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Sponsorship Licensing Legal Advice

Bringing talent from overseas can open up a world of opportunities for your business, but securing a Sponsor Licence for legally employing non-UK residents can take a lot of effort. That’s where we step in, making things clear and manageable so you can focus on growing your business.

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Sponsor Migrant Worker Solicitors

Your organisation will need a Sponsor Licence to sponsor any overseas national you want to employ if they are not a ‘settled worker’ or do not have immigration permission to work for you in the UK.

Secure your Sponsorship Licence with Spencer Churchill now to start hiring top talent from around the globe.

How can we help with your company’s Sponsorship Licensing?

We offer in-depth compliance support to prepare you for Home Office audits and interviews. We also conduct mock audits so your business is always in line with Home Office requirements.

Let us help you:

  • Identify the best company representative
  • Stay compliant with eligibility requirements
  • Gather and submit the necessary documentation (e.g. financial accounts, contracts, etc.)

If you come across any challenges or refusals related to your applications, the legal experts at Spencer Churchill will advocate for your business through judicial reviews and legal action.

Expert help for sponsor migrant worker applications

Our sponsorship licensing experts are here to help. Get in touch today!

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Getting a sponsorship license

How do you get a Sponsorship Licence?

If you want to hire someone from abroad who isn’t a settled worker or doesn’t have the right work permit in the UK, your organisation will need a sponsor licence.

Getting a sponsor licence is a privilege that carries big responsibilities in keeping the UK’s immigration system running properly. Your organisation must meet certain eligibility requirements to apply for a sponsor licence. It is important to know which jobs can be sponsored and their minimum salary levels.

Keeping your Sponsorship licence in good standing means following strict rules from the Home Office. This includes being ready for audits that check if your business follows all immigration laws. To stay compliant, it’s important to have strong systems for checking immigration status, keeping records, and managing recruitment. This preparation will keep your organisation on track and audit-ready.

Make sure your organisation understands what it needs to do as a sponsor and has a system to follow these rules. You should also identify the key staff involved and make sure they know their responsibilities. Key roles include:

  • Key Contact, who will serve as the main point of contact with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)
  • Authorising Officer, a senior person responsible for overseeing the sponsorship activities
  • Level 1 User, who will manage the day-to-day operations of the licence.

Collect all the necessary documents and evidence for your sector. This includes:

  • Recent financial statements
  • Copies of contracts from the last 12 months
  • Proof of business registration
  • Documents evidencing your compliance with UK trading laws.

When you’re ready, submit your application and pay the fee. The fee will vary depending on your organisation’s size and type. Once you’ve submitted your application, the Home Office will review it. Then, the Home Office will decide whether to approve it and list your organisation as a sponsor.

We’re here to help you with every step, and once we start, it usually takes us 3-5 working days to submit everything.

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Sponsorship Licence Eligibility

How do I know if I’m eligible for a Sponsorship Licence?

Need to know if you’re eligible for a Sponsorship Licence? Check out the below to see:

  • Are you lawfully operating in the UK and intending to offer genuine employment to non-settled workers?
  • Are you willing to follow sponsor duties prescribed by the UK Home Office?
  • Do you have or are you willing to implement appropriate systems to monitor employees and manage sponsorship?
  • Does your organisation have a clean immigration and criminal history?

If the answers to these questions are YES, you’re eligible, and we can help you with the rest.

To apply for a sponsor licence, you will need to provide supporting documents to prove that you are a lawfully trading UK-based entity. You will also need key personnel ready to take on different roles to maintain the sponsor licence, details of the roles you are looking to sponsor, and any attempts made to recruit from within the UK. Evidence showcasing your readiness to comply with sponsor duties is also helpful.

It might seem overwhelming, but with our expert guidance, the process is straightforward.

Give us a call, and we can answer all your questions.

Speak to an expert today!
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Types of Sponsorship Licences

What are the different types of Sponsorship Licences?

  • Worker Sponsor Licence – For long-term skilled workers, which includes various subcategories such as Skilled Worker Visa.
  • Temporary Worker Sponsor Licence – For temporary employment with specific visas like Creative Worker Visa and International Sportsperson.

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

A Certificate of Sponsorship is mandatory for each foreign worker you intend to hire. This document is proof of a valid job offer and is necessary for the worker to apply for a visa. This involves applying through the Sponsorship Management System (SMS), and, depending on the type of certificate required, there are some costs to consider.

Renewal and rejection of your Sponsorship Licence

You should renew your Sponsor Licence every four years if you want to keep sponsoring foreign workers without interruption.

The renewal process, its costs, and the timing around it all can be tricky, but it’s key to staying compliant. Be aware of the common reasons for application rejections, like wrong or missing documents, and if your application is rejected, knowing these rules is helpful before applying again.

At Spencer Churchill, this is baked into our approach so your business always meets legal requirements and competes effectively in the global talent market.

We offer guidance and expert advice at every step, helping you improve your chances of success – so get in touch today to make the sponsorship process smooth and successful.

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Sponsorship License FAQs

Your business must meet several requirements to get a Sponsor Licence to employ foreign workers.

  • Check your business’s eligibility – Make sure no staff members have histories of immigration offences, criminal records, or past failures in meeting sponsorship duties.
  • Decide the type of licence you need – This depends on the type of worker you intend to sponsor, such as skilled workers, religious workers, or temporary workers in fields like creative arts, sports, youth mobility, and government exchanges.
  • Nominate responsible employees – Choose senior company members who aren’t shareholders to manage sponsorship through the Sponsorship Management System (SMS). You must nominate at least two members.
  • Apply online and pay the Home Office fee – Fees vary based on the visa type and your business size—from £536 to £1,476 for Skilled Workers only, £536 for Temporary Workers only, and £536 to £1,476 for both.

