Sponsor License requirements

If your business plans to hire non-UK nationals, you must hold a valid Sponsor Licence issued by the Home Office. Below is a comprehensive summary of the key requirements, licence types, application process, fees, and ongoing responsibilities.

To qualify for a Sponsor Licence, your organisation must:

• Be a genuine, actively trading business in the UK
• Have no unspent criminal convictions for immigration offences, fraud, or money laundering
• Not have had a sponsor licence revoked in the past 12 months
• Have suitable HR systems in place to monitor and report on sponsored workers

You must also appoint the following key personnel to manage your licence:

• Authorising Officer – senior person responsible for compliance
• Key Contact – main point of contact with the Home Office
• Level 1 User – manages day-to-day licence activity via the Sponsor Management System (SMS)

You can only sponsor a worker if:

• The job is on the official list of eligible occupations
• The role meets the required skill level and salary threshold
• The salary meets the minimum requirement (usually £38,700 per year as of April 2024)
• Some routes may have lower thresholds (e.g. shortage occupations, new entrants)

You can apply for one or both of the following categories:

Worker Licence (Long-Term Roles)

• Skilled Worker
• Senior or Specialist Worker (Global Business Mobility)
• Minister of Religion
• International Sportsperson

Temporary Worker Licence (Short-Term or Seasonal Roles)

• Charity Worker
• Creative Worker
• Religious Worker
• Government Authorised Exchange
• Seasonal Worker
• Graduate Trainee (Global Business Mobility)

• Apply online through the Home Office portal
• Pay the relevant application fee:
  £536 – small businesses and charities

                   £1,476 – medium or large businesses

• Submit required supporting documents within 5 working days
• Assign and train your key personnel to manage compliance
• Licence is valid for 4 years and must be renewed before expiry

If sponsoring a worker under the Skilled Worker or Senior/Specialist Worker route, you must pay the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC):

• £364 per year – small or charitable sponsors
• £1,000 per year – medium or large sponsors
  This is paid upfront when assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).

As a licensed sponsor, you have strict legal obligations to:

• Monitor sponsored workers – track absences, attendance, and visa compliance
• Keep accurate records – including right-to-work checks, contact details, and employment terms
• Report changes to the Home Office – such as:
  • If a worker leaves or changes role
  • If they are absent without permission for 10+ working days
  • If your business undergoes changes (e.g. merger, address, ownership)

You must also:

• Use the Sponsorship Management System (SMS) to manage all updates
• Cooperate fully with any Home Office audit or compliance visit
• Avoid actions that may damage the integrity of the UK sponsorship system

⚠️ Non-compliance can lead to licence suspension or revocation, affecting your ability to hire or retain foreign staff.

If you'd like us to support your Sponsor Licence application or manage compliance on your behalf, contact us today to book a free 30-minute consultation.