Sponsor Licence UK

In order to sponsor an employee or a student from the Philippines, you will first need to be a licensed sponsor.

In order to become a licensed sponsor, it is necessary to apply for a sponsor license. If the employee or student in question is not supported by a sponsored company or institution, their visa application will not be successful.

Note that not all employees or students require sponsoring. If the employee or student in question falls into one of the following categories, they will not need to be sponsored and will not require a UK visa:

• British or Irish citizens
• Settled or Pre-Settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
• Permanent settlement in the UK (known in the UK as ‘indefinite leave to remain’)

New rules introduced at the start of 2025 mean Sponsor Licence holders must not attempt to recoup the cost of the Sponsor Licence application or the issuing of a Certificate of Sponsor (CoS) from their sponsored employee. If they are found to be doing so then they can have their Sponsor Licence revoked.

Page Contents

• What Is A Sponsor License?
• Types of Sponsor Licence
• Eligibility Criteria For Sponsor Licence
• How To Apply For UK Sponsor Licence?
• Required Documents For A Sponsor License Application
• What Are My Responsibilities As A License Holder?
• Processing Time and Cost Of Application
• Applying As An Education Provider
• Revoked Sponsor Licence – What to Do?
• Top 10 Sponsor Licence Application Tips
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

There are no regulations regarding the necessary size or age of a company which is applying for a sponsor license. However, the following conditions will need to be satisfied in order to successfully obtain a license:

• Have no unspent criminal convictions involving certain crimes, such as immigration offenses, fraud, or money laundering
• Not have had a sponsor license revoked in the previous year
• Have monitoring systems in place for sponsored workers, in addition to dedicated people within your business who manage the sponsorship process

The organization in question must be registered, based in the UK, and operating legally within the UK.

In order to apply for a UK sponsor license, it is first necessary to register with the Home Office. You will then be provided with a user ID, which will allow you to log in to the application system. You will also be sent a password, via email.

Once you have received this information, you can then start the online application, via the Home Office website. If your application is successful, you will then be granted a license rating and will be able to provide certificates of sponsorship to prospective Filipino applicants.

Upon successfully obtaining sponsor status, applicants will be granted an A-rating (full sponsor license). This allows the holder to assign certificates of sponsorship to foreign nationals wishing to apply for a UK visa. The business will also be listed in the UK’s register of sponsors.

However, if the sponsor responsibilities are not met by the license holder, the license may be downgraded to a B-rating, in which case the holder will not be able to grant new certificates of sponsorship until improvements have been made.

The documents required for a sponsor license application vary significantly based on the type of application in question. In general, applicants will need to submit at least 4 documents demonstrating that their organization meets the eligibility requirements- that they are a registered business which is operating legally within the UK, for example.

These documents may include the following:

• Evidence of registration with HMRC
• Evidence of ownership/lease of business premises
• Corporate bank statements
• Valid VAT registration certificate
• Evidence of business presence in the UK

Once a sponsor license has been granted, the holder will be expected to satisfy a number of responsibilities.

These include the following:

• The prospective sponsored workers must have appropriate qualifications, skills, and experience for the role in question
• The role in question must be eligible for sponsorship
• If the sponsored workers are not complying with their visa conditions, the license holder is expected to inform UK Visas and Immigration
• The license holder must continue to comply with UK employment law

Note that, if you do not successfully satisfy your responsibilities as a sponsor, you license may be revoked, suspended, or downgraded.

Decisions on sponsor license applications are generally made within 8 weeks. Applicants may also be able to pay an additional £500 in order to have their application processed in 10 days.

The exact cost of applying for a sponsor license varies depending on a number of factors, including the type of license in question and the size of the organization. Fees range from £574 to £1,579.

There are many similarities between applying for a sponsor license as an employer and as an education provider.

However, the two routes serve different purposes. The education provider route is intended to allow educational institutions to sponsor non-UK students for a UK Student visa, in order to allow them to study in the UK. The two visa routes which education providers may sponsor are the Student visa and the Child Student visa.

Similar to applying as a company, education providers must demonstrate that they operate legally in the UK, that they have not previously breached UK immigration law, and that they have dedicated systems and staff in place in order to monitor and manage sponsorships. Education providers will also need to obtain Education Oversight from the relevant body in order to apply for a sponsor license.

The Home Office may visit the education provider in question in order to carry out an inspection. If the site is found not to satisfy the eligibility criteria, the application for sponsor status will be unsuccessful.

Once an education provider has received a sponsor license, it will be listed on the UK’s register of licensed sponsors. Prospective international students will be able to view this list when deciding where to apply.

Revoked Sponsor Licence – What to Do?

There are a number of reasons why your licence may be revoked and this will have an impact on your next steps.

If the Home Office revokes your Sponsor Licence you may have to curtail your overseas workers’ leave to stay, if they are believed to be involved in the reasons for the revocation.

You may also be required to curtail the permission to remain in the UK to any other employees who are not directly involved to up to 60 calendar days.

It is also likely you will need to reject any pending applications for workers you are currently in the process of sponsoring.

Sponsor Licence Compliance

It is vital that all sponsor licence holders should comply with the Home Office regulations on hiring overseas workers.

You must monitor sponsored employees’ immigration status and report any changes in their circumstances (such as non-attendance to the Home Office.

Holders must also keep accurate records such as copies of passports, right-to-work documents, and contact details.

The Home Office is able to conduct compliance visits to verify that sponsors are fulfilling their obligations. Failure to meet these duties can result in licence suspension or revocation, fines, or even criminal prosecution.

When your licence is revoked, you must wait until the end of the cooling-off period before you can submit a new application and will need to demonstrate how you have addressed the reasons for the initial revocation. 

Top 10 Sponsor Licence Application Tips

Here are some tips for a successful Sponsor Licence application:

• Understand eligibility requirements –  you should make sure your business meets all the requirements for a Sponsor Licence before applying.
• Choose the correct licence type – there are several types of licence available and you should only apply for the one that suits your needs. For instance apply for the Temporary Worker Licence if you only play to hire short-term staff from overseas.
• Assign key personnel – being a Sponsor Licence holder means you must use the Home Office’s SMS to record details of your workers. You should only appoint staff to key roles on SMS who understand their responsibilities.
• Prepare accurate documentation – you will need to submit a range of documents with your application and you should ensure all supporting paperwork is in order. Incomplete or incorrect documentation can lead to refusal.
• Demonstrate genuine need – it it vital to show why you need to sponsor workers and how this aligns with your business plans.
• Implement robust HR processes – you should have the systems in place to monitor sponsored employees, track their attendance and promptly report changes to the Home Office.
• Comply with immigration rules – it it vital to know what immigration rules apply to your business and ensure you are following them when recruiting workers.
• Avoid immigration violations – your business should have no history of immigration breaches, as this can lead to application refusal.
• Be ready for a compliance visit – the Home Office is permitted to attend your premises at any tip to carry out a licence check so it is vital you are ready for a visit should it happen.
• Seek professional advice – consider consulting an immigration lawyer to help guide you through the process and avoid common pitfalls when hiring workers from overseas.