Following these steps will guide you through applying for and securing a Sponsor Licence to employ foreign workers legally.

The fees to apply for a Sponsor Licence vary based on the size of your business and the licence type. Here’s a breakdown:

For small businesses & charities:

– Skilled Worker: £536
– Temporary Worker: £536
– Skilled Worker & Temporary Worker: £536
– Adding Skilled Worker to an existing Temporary Worker: Free
– Adding Temporary Worker to an existing Skilled Worker: Free

For medium & large businesses:

– Skilled Worker: £1476
– Temporary Worker: £536
– Skilled Worker & Temporary Worker: £1476
– Adding Skilled Worker to an existing Temporary Worker: £940
– Adding Temporary Worker to an existing Skilled Worker: Free

To qualify as a small business, you must:

– Have an annual turnover of £10.2 million or less
– Employ 50 or fewer employees

A Sponsor Licence number is a unique reference number or code given to holders of a Sponsor Licence.

If you are a Skilled or Temporary Worker, your employer’s Sponsor Licence number is on your Certificate of Sponsorship.

You need a Sponsor Licence to offer a job to someone from outside the UK.

You can get a Sponsorship Licence if you can:

  • Demonstrate that your business is legitimate.
  • Ensure your sponsored employee(s) meet specific requirements, such as a skills assessment.
  • Show that a skilled worker outside the UK is necessary for the role.
  • Prove you do not have any unspent criminal convictions.
  • Prove you have a clean record of fulfilling sponsorship duties.
  • Offer the appropriate salary for the position.

The Home Office may check these details during a visit to your company as part of the application process.

You will need a Sponsor Licence if you plan to hire anyone from outside the UK who will work in the UK on:

– A Skilled Worker Visa
– A Temporary Work Visa

Choose the Sponsor Licence application based on the type of worker you want to employ.
If transferring an employee from a foreign office to the UK, you’ll need a Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence. This is also necessary for ministers of religion and elite sportspeople.

You do not need a Sponsor Licence to employ someone on a business visa, such as an Exceptional Talent Visa.

Tier 3 Unskilled Worker Visas are suspended, so you cannot apply for a Sponsor Licence for non-EEA nationals in unskilled roles.

To apply for a Sponsor Licence, you must meet certain requirements as an employer.

  • Type of Business – You must be a genuine business, organisation, or sole trader.
  • Legal Operation – Your business must legally operate within the UK.
  • Immigration Compliance – Your company or key personnel should not pose any threat to UK immigration control, such as a history of immigration violations.
  • Staff Roles – You need to assign at least three staff members to manage the Sponsorship Management System (SMS) roles.
  • Record Keeping – You must maintain up-to-date and organised HR systems and records.
  • Documentation – You need to provide all necessary documents for your Sponsor Licence application.
  • Category-Specific Requirements – You must fulfil additional requirements based on the specific worker category you intend to sponsor.

If your application is approved, the Home Office will give you a licence rating and add your business to the UK Sponsorship Licence register. This lets you issue Certificates of Sponsorship to non-EEA or Swiss nationals for eligible job positions.

Your licence will be valid for four years from the issue date. However, if you fail to meet your responsibilities as a sponsor, you risk having your Sponsor Licence suspended or revoked, or the Home Office might fine you.

The Home Office may refuse your business its Sponsor Licence applications and renewals for several reasons, including if you do not:

  • Pass the Home Office’s Compliance Audit
  • Keep enough documentation on sponsored migrant workers
  • Notify the Home Office about significant changes to their migrant workforce
  • Respond to the Home Office’s enquiries promptly
  • Succeed the ‘genuineness test’
  • Meet the Home Office’s security standards.

Yes, if your business sees any significant changes, you must notify the UKVI within 20 working days. Failing to report these changes could impact your sponsor licence.

Significant changes include:

  • Your business becoming insolvent or ceasing operations
  • A substantial change in your business
  • Involvement in a merger or takeover
  • Your business relocating

A Sponsor Licence lasts for four years, and if you want to continue employing non-UK workers, you must renew it, ensuring you meet all eligibility criteria.

The Home Office will send automatic reminders as the renewal date nears, but you should monitor these deadlines through the Sponsorship Management System (SMS) to stay compliant. You can apply for renewal via the SMS up to three months before your licence expires, with the necessary renewal fee.

Failing to renew your licence can risk your employees’ immigration status, disrupt your business operations, and lead to legal consequences for employing non-UK workers without a valid licence.

At Spencer Churchill, our top-tier immigration lawyers are here to guide you smoothly through applying for a Sponsorship Licence. Here’s how we can help your business:

  • Check if your business meets the requirements for a Sponsor Licence
  • Verify that you maintain the necessary up-to-date employee records and HR documents
  • Keep track of all deadlines
  • Handle all communications with the Home Office on your behalf
  • Prepare you for any visits from Home Office officials
  • Ensure your business meets all Home Office standards
  • Finalise your application with precision before submission

To learn more about how Spencer Churchill can simplify your legal process, contact us today using our online form or by calling our dedicated team.

Where can I get more information?
GOV.UK: Sponsor Licence Application

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