What Is a UK Sponsor Licence?
A UK Sponsor Licence is authorisation from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) that allows an employer to recruit and sponsor workers from outside the UK and Ireland. It is held by the organisation, not by any individual employee. Without a licence, an employer cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) — and without a CoS, an overseas candidate cannot apply for a Skilled Worker visa or most other sponsored work routes.
Britlaw Solicitors is an SRA-regulated firm with offices in Manchester and Blackburn, providing solicitor-led advice on Sponsor Licence applications, eligibility, Appendix A documents, fees and ongoing compliance for employers across the UK.
Who Needs a Sponsor Licence?
- UK employers wishing to recruit Skilled Workers from outside the UK and Ireland
- NHS Trusts, private hospitals, GP practices, and care providers wishing to recruit overseas health and care workers (CQC registration is required in addition to the standard evidence)
- Universities, schools, and educational institutions sponsoring overseas staff
- Hospitality businesses, recruitment agencies and SMEs experiencing acute skills shortages in the domestic labour market
- Any employer wishing to use other sponsored work routes (e.g. Global Business Mobility, Intra-company transfers)
- Startups and small businesses — eligible provided they can evidence genuine trading activity and a real recruitment need
Worker vs Temporary Worker Licence
UKVI offers two main categories of Sponsor Licence. Most employers hiring permanent overseas staff need the Worker licence; short-term or role-specific hires fall under the Temporary Worker licence. An organisation can apply for one or both, depending on its recruitment needs.
| Licence Type | Covers | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Worker | Skilled Worker, Senior or Specialist Worker, Minister of Religion, International Sportsperson, Scale-up Worker | Long-term employment routes — most UK employers apply here |
| Temporary Worker | Creative Worker, Charity Worker, Religious Worker, Government Authorised Exchange, Global Business Mobility routes, Seasonal Worker | Short-term, project-based or role-specific appointments |
Eligibility: The Genuine Organisation and Genuine Vacancy Tests
UKVI assesses every application against two core tests:
- Genuine Organisation Test — confirms the business is legitimate and lawfully trading in the UK, reviewing company accounts, VAT and PAYE registration, and evidence of trading premises
- Genuine Vacancy Test — confirms the role being sponsored is real, meets the relevant skill and salary threshold, and is genuinely required by the business — roles created solely to facilitate a visa will fail this test
UKVI will also check that the organisation and its key personnel have no history of immigration or employment law breaches, unspent relevant convictions, or outstanding debts to government departments.
Key Personnel: Who You Need to Nominate
Every application requires named individuals in the following roles — see our full guide to key personnel roles and eligibility. The same person may hold more than one role, provided they meet the suitability requirements for each.
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Authorising Officer | Most senior person responsible for the licence and overall compliance with sponsor duties |
| Key Contact | Main point of contact between the organisation and UKVI for correspondence and compliance queries |
| Level 1 User | Manages the Sponsor Management System (SMS) — assigns Certificates of Sponsorship and reports changes. Must be a genuine employee, not an external consultant |
| Level 2 User | Restricted SMS access for delegated administrative tasks (optional) |
Documents Required (Appendix A)
See our full Appendix A documents checklist for a detailed breakdown by organisation type. In summary, the documents required depend on your organisation type and are set out in Appendix A of the Sponsor Guidance. Most applicants must submit at least four specified documents. Common examples:
| Organisation Type | Typical Evidence |
|---|---|
| Established company | Certificate of Incorporation, VAT registration, recent business bank statements, employer's liability insurance, audited accounts |
| Startup / trading under 18 months | Evidence of business premises, HMRC PAYE registration, business bank statements, VAT certificate if registered |
| Charity / not-for-profit | Charity Commission registration, governing document, business bank statements, proof of premises |
| Care providers (additional) | CQC registration (England) or the relevant regulator's registration elsewhere in the UK |
Documents must be submitted within five working days of the online application — missing this deadline results in automatic rejection. We advise on the exact combination required for your organisation before you apply.
The Application Process, Step by Step
- 1. Eligibility check — confirm the organisation and key personnel meet UKVI's suitability requirements
- 2. Select licence type — Worker, Temporary Worker, or both, based on your recruitment needs
- 3. Appoint key personnel — nominate an Authorising Officer, Key Contact and at least one Level 1 User
- 4. Prepare Appendix A documents — identify the correct evidence for your organisation type and gather at least four qualifying documents
- 5. Complete the online application — submitted via the Sponsor Management System, with all details matching your supporting documents exactly
- 6. Submit supporting evidence — within five working days of the online application
- 7. Pay the correct fee — confirm your size classification (small/charitable or medium/large) before paying
- 8. Respond to UKVI — cooperate with any request for further information or a pre-licence compliance visit
- 9. Licence granted — set up SMS access, train staff, and ensure compliance systems are operational from day one
Solicitor's Insight
The application form itself is the easy part. What decides most applications is whether your HR systems, right-to-work processes and job descriptions would hold up to a UKVI compliance visit — announced or not. We audit this before you apply, not after a refusal.
