--Sponsorship Licence · New Application
Sponsorship Licence Application
A sponsor licence is Home Office authorisation to employ workers from outside the UK. Applications are decided on paperwork and evidence — most refusals happen because something didn’t match or wasn’t included, not because the business wasn’t eligible. We check everything before it’s submitted.
--Fees
What the Home Office charges.
Your business size is determined from Companies House and HMRC records, not self-declared. Fees are non-refundable if your application is refused.
£611
Turnover of £10.2m or less, balance sheet of £5.1m or less, or 50 employees or fewer — meeting at least two of these. Charities and educational institutions qualify regardless of size.
£1,682
Businesses exceeding the small sponsor thresholds above.
Priority processing (10 working days instead of up to 8 weeks) costs an additional £750, subject to a limited daily allocation. Once licensed, each Skilled Worker Certificate of Sponsorship costs £525, plus the Immigration Skills Charge per worker.
--Eligibility
What the Home Office checks.
Genuine, operating business
A real trading presence in the UK, with a genuine vacancy the licence would be used for — not a speculative application.
Suitable key personnel
No relevant unspent criminal convictions among the people named on the licence, and no recent history of licence revocation.
HR systems in place
A system capable of tracking sponsored workers and meeting ongoing reporting duties, ready to demonstrate at application.
--Key Personnel
Three roles you'll need to name.
Authorising Officer
The most senior person responsible for sponsorship activity. Must be a paid employee, director, or partner.
Key Contact
The Home Office's main point of contact for the application and licence.
Level 1 User
Manages the licence day-to-day through the Sponsor Management System, including assigning Certificates of Sponsorship.
--Documents
What you'll need to provide.
The exact list depends on your organisation type, set out in the Home Office’s Appendix A. Supporting documents must be submitted within 5 working days of your application — missing paperwork is the most common cause of delay or refusal.
Proof of registration
Companies House registration, or equivalent for your organisation type.
Evidence of trading
Bank statements, invoices, or other proof the business is genuinely operating.
Premises evidence
Lease or ownership documents for your trading address, consistent with the address used elsewhere in your application.
Key personnel details
Identity and background information for your Authorising Officer, Key Contact, and Level 1 User.
--Our Process
Four steps, start to finish.
Eligibility check
We confirm your business size, sponsor category, and readiness before anything is submitted.
Documents prepared
We help gather and cross-check evidence so nothing is inconsistent or missing.
Application submitted
Your adviser submits within the required timeframe and tracks progress.
Licence granted
We help set up your Sponsor Management System access and explain your ongoing duties.
--Questions
Frequently asked.
| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION | ANSWER & DETAILS |
|---|---|
| What documents are needed for a Sponsorship Licence Application? | To submit a successful Sponsorship Licence Application, UK businesses must provide at least four mandatory supporting documents listed in Home Office Appendix A. These typically include corporate bank statements, employer’s liability insurance cover (£5m minimum), proof of business premises, and HMRC VAT registration certificates. |
| How long does the Sponsorship Licence Application process take? | Standard processing for a Sponsorship Licence Application takes up to 8 weeks from the date you submit your online form and supporting documents. The Home Office offers a pre-licence priority service for an additional fee, which can expedite decision times to 10 working days. |
| How do we assign key personnel roles during the application? | Your Sponsorship Licence Application requires nominating three key personnel roles to manage the Sponsor Management System (SMS): an Authorising Officer (senior staff member), a Key Contact, and a Level 1 User. These individuals must be based in the UK and pass Home Office suitability checks. |
| What happens during a Home Office compliance audit before approval? | As part of reviewing your Sponsorship Licence Application, the Home Office may conduct an unannounced or scheduled compliance visit to your business premises. Officials will inspect HR systems, right-to-work tracking procedures, and verify that you can fulfill ongoing sponsor duties. |
| Can small businesses or startups complete a Sponsorship Licence Application? | Yes. Small businesses, sole traders, and tech startups can submit a Sponsorship Licence Application provided they are genuinely trading in the UK, have structured HR processes, and have a legitimate need to sponsor skilled workers for eligible job roles. |
| When can my business assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)? | Once your Sponsorship Licence Application is approved and your licence is active, you can request and assign Defined or Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) through the Sponsor Management System (SMS) to recruit international workers. |