A sponsor licence allows UK businesses to employ workers from outside the UK. This includes both non-EU nationals and most citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland who arrived in the UK post-31 December 2020. However, a sponsor licence is not needed for Irish citizens, individuals with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, those with indefinite leave to remain, or foreign nationals with existing work permission.
To obtain a sponsor licence, you must meet various general and route-specific requirements.
General Requirements:
- Genuine Organisation: You must operate lawfully in the UK.
- Good Conduct: Your organisation and key personnel must be honest, dependable, and not engaged in actions detrimental to the public good.
- Sponsor Duties: You must demonstrate the capability to carry out sponsor duties and comply with Home Office guidelines.
To prove your eligibility, you'll need to submit various company documents, which vary depending on your organisation type and the sponsorship route.
Route-Specific Requirements:
For a Skilled Worker sponsor licence, you need to demonstrate:
- The job meets the required skill and salary levels.
- The role is genuine.
- A direct employer-employee relationship exists.
For a UK Expansion Worker sponsor licence, you need to prove:
- The job meets the required skill and salary levels.
- The role is genuine.
- There is a qualifying link between your UK business and the overseas business.
- The overseas business has been active and trading for at least three years (unless exempt).
- You intend to establish a UK trading presence within two years.
Each immigration route, such as Global Business Mobility, Scale-up, International Sportsperson, Minister of Religion, and Creative Worker, has specific requirements.
You must provide at least four mandatory documents as per Appendix A of the Home Office sponsor guidance. The exact documents required will vary based on your application.
Before applying, appoint an Authorising Officer, Key Contact, and at least one Level 1 User to manage your sponsor licence through the Sponsorship Management System (SMS). Each role must be filled by someone based in the UK with a clean criminal and civil record.
To apply, complete an online application form, pay the fee, and submit supporting documents within five working days. The application fee varies: £536 for small businesses and charities, and £1,476 for medium and large companies.
Sponsor licences typically take up to 8 weeks to process, with a £500 priority service available for a quicker decision. If granted, the licence is valid for 10 years, with renewal required before expiration. UK Expansion Worker licences cannot be renewed but other routes can be added once a UK presence is established.
Successful applicants receive an 'A' rating on the register of licensed sponsors. UK Expansion Worker applicants may receive a 'Provisional' rating. You will then be able to assign Certificates of Sponsorship and manage your licence via the SMS.