— Zaheer Ul Hassan Cheema, Founder & Principal Solicitor
Sponsor Licence Fees (2026)
For a full breakdown with worked examples, see our Sponsor Licence Cost & Fees guide.
| Fee | Small / Charitable Sponsor | Medium / Large Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Home Office application fee | £611 | £1,682 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (Worker route) | £525 per worker | |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (Temporary Worker route) | £55 per worker (some categories exempt) | |
| Immigration Skills Charge — first 12 months | £480 | £1,320 |
| Immigration Skills Charge — each further 6 months | £240 | £660 |
| Optional priority service | £750 (decision in approx. 10 working days, subject to availability) | |
Home Office fees are non-refundable if an application is refused or withdrawn. For our solicitor fees for handling your application, see our fees page.
Processing Times & What Happens After Grant
Standard processing takes around 8 weeks. A priority service can reduce this to roughly 10 working days, though availability is limited. UKVI may conduct a pre-licence compliance visit — announced or unannounced — to check your HR systems, right-to-work processes and the genuineness of the role before deciding.
If granted, your licence is issued with an A-rating, allowing you to assign Certificates of Sponsorship immediately. Maintaining that rating means meeting your reporting and record-keeping duties from day one — see our Sponsor Licence Compliance page for the full detail.
Common Reasons Sponsor Licence Applications Are Refused
If you've already been refused, see our guide on what to do after a Sponsor Licence refusal.
- Incorrect or incomplete Appendix A documents, or documents submitted after the five-day deadline
- Failing the genuine organisation or genuine vacancy test
- Unsuitable key personnel (unspent relevant convictions, previous licence revocation, insufficient UK residence)
- Weak or non-compliant HR systems identified during a pre-licence visit
- Inconsistencies between the application form and supporting evidence
Sponsor licence refusals and withdrawals remain common across the sector, and a refusal costs you the application fee and typically triggers a cooling-off period before you can reapply. A solicitor-prepared application — with your HR systems and documents audited in advance — is the most effective way to reduce this risk.
Ongoing Compliance After Your Licence Is Granted
Holding a Sponsor Licence is not a one-off event — it comes with continuing duties for as long as the licence is held, including record-keeping under Appendix D, reporting changes via the SMS within strict deadlines, and monitoring sponsored workers' immigration status. Failure to meet these duties can lead to licence downgrade, suspension or revocation. We advise on all of this as part of our dedicated Sponsor Licence Compliance service, including mock audits and Home Office compliance visit preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a UK Sponsor Licence cost?
The Home Office application fee is £611 for small or charitable sponsors and £1,682 for medium or large sponsors, plus Certificate of Sponsorship fees and, for most Skilled Worker sponsorship, the Immigration Skills Charge. See the fee table above for a full breakdown.
How long does a Sponsor Licence application take?
Standard processing takes around 8 weeks. An optional priority service can reduce this to roughly 10 working days, subject to availability.
Can a startup or small business get a Sponsor Licence?
Yes. Startups must show genuine trading activity, a realistic recruitment need, and compliance capability despite a smaller team. We help smaller businesses build a strong case demonstrating genuine need.
What happens if my Sponsor Licence application is refused?
You lose the application fee, and there is no standard right of appeal. A cooling-off period — often up to 12 months — may apply before you can reapply, so it's important to address every refusal reason before submitting again.
Do I need a solicitor to apply for a Sponsor Licence?
It isn't a legal requirement, but sponsor licence refusals and withdrawals remain common, often due to avoidable evidential errors. Solicitor-led preparation reduces this risk considerably.
What documents do I need for a Sponsor Licence application?
At least four documents from the relevant Appendix A table for your organisation type — see the documents table above. We confirm the exact combination for your business before you apply.
How long does a Sponsor Licence last?
Most sponsor licences now have open-ended validity, provided the sponsor keeps meeting its duties. Some legacy and specific route categories still carry a four-year cycle — we'll confirm which applies to you.
Can my Sponsor Licence be suspended or revoked?
Yes, if UKVI finds evidence of non-compliance. See our Sponsor Licence Compliance page for how we advise on suspension and revocation risk.
Zaheer is the Founder and Principal Solicitor at Britlaw Solicitors, with over seven years' experience across UK immigration law including business immigration, sponsor licensing and compliance, and Home Office enforcement action. He advises UK employers on sponsor licence applications, compliance reviews and licence suspensions and revocations.