Temporary Worker licence. However, for medium or large sponsors, the fees differ, set at £1,476 for a Worker licence and £1,476 for a combined Worker and Temporary Worker licence, while the Temporary Worker licence remains at £536.
Please take note that if you meet at least two of the following requirements, your company will be classified as a small sponsor:
- You make £10.2 million or less a year.
- The total value of your assets is £5.1 million or less.
- You employ 50 people or less.
If you would like your application to be completed more quickly, you might also want to pay an extra £500.
If I Don't Renewal My Sponsor Licence, What Will Happen?
Your sponsor licence will automatically expire on the set expiration date if you don’t renew it, at that point you won’t be able to continue acting as a sponsor.
Subsequently, you will not be able to renew sponsorship certificates for foreign workers or to continue sponsoring existing workers.
As a result, your present employees’ leave to remain may be reduced.
The UK government’s management data team will notify the Home Office and withhold your authorisation if you are found to be supporting foreign workers after your sponsor licence expires.
If you illegally sponsor foreign workers without a certified licence, you can subsequently be subject to certain fines.
You might still be eligible to apply for a sponsor licence renewal if your licence expires and you still need authority to sponsor foreign workers. But remember, it’s not always certain. If you can’t renew for some reason, you might need to apply all over again for a completely new sponsor licence.
How long does it take to process renewals of sponsorship licences?
Applications for sponsor licencing renewals are typically processed in eight weeks. There are a few extra steps you need to take if you want to reduce the time it takes for your application to be processed. For instance, you should try to respond to the Home Office’s demands for any further information or documents as soon as possible.
Furthermore, assuring your SMS, records, and processes are fully compliant and within rules will help to simplify the process. This is especially important if you get a compliance visit from a Home Office official.
You might be able to pay for priority processing if you require a faster processing time for your renewal application. You can process your application within 10 days by using this service.
However, it should be noted that this service is only available to a limited amount of applications each day, on a “first come, first served” basis.
Sponsor Licence Renewal FAQs
Employers who already own a sponsorship licence and wish to manage or renew it can use the Sponsor Management System, which is an online resource. Using this method, you may also monitor the specifics of your ongoing sponsorships and report any changes to your situation. The SMS can be used for the following purposes:
- Oversee or extend the services or licences that your company has.
- Make sponsorship certificates and give them to potential employees.
- Make and give potential students confirmation of acceptance for study (CAS).
- Report any changes to the circumstances surrounding your sponsored staff members or students, including sponsorship withdrawals.
- Report any changes to your personal situation
Yes, if you wish to keep hiring non-EEA workers lawfully.
You must hold a valid sponsor licence before hiring any people governed by immigration laws. Even if you had a sponsor licence when you employed them, you are still hiring illegal workers if you deliberately hire someone without one.
The Home Office may impose fines known as civil fines for hiring undocumented labourers. These are monetary fines that an organisation or business must pay.
UKVI frequently suspends a company’s ability to employ foreign workers in the future. Employers who hire illegal workers run the risk of losing their good name, losing their staff, and, in certain situations, being imprisoned in jail.
It is crucial to ascertain the category into which your company belongs before submitting an application for a sponsor licence or a licence renewal. For instance, regardless of the size of their company or yearly revenue, charitable sponsors might be eligible for lower licence payments. As per the Home Office rules, you are a charity sponsor if you are any of the following:
- A Wales or England-registered charity
- In Scotland, a registered charity
- If you are not a registered charity in Northern Ireland, you must give proof of your charitable status to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for tax purposes.
- A charitable exception
- A tax-exempt charity
- Moreover, a religious organization founded with a charitable purpose
- Certain school governing bodies, academy trusts, museums, galleries, and universities may not be required to register as charities.
We will assign a seasoned corporate immigration solicitor to your company as part of our services. Moreover, this lawyer will collaborate with your company and its employees to make sure all the necessary arrangements are made for the renewal of your sponsorship licence. We will also help you in maintaining Sponsorship Licence UK. This attorney will:
- Help you make the most of the sponsor management system (SMS), helping you to keep your important roles updated and all information accurate in terms of both fact and law.
- Make sure your employment records are updated with immigration regulations; this includes maintaining a structured and organised file for each employee with a valid visa.
- Arrange all of your supporting documents, such as job descriptions and sponsorship certificates, to ensure that they comply with UKVI regulations.
- Get your company ready for a UKVI compliance visit.
- Communicate with the Home Office whenever required, right up to the day you find out what the decision is.
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