How to Apply for a UK Sponsor Licence: Complete Employer Guide 2026
This guide is for UK employers who want to hire Skilled Workers from overseas. It explains who can get a sponsor licence, the documents and people you need, the costs, and the application steps.
Sponsor Licence Eligibility Criteria for UK Employers
Sponsor licence: definition
A sponsor licence is permission from the Home Office. A UK organisation needs it to employ a worker from overseas on a sponsored route. The Skilled Worker visa is one such route. With a licence, the organisation can assign a Certificate of Sponsorship to each worker it hires. The organisation also appears on the public register of licensed sponsors.
There is no minimum size, turnover or trading history. To get a licence:
- You are a genuine organisation that operates lawfully in the UK.
- Company owners, directors, and managers have no criminal convictions for fraud, money laundering, or immigration offences.
- The Home Office has not revoked a sponsor licence of yours in the last 12 months.
- You have HR systems that can meet the sponsor duties. These are record-keeping, tracking and reporting.
- The jobs you want to fill are genuine. Each job is in an eligible occupation and pays the going rate.
Required Documentation: Appendix A & Key Personnel Roles
Appendix A of the sponsor guidance lists the supporting documents. Most applicants must send at least four. The Home Office must receive them within 5 working days of the online application. You also name three key personnel. One person can have more than one role.
- Authorising Officer: a senior person who is responsible for the licence. This person is also responsible for everyone who uses the Sponsorship Management System (SMS).
- Key Contact: the main point of contact with UK Visas and Immigration.
- Level 1 User: the person who manages the licence each day in the SMS. This includes assigning each Certificate of Sponsorship.
Appendix A checklist: the four documents most sponsors send
- Corporate bank statement: a recent statement from a UK-regulated bank. It must show that the organisation is trading.
- Employer’s liability insurance: cover of at least £5 million from an authorised insurer.
- HMRC registration: a VAT registration certificate, or proof that you are registered as an employer. Include your PAYE and accounts office reference numbers.
- Business premises: proof that you own the place you trade from, or the lease or tenancy agreement for it.
Appendix A sets different documents for some organisations. Examples are start-ups that have traded for less than 18 months, franchises and public bodies. Read the table for your type of organisation before you send anything.
Sponsor Licence Application Costs & Home Office Fees Breakdown
| Fee type | Small / charitable sponsor | Medium / large sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Licence application fee (Worker licence) | £611 | £1,682 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) | £525 per worker | £525 per worker |
| Immigration Skills Charge (first 12 months) | £480 | £1,320 |
| Skills Charge (each additional 6 months) | £240 | £660 |
| Optional 10-working-day priority processing | £750 | £750 |
You are usually a small sponsor if you have a turnover of £15 million or less, total assets worth £7.5 million or less, or 50 employees or fewer (at least 2 must apply). Registered charities pay the small rate, whatever their size. Each fee in the table covers the following:
- Licence fee: you pay it once with the application. You do not need to renew a licence, so there is no renewal fee.
- Certificate of Sponsorship: £525 for each Skilled Worker you sponsor.
- Immigration Skills Charge: you pay it when you assign the certificate, for the full period of sponsorship. Some workers are exempt, such as workers who switch from a Student visa.
A sponsor must not charge the worker for the licence fee, the CoS fee or the Immigration Skills Charge. The Home Office changes these fees regularly. See the current licence fees on GOV.UK. Calculate the cost for each worker in our visa fees and cost calculator.
Step-by-Step Sponsor Licence Application Process
- Check that your organisation and the roles you want to fill are eligible.
- Choose the licence type: Worker, Temporary Worker, or both.
- Appoint your key personnel.
- Complete the online application on GOV.UK and pay the fee.
- Send the submission sheet and Appendix A documents within 5 working days.
- Prepare for a compliance visit.
- When the Home Office grants the licence, you receive an A rating. You appear on the register of newly approved sponsors, and you can assign certificates.
Sponsor Duties After Your Licence Is Granted
The Home Office trusts a licensed sponsor to follow the rules. It can visit at any time to check that you follow them. The main duties are:
- Reporting: tell the Home Office through the SMS within 10 working days if a sponsored worker does not start. Do the same if a worker is absent without permission for more than 10 working days in a row. Also report a worker who leaves early, or a significant change to the job or pay. Report changes to your own organisation, such as a new address or owner, within 20 working days.
- Record-keeping: keep each sponsored worker’s right to work check, contact details, contract, payslips and absence record.
- Compliance: sponsor only genuine vacancies. Pay the salary that the Certificate of Sponsorship shows. Never charge the worker for sponsorship costs.
If a sponsor does not meet its duties, the Home Office can reduce its rating to B. The sponsor must then pay for an action plan. The Home Office can also suspend or revoke the licence. It publishes every revocation. See the revoked sponsor licences list.
Common Reasons Sponsor Licence Applications Are Refused
- Documents are missing or out of date, or arrive after the 5-working-day deadline.
- The applicant does not answer a Home Office request for more information in time.
- The vacancy does not look genuine, or the salary is below the going rate.
- Key personnel are not based in the UK, or fail the background checks.
- The HR systems cannot meet the reporting and record-keeping duties.
Do You Need an Immigration Solicitor for Sponsor Licence Applications?
No, the law does not require it, and many employers apply without help. Most refusals come from missing documents or weak HR systems. You lose the fee if the Home Office refuses the application. For this reason, employers without experience often use a Skilled Worker visa solicitor.
A person who gives immigration advice in the UK must be regulated. The Solicitors Regulation Authority regulates solicitors. The Immigration Advice Authority regulates other advisers. See which organisations in your sector have a licence in Tier 2 sponsors by industry.
This guide is general information, not legal advice.