Sponsor Licence Applications

For employers wishing to employ a skilled worker from overseas the employer needs to hold a sponsor licence.

How to apply for a sponsor licence?

The employer must complete an online application and submit the required supporting evidence as specified in Appendix A. The employer must then pay a fee depending on the size of the business.

The Home Office will look to see that the employers are a genuine organisation operating lawfully in the UK. The employer will also have to show that they have appropriate HR functions and bespoke systems in place. Effectively, the Home Office are looking for whether the employer can carry out their sponsorship duties.

The employer must further demonstrate that they are honest, reliable, and dependable. The way in which the Home Office assess this is by carrying out background checks on all individuals involved in the day-to-day running of the business and the key personnel named on the application.

The employer must meet any relevant route-specific requirements. The route-specific requirements are as follows:

The employer must offer genuine employment that meets the immigration points-based system.

When the sponsor licence application is submitted the Home Office may conduct a compliance visit.

How long does the process take?

The Home Office have provided a time-frame on making decisions on sponsorship licence applications and have stated it can take between 8 and 12 weeks if a pre-licence compliance visit is made. Employers can opt for the priority service to expedite the processing time to 10 working days.

Contact Biscoes:

If you would like further advice on this matter, please contact our Business Immigration team on 02392660261 or email info@biscoes-law.co.uk.