UK Sponsor Licence – Complete Guide for Employers

What this licence allows

• Issue Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).
• Recruit overseas workers.
• Sponsor workers under specific immigration routes (Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, Minister of Religion, International Sportsperson, Seasonal Worker, Temporary Worker routes).
• Sponsor workers already living in the UK who can switch to sponsored visas.

Who employers can sponsor

Employers cannot sponsor people currently in the UK on visit visas, short-term student visas, Seasonal Worker visas, domestic worker visas, immigration bail, or permission granted outside immigration rules.

• Workers outside the UK applying for entry clearance.
• Student visa holders switching after course completion.
• Graduate Route visa holders switching to Skilled Worker.
• Workers from other eligible visa categories.
• Employees already working for the employer.

Core eligibility requirements

• Genuine business operating legally in the UK.
• Genuine job vacancies.
• Capable of sponsoring workers.
• Robust HR systems to meet sponsor duties.

Key personnel requirements

Key personnel must be based in the UK, trustworthy, reliable, and have no serious criminal history.

• Authorising Officer (senior person responsible for compliance).
• Key Contact (main Home Office contact).
• Level 1 User (manages Sponsor Management System).

Mandatory documents for specific organisations

• Charities: Proof of charitable status (Charity Commission, Scottish Charity Regulator, Charity Commission for Northern Ireland).
• Franchise businesses: Signed franchise agreement.
• Start-ups (<18 months): Corporate bank account with PRA/FCA regulated UK bank.
• Regulated organisations: CQC registration (care), FCA/PRA (finance), local authority (food), education regulators (schools).

Additional supporting documents

Most organisations must submit at least 4 documents. Documents must be PDF/JPEG/PNG, clearly readable, high quality scans with descriptive file names. Non-English/Welsh documents need certified translations.

• HMRC PAYE registration.
• VAT registration certificate.
• Corporation tax registration.
• Financial accounts.
• Business bank statements.
• Employer liability insurance.
• Lease agreement for premises.
• Contracts or invoices showing business activity.

Sponsor licence fees and processing

• Small businesses/charities: £574.
• Medium/large organisations: £1,579.
• Standard processing: 8 weeks.
• Priority service available for faster decisions.

Ongoing sponsor duties

Failure to comply may result in licence downgrade, suspension, or revocation, affecting sponsored workers' immigration status.

• Record keeping: passports, visas, contact details.
• Monitor worker attendance and employment activity.
• Report changes via Sponsor Management System (SMS): non-starters, absences, job changes, leavers.
• Prepare for Home Office compliance visits.

Application outcomes

Home Office verifies documents with banks, government departments, regulatory authorities and may conduct compliance visits or digital inspections.

• Document confirmed genuine: Application proceeds.
• Document confirmed false: Application refused, may be referred to authorities.
• Inconclusive check: Home Office requests further evidence.