Sponsor licence application process

If you are an employer looking to sponsor international workers, you will need a sponsor licence. The type of sponsor licence you need will depend on the type of staff you need to recruit. You can apply for a worker licence if you need longer-term or skilled workers or a temporary worker licence, if you need employees to undertake temporary employment. You will need to obtain one of these sponsor licences to employ and sponsor non-UK national employees (including EEA individuals) for specific roles in your organisation.

A sponsor licence application can be made online through the Home Office sponsorship management system. Your organisation will need to meet certain eligibility criteria. This includes demonstrating that your organisation is genuine, operating legally, has the correct HR systems in place to manage sponsorship and does not have a history of non-compliance with immigration rules.

Sponsor licence application fees depend on several factors, including whether the application is made inside or outside of the UK, the size of the company and whether the organisation is a charitable organisation. As an example, a small or charitable applicant will be expected to pay £611 per licence, whereas a medium or large applicant will pay £1,682. The sponsor licence fees will also depend on whether an applicant opts for a priority service.

The size of an organisation can be assessed by referring to the Companies Act definition of a small or charitable business. Any organisation that does not fall into these definitions will be considered a medium or large organisation.

Your organisation will need to provide supporting documents to accompany the application. It is important to review the guidance well in advance of applying for a sponsor licence, so your organisation is fully prepared with the required documents. 

The types of documents expected will vary depending on the nature of the business and the type of potential workers sought. A full list of mandatory documents required can be found in the Home Office sponsor licence guidance Appendix A Sponsorship Guidance. In all cases, applications must be accompanied by at least four mandatory documents, including those required for specific companies/licence routes, and other more general documents. For example, if you wish to employ seasonal workers, you must provide a copy of your endorsement from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and at least three other mandatory documents. 

It is essential for employers to designate individuals within the organisation to manage and oversee the sponsorship licence. The individuals involved with sponsorship management need to fill the roles noted below.

• Authorising officer. They have overall responsibility for staff and representatives using the sponsorship management system. This individual should be a senior and competent person within the organisation.
• Key contact. They are responsible for being the main point of contact with UKVI in relation to sponsorship.
• Level 1 user. They are responsible for day-to-day management of sponsorship licences through the sponsorship management system. 

A pre-licence assessment visit may be conducted if further checks are required to check if an organisation has the resources to sponsor potential employees.

If your application is successful, your organisation will become a licenced sponsor and will be placed on the UK’s sponsorship licence register. This means you can allocate certificates of sponsorship to non-UK employees. As an employer, you must conduct initial checks to ensure potential employees have the requisite skills, qualifications and accreditations for the role, and that sponsorship certificates are only allocated to employees where the job is suitable for sponsorship.

If your application is unsuccessful, you may be able to make an error correction request if you believe the Home Office made a mistake in coming to a decision. This means the Home Office will review whether they have made the correct decision. As there is no right of appeal, we suggest you instead take the time to thoroughly prepare the initial sponsor licence application.

Sponsors can apply to add additional immigration visa routes to an existing sponsor licence (fees vary). By doing so, organisations can sponsor a wider range of workers. This can be useful for overseas companies that have transferred staff to the UK under a Global Business Mobility visa, where the UK entity now needs to sponsor its own non‑UK workers.

Some of the other worker categories are:

• Skilled worker
• Global Business Mobility - Senior or Specialist Workers
• Ministers of Religion 
• International Sportsperson 
• Temporary Worker 

The organisation needs to meets the relevant criteria for the additional route. The process for adding routes to an existing sponsor licence is faster than applying for a new licence. However, correctly identifying the immigration route required is essential.

The sponsor licence does not need to be renewed, but it remains valid only if you continue to meet all sponsorship duties and responsibilities. Some of these include reporting organisational changes, as well as changes to the employees duties or extended period of absences. Ongoing compliance is essential to avoid Home Office action which can include revoking, suspending or downgrading your licence.

Read about Sponsor Compliance.