What is a Sponsor Licence?

A sponsor licence is essential for UK employers who wish to hire workers from outside the UK, including non-settled individuals. Without a sponsor licence, businesses cannot legally employ migrant workers under the UK immigration system.

By obtaining a sponsor licence, employers can issue Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS), which are required to confirm that the prospective employee meets the relevant criteria under the UK’s points-based immigration system.

Types of Sponsor Licences

There are four main types of sponsor licences. The type of licence you need depends on the category of workers you want to hire:

Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence

Designed for hiring skilled workers on a long-term basis. This is commonly used for roles such as healthcare professionals, engineers, and IT specialists.

Temporary Worker Sponsor Licence

Ideal for hiring workers on a short-term or temporary basis, such as charity workers, creative artists, or seasonal workers.

Global Business Mobility Sponsor Licence

Suitable for businesses transferring existing staff to the UK or expanding operations into the UK. This includes routes such as the Senior or Specialist Worker route.

Scale-Up Sponsor Licence

For fast-growing companies looking to recruit highly skilled workers to support their rapid business growth.

What Are the Requirements for a Sponsor Licence?

To successfully apply for a sponsor licence, your business must meet several requirements:

• Genuine Business: Your organisation must be legally operating in the UK.

• Compliance Capability: You must demonstrate that your business can comply with sponsor duties, including record-keeping and reporting.

• Eligible Roles: You must offer genuine employment that meets the required skill level and salary thresholds (e.g., for the Skilled Worker or Global Business Mobility routes).

The Home Office requires documentary evidence to verify these criteria. In some cases, they may conduct a pre-licence compliance visit to assess your business practices, HR systems, and policies.

What Happens After a Successful Sponsor Licence Application?

The following will happen if your application is approved:

1. Sponsor Licence Grant: Your business will be listed on the UK Sponsorship Licence Register and allowed to issue Certificates of Sponsorship.

2. Licence Rating: You will receive an A-rating (the highest rating) or a B-rating. A-rating sponsors have full privileges, while B-rated sponsors may face additional monitoring.

3. Validity Period: As of 6/04/2024, sponsor licences no longer need to be renewed.

Sponsor Licence duties

Sponsors must comply with ongoing duties, such as maintaining accurate records, monitoring sponsored employees, and reporting changes to the Home Office. See Sponsor Licence Duties.

The Home Office can conduct a compliance visit to ensure that sponsors are fulfilling their duties.

What Happens If a Sponsor Licence Application Is Refused?

If your application is refused, there is no right of appeal. However, you may be able to take the following actions:

• Error Correction Request: If the refusal was based on an administrative error, you can submit an error correction request within 14 days of the decision.

• Re-application: In some cases, you may reapply for a sponsor licence. However, you may face a cooling-off period (a waiting period imposed by the Home Office) before reapplying.

Need Help with Your Sponsor Licence Application?

Applying for a sponsor licence can be a complex process, but our expert team is here to help. We provide end-to-end support to ensure your application meets all Home Office requirements.
Contact us today for tailored advice and assistance with your sponsor licence application.