UK Sponsor Licence
(Worker & Temporary Worker Routes)
 April 2025 Guidance

1. What is a Sponsor Licence?

A sponsor licence allows UK employers to hire skilled workers from outside the UK under specific visa routes. Without a valid sponsor licence, you cannot legally sponsor non-UK nationals, including EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens who arrived in the UK after 31 December 2020.

You will not need a sponsor licence to employ individuals who:

• Are British or Irish citizens

• Hold settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

• Hold indefinite leave to remain (ILR)

• Are Commonwealth citizens with right of abode

• Are on UK Ancestry visas or are exempt (e.g., Irish citizens)

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2. Types of Sponsor Licences

A. Worker Licence: For skilled, long-term job roles

• Skilled Worker

• Senior or Specialist Worker (Global Business Mobility)

• Minister of Religion

B. Temporary Worker Licence: For short-term work

• Seasonal Worker

• Creative Worker

• Charity Worker

• UK Expansion Worker

• Graduate Trainee

• Service Supplier

Each licence type has specific eligibility requirements and documentation.

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3. Eligibility and Responsibilities

To be eligible, an organisation must:

• Be genuine and actively trading in the UK

• Be legally operating and financially stable

• Not pose any threat to immigration control

• Have appropriate systems to monitor sponsored employees

• Appoint key personnel for licence management (Authorising Officer, Key Contact, Level 1 user)

As a licensed sponsor, you must:

• Keep accurate HR records (see Appendix D)

• Report changes to workers' circumstances within 10 working days

• Prevent abuse of the system (e.g., ghost employees)

Failure to comply can lead to licence suspension or revocation.

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4. Application Process

Step 1: Online Application

• Complete the online sponsor licence application form

• Pay the relevant fee (see below)

• Download and sign the submission sheet

Step 2: Submit Supporting Documents

• Email your submission sheet and required documents within 5 working days

• Do not post any documents unless specifically requested

Step 3: Await Home Office Decision

• Standard processing time is up to 8 weeks

• Priority service may be available

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5. Application Fees (April 2025)

Organisation Type                        Worker Licence      Temporary Worker Licence      Combined Licence

Small Business/Charity                       £536                                   £536                                              £536

Medium/Large Business                     £1,476                                £536                                              £1,476

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6. Mandatory Documents

Most organisations must submit at least 4 supporting documents, unless exempt (e.g., public bodies, universities).

Examples include:

• Certificate of Incorporation (Companies House)

• Business bank statements

• Employer's liability insurance certificate (minimum £5 million)

• HMRC PAYE and Accounts Office reference numbers

• VAT registration certificate

Charities must provide proof of registration with the Charity Commission. Start-ups (trading < 18 months) must provide UK bank statements.

Franchisees must provide a signed franchise agreement.

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7. Route-Specific Documents

Depending on the visa route, additional documents may be required:

Skilled Worker:

• Job descriptions

• Salaries, working hours

• Organisational hierarchy

• Evidence of recruitment (if applicable)

UK Expansion Worker:

• Evidence of overseas trading for 3+ years

• UK footprint (e.g., lease or office purchase)

• Business plan and market research

• Common ownership evidence (Articles of Association, shareholding)

Minister of Religion:

• Size of congregation, premises, scheduled worship

• Support letter from religious head

Seasonal Worker:

• Endorsement from Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

Graduate Trainee / Specialist Worker:

• Proof of qualifying link to overseas entity

• Evidence of in-house training programme (for Graduate Trainees)

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8. Key Personnel Roles

Authorising Officer: A senior staff member responsible for overall licence use.

Key Contact: Primary contact between your organisation and the Home Office.

Level 1 User: Manages sponsorship duties via the Sponsorship Management System (SMS).

Optional: You may also appoint a Level 2 user (limited functions).

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9. After Getting a Sponsor Licence

Once your licence is granted:

• You can assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS)

• Each worker must have a valid CoS before applying for a visa

• You must comply with all sponsor duties (reporting, record-keeping, etc.)

Validity: A sponsor licence is valid for 4 years and must be renewed before expiry.

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10. Common Reasons for Refusal

• Not providing all required documents

• Submitting documents late (beyond 5 working days)

• False/incomplete information

• Poor history of immigration compliance

• Failure to demonstrate a genuine trading presence in the UK

If your application is refused, you may be subject to a 6-month cooling-off period before you can reapply.

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Contact and Support

At UK Law Practice, we specialise in UK immigration law and can help you:

• Assess your eligibility for a sponsor licence

• Prepare all required documents

• Navigate complex routes like UK Expansion or Skilled Worker

• Provide ongoing support after your licence is granted

Contact us today at 07355 282 181 to discuss your best route to UK sponsorship and how we can support your legal practice and business growth.

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1 GOV.UK: Online application for Sponsor licence

2 GOV.UK: Supporting documents for sponsor licence

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