How to Apply for a Sponsor Licence (Step-by-Step Guide)

A comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to apply for a sponsor licence. Our guide covers the full process, requirements, documents, costs, and more.

Ready to apply for a sponsor licence? Contact our expert business immigration solicitors in London today at 0203 417 3700 to schedule your consultation.

Table of Contents

What is a Sponsor Licence?

A sponsor licence is Home Office approval that lets a UK-based employer or organisation hire skilled overseas workers by sponsoring them to work in the UK.

It allows UK employers not only to hire skilled talent from overseas but also to recruit workers already in the UK who are sponsored by competing firms.

A sponsor licence helps UK employers or organisations to fill skill gaps and meet specific labour needs that cannot be fulfilled by the local workforce.

Sponsor Licence Requirements

UK Employers must meet specific requirements to obtain a sponsor licence and hire skilled foreign workers.

Your business must:

• be registered in the UK.
• be legally operating in the UK.
• have a proper organisational structure.
• be financially stable.
• have an appropriate HR system.
• not have any unspent criminal convictions.
• demonstrate a genuine vacancy that cannot be filled by the local workforce.

You must meet all other requirements depending on the nature of your business. For eligibility assessment, call Wembley Solicitors today at 0203 417 3700.

Documents Required to Apply for a Sponsor Licence

Applicants for a sponsor licence should consult Appendix A of the Home Office's guidance, which outlines the mandatory documents required for the application.

When you're applying for a sponsor licence, you must provide:

• Certificate of Incorporation
• Recent audited annual accounts
• Employer's liability insurance certificate
• VAT registration certificate (if applicable)
• Most recent corporate bank account statement
• HMRC registration details, including PAYE number
• Proof of business premises ownership or commercial lease
• Utility bills (e.g., electricity, water) to confirm the business address
• Details about the HR system to manage foreign workers
• Details about key personnel and their duties

You may need to provide additional documents depending on the nature of your business and how long it has been operating in the UK.

Types of Sponsor Licence

'Workers' and 'Temporary workers' are two main types of sponsor licence in the UK.

1. Workers: for skilled or long-term employment
2. Temporary workers: for specific types of temporary employment

Worker licence

A 'Worker' licence enables you to sponsor individuals for various types of skilled employment. The duration of the skilled work can be short-term, long-term, or permanent, depending on the worker's visa.

The Worker Licence supports several visa categories, including:

• Skilled Worker visa
• Senior or Specialist Worker visa
• Minister of Religion
• International Sportsperson

To obtain a 'Worker' licence, employers must demonstrate that their job roles meet the UK's skill and salary requirements and that they have appropriate systems in place for managing sponsored employees.

Temporary Worker licence

A 'Temporary Worker' licence allows you to sponsor individuals for temporary roles, including volunteering and job shadowing. This licence is available only for certain types of employment and visas, such as:

• Scale-up Worker
• Creative Worker
• Charity Worker
• Religious Worker
• Government Authorised Exchange
• International Agreement
• Graduate Trainee (Global Business Mobility)
• Service Supplier (Global Business Mobility)
• UK Expansion Worker (Global Business Mobility)
• Secondment Worker (Global Business Mobility)
• Seasonal Worker

Each type of licence has specific requirements and conditions, so employers need to choose the one that best suits their needs and the roles they are looking to fill.

How to Apply for a Sponsor Licence?

Applying for a sponsor licence in the UK involves several key steps. Here's a general guide to help you through the process:

Step 1: Determine Eligibility

Ensure your business meets the Home Office eligibility criteria for a sponsor licence. Your company must be a registered legal entity, genuinely operational, and capable of offering a real job to a non-UK worker.

You must also prove your ability to comply with sponsor duties and responsibilities.

Step 2: Prepare Documentation

Collect essential documents for your UK sponsor licence application, which may include certificates of incorporation, bank statements, financial records, lease agreements, and evidence of internal HR policies and procedures.

Step 3: Choose the Type of Licence

Choose between a Worker Licence and a Temporary Worker Licence based on your business needs and the type of roles you are looking to fill.

Step 4: Appoint Key Personnel

Assign key personnel for managing your UK sponsor licence, including:

• Authorising Officer: A senior official within your organisation.
• Key Contact: The primary point of contact with the Home Office.
• Level 1 User: The individual responsible for your online sponsor management system.

