Sponsor Licence Application Solicitors

Updated 14 November 2026

Sponsor Licence Applications Handled by Solicitors

A sponsor licence (often called a sponsorship licence, or a sponsor license in US spelling) lets a UK employer hire workers from overseas on routes such as the Skilled Worker visa and the Global Business Mobility routes. You need the licence before you can assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to any worker.

The Home Office online form looks short, but the decision depends on the evidence behind it. It also depends on whether your HR systems and key personnel can meet your sponsor duties. As SRA-regulated sponsor licence solicitors, we prepare the whole application with you and stay involved until the decision.

Our Sponsor Licence Application Process

1. Eligibility and suitability review

Before you pay any Home Office fee we check that:

• your business is genuinely operating and trading in the UK
• the roles you want to fill are eligible for sponsorship, at the right skill level and occupation code
• the salaries meet the relevant thresholds for the route
• your proposed key personnel are suitable, with no relevant unspent convictions or previous immigration breaches
• there is nothing in the business’s history that could lead to a refusal

If we find a problem, we tell you before you spend money on an application that is likely to fail.

2. Choosing the right licence type

We advise on which routes your licence should cover. Most employers need a Worker licence for the Skilled Worker route. Overseas groups may need the Senior or Specialist Worker route, or a UK Expansion Worker licence. Some organisations need Temporary Worker routes as well. Applying for the right routes at the start avoids later variations.

3. Key personnel

Every licence needs named people in the Home Office’s sponsor management system (SMS):

• Authorising Officer: a senior person responsible for how the licence is used
• Key Contact: the main point of contact with UKVI
• Level 1 User: the person who manages day-to-day sponsorship tasks in the SMS, such as assigning CoS and reporting changes

We explain each role, check that the people you choose are eligible and prepare them for questions from UKVI.

4. Supporting documents

We prepare a document checklist against the current Home Office list (Appendix A to the sponsor guidance) and review each document before it is submitted. Common documents include:

• employer’s liability insurance of at least £5 million from an authorised insurer
• a business bank statement
• proof of PAYE and VAT registration (where applicable)
• proof of the right to occupy your business premises
• audited or filed accounts, or extra evidence for newer businesses

Documents must match the details on the application exactly. Small mismatches are a common reason for delays and refusals.

5. HR systems and compliance readiness

The Home Office must be satisfied that you can meet your sponsor duties: right-to-work checks, record keeping, reporting changes within the deadlines and monitoring sponsored workers. We review your HR processes and give you practical policies and checklists. That way you are ready for a pre-licence compliance visit and for life as a licensed sponsor.

6. Submission and follow-up

We complete the online application with you, submit the supporting documents and deal with any requests for further information from UKVI. If the Home Office arranges a visit, we prepare your team for it. Once the licence is granted, we help you set up the SMS, request your CoS allocation and assign your first Certificates of Sponsorship.

Sponsor Licence Fees and Costs

There are two kinds of cost:

• Home Office fees: the licence application fee depends on whether you are a small or charitable sponsor or a medium or large sponsor. When you sponsor workers you also pay the Immigration Skills Charge and a fee for each CoS. These charges change, so check the current sponsor licence fees on GOV.UK.
• Our professional fees: we work on a fixed fee for sponsor licence applications. See our fees page for current prices.

The employer must pay the licence fee and the Immigration Skills Charge. You must not pass these costs on to the sponsored worker.

Common Reasons Sponsor Licence Applications Are Refused

• The business cannot show it is genuinely trading in the UK
• The documents are missing, out of date or do not match the application
• The roles are not genuine or do not meet the skill and salary requirements
• Key personnel are unsuitable or not based in the UK
• HR systems are not good enough to meet the sponsor duties
• The business’s history raises concerns about immigration compliance

There is no right of appeal against a refusal. In most cases you must wait for a cooling-off period before reapplying, so it is worth getting the application right first time.

Who We Help

We act for start-ups, SMEs, charities, care and healthcare providers, technology businesses and overseas companies setting up in the UK. We work with clients across the UK from our London and Milton Keynes offices, in person or by video.

Already licensed? See our sponsor licence compliance audits. If UKVI has suspended or revoked your licence, see sponsor licence suspension and revocation. For a full overview of the process, read our guide for employers.