Sponsor License

A Sponsor Licence is permission granted by the UK Home Office to an organisation, enabling them to hire (sponsor) foreign workers to work legally in the UK.

If you wish to employ workers from outside the UK, you must have a Sponsor Licence to legally hire them under the UK immigration law.

Any UK-based organisation that meets the eligibility criteria can apply, including businesses, educational institutions, charities, government bodies, and other legitimate organisations.

To qualify, your organisation must be legitimate and based in the UK, have appropriate HR and recruitment processes, and be able to comply with sponsorship duties set out by the Home Office. You cannot have unspent criminal convictions for immigration offences or certain other crimes, such as fraud or money laundering, and had a sponsor licence revoked in the last 12 months.

The application process involves completing an online form, providing supporting documents, and demonstrating your organisation’s suitability and readiness to sponsor migrants.

Processing times can vary, but typically, it takes several weeks to a few months for the Home Office to process and approve a Sponsor Licence application.

Once approved, your organisation will be added to the Register of Sponsors and can start issuing Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to prospective employees.

If your sponsor licence application is refused, you may have the right to request a review if you believe that:

a) A mistake was made by the caseworker.
b) Supporting documents were not considered.

You can then consider making a new application after so called “cooling-off period”.

Yes, the Home Office can revoke a Sponsor Licence if the sponsoring organisation fails to comply with its duties or if there are serious breaches of immigration rules.

As a Sponsor Licence holder, you are responsible for complying with immigration laws (and wider UK law), maintaining records and reporting duties, and ensuring your behaviour is conducive to the public good.

Home Office removed the requirement for organisations to apply to renew sponsor licence. It means that the licence will be valid as long as you meet the requirements.

Yes, IMD Corporate has extensive experience in business immigration matters, including helping organisations apply for and manage Sponsor Licences, and ensuring compliance with all Home Office requirements.

Yes, IMD Corporate offers comprehensive support beyond the initial application process. We provide guidance on compliance with sponsorship duties, assistance with managing your sponsored employees, and support in case of audits or inspections by the Home Office.

For more detailed guidance and to discuss your specific needs, please contact us directly. We’re here to assist you through every step of the Sponsor Licence process.
You may also wish to visit the UK government’s official guidance page on Sponsor Licences: UK Visa Sponsorship for Employers.