Step 5: Apply Online

Complete the online sponsor licence application through the UK Government's website. You will need to provide details about your organisation, key personnel, and the documents you've prepared.

Once you've finished the online sponsor licence application, you need to send in the submission sheet at the end of the application and your supporting documents to the email address provided on the submission sheet.

Step 6: Pay the Application Fee

Pay the appropriate sponsor licence application fee based on the size of your business and the type of sponsor licence you are applying for.

Small or charitable sponsors pay £536, while medium or large sponsors pay £1,476.

Step 7: Pre-Licence Home Office Compliance Visits

As a part of the sponsor licence application, the Home Office may conduct compliance visits to ensure that your organisation meets the requirements to obtain a sponsor licence. Be prepared for these visits by maintaining proper documentation and records.

Step 8: Decision From the Home Office

The Home Office will review your application and may inspect your business premises.

A sponsor licence application can take up to 8 weeks to process. You can use the 'pre-licence priority service' to get a faster decision within 10 working days.

If your application is successful, you will receive a sponsor licence, which will allow you to issue Certificates of Sponsorship to non-UK workers.

How to send the supporting documents

You should scan or take pictures of your supporting documents and send them to the email address provided on the submission sheet.

Here is a guide on acceptable document formats and useful tips:

• Files can be in PDF (preferred), JPEG or PNG format.
• File titles should be descriptive and no more than 25 characters long.
• To reduce file sizes, scan documents in black and white or greyscale instead of colour.
• Ensure all documents are clear, legible, and free of errors.
• Double-check that all information is accurate and up to date.
• If any documents are not in English, provide a certified translation along with the original.

How Much Does a Sponsorship Licence Application Cost?

The sponsor licence fee varies depending on the company's size. Small or charitable sponsors pay £536, while medium or large sponsors pay £1,476.

Immigration Skills Charge

In addition to the sponsor licence application fee, employers need to pay an Immigration Skills Charge which is £1,000 for medium or large sponsors, and £364 for small or charitable sponsors for the initial 12 months.

For each subsequent 6-month period, the fee is £182 for small or charitable sponsors and £500 for medium or large sponsors

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

You'll also need to pay a fee when you assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to a foreign worker. How much a Certificate of Sponsorship (Cos) will cost depends on the type of sponsor licence you have.

How long does it take to get a sponsor licence?

According to Home Office guidance, a sponsor licence application can take up to 8 weeks to be processed under the standard service.

You may be able to use the 'pre-licence priority service' when you apply for a sponsor licence to get a faster decision within 10 working days. You'll need to pay £500 in addition to the sponsorship licence application fee.

This service is limited to a small number of applications every working day. Faster decisions are allocated in the order that requests arrive (first come, first served). You'll be told how to ask for a faster decision after you apply.

Pre-Licence Home Office Compliance Visits

A Home Office pre-licence compliance visit is a process of ensuring that a UK employer or organisation meets the requirements to obtain a sponsor licence.

The primary purpose of compliance visits is to verify that the sponsor is meeting its sponsorship duties and responsibilities, including:

• Keeping accurate and up-to-date records of sponsored employees.
• Ensuring sponsored employees have the right to work in the UK and meet the visa requirements.
• Reporting relevant changes or events to the Home Office within the required timeframes.
• Complying with advertising and recruitment processes for specific visa categories.
• Maintaining genuine employment and not engaging in illegal or unethical practices.

Need legal assistance with your sponsor licence application?

Our skilled team of business immigration solicitors in Wembley, London is here to guide you through the sponsor licence application process.

At Wembley Solicitors, our services include:

• Evaluating your eligibility and advising on the requirements
• Guiding you on the selection of key personnel
• Advising on compliance and employer responsibilities
• Providing a detailed checklist of required documents
• Assisting in selecting the appropriate type of sponsor licence
• Preparing and submitting the sponsor licence application online
• Handling all follow-up tasks until a decision is made by the UKVI

For legal advice and assistance with your sponsor licence application, contact our immigration solicitors in London at 0203 417 3700 or complete the enquiry form.

How to Contact Wembley Solicitors?

If you require a solicitor to obtain or manage a sponsor licence, Call our business immigration solicitors today at 0203 417 3700.