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How to Get a Sponsorship Licence in 2025

To hire most non-UK resident workers, your organisation will need to hold a valid sponsorship licence. We are specialists in sponsor licence applications & compliance.

Sponsoring overseas nationals can offer UK businesses significant advantages, including filling critical skills shortages with skilled migrant workers. However, applying for a sponsor license can be a complex process and involves various responsibilities.

What is a Sponsorship Licence?

UK employers have to be granted a sponsorship licence by the Home Office before they can employ non-UK resident workers under work routes such as the Skilled Worker visa, Scale Up visa, and Global Business Mobility routes.

Employers who do not hold a valid sponsorship licence are unable to sponsor migrant workers.

All sponsors have to be fully aware of their immigration duties and have processes and systems in place to both meet these requirements and to maintain records as evidence of their compliance.

If applying for your first licence, your application will need to show you can meet these duties from day one. If the Home Office has concerns about your ability to comply, your application could be refused, and you may lose your application fee.

Licence holders can be subject to Home Office investigation at any time, including both onsite visits and digital audits. Where there are allegations of compliance breaches, the Home Office has powers to downgrade, suspend, or revoke sponsor licences.

Different Types of Sponsorship Licence

There are two main types of sponsor licence:

Worker sponsor licence
Temporary Worker sponsor licence

Worker Sponsor Licence Routes

Skilled Worker route
Senior or Specialist Worker route
Minister of Religion route
International Sportsperson route

Which UK work visas need a sponsorship licence?

In most cases, you will need a sponsor licence for Skilled Worker, Minister of Religion, International Sportsperson, and Global Business Mobility routes.

The Scale-up route only requires sponsorship for the first 6 months.

Some visas do not require sponsorship, including the Graduate visa and High Potential Individual visa.

Eligibility for a Sponsorship Licence

Your organisation must be genuine, legally operating in the UK, and capable of meeting sponsorship duties.

Key personnel must have no criminal convictions related to immigration, fraud, or money laundering.

How to Apply for a Sponsorship Licence

Complete online application
Submit supporting documents within 5 days
Ensure HR systems are in place
Prepare for possible compliance visit

Processing time: 8–12 weeks (priority service available for £500).

Cost of Sponsorship Licence

Licence Type	Fee
Worker sponsor (large)	£1,579
Worker sponsor (small/charity)	£574
Temporary Worker licence	£574

Full Sponsorship Fees (2025)

Fee Type	Amount
Premium Sponsor Service (large)	£25,000
Premium Sponsor Service (small)	£8,000
Priority service	£500
Certificate of Sponsorship (Worker)	£525
Certificate of Sponsorship (Temporary)	£55
CAS (Student)	£55

Can you recoup visa sponsorship costs from the worker?

UK employers are prohibited from recouping visa sponsorship costs from the worker they are sponsoring, including costs such as the sponsor licence application fee, the Immigration Skills Charge and any fees associated with assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).

These costs are the responsibility of the employer and cannot be passed on to the sponsored worker, either directly or indirectly.

Attempting to recover these amounts, even through a repayment or clawback clause in a contract, would be a breach of sponsor duties and could result in penalties, including suspension or revocation of the sponsor licence.

However, employers are still permitted to recoup some immigration-related costs in limited circumstances, such as visa application fees or Immigration Health Surcharge, if done fairly and transparently.

What is an A rating for a Sponsor Licence?

You will usually be granted an A-rated licence when first issued, although your licence may be downgraded to a B-rating if you fail to meet your responsibilities.

To upgrade, you must follow an action plan costing £1,579.

Do I need to renew the sponsor licence?

No, licences are now automatically extended by 10 years. However, some routes like UK Expansion Worker and Scale-up licences cannot be renewed.

Sponsorship licence compliance & management

Sponsors must maintain records including passport copies, employee details, absence records, and employment documentation.

The Sponsorship Management System (SMS) must be updated regularly, including:

Employee no-shows
Contract termination
Absences over 10 days
Changes in employment terms
Business changes (within 20 days)

Penalties for non-compliance

Failure to meet sponsor duties can lead to licence downgrade, suspension, or revocation.

Need Assistance?

Whitehall Visa Services’ business immigration specialists can support your organisation with every aspect of the UK Sponsor Licence process.

Advising on sponsorship applications
Preparing applications
Document support
HR system audits
Compliance training
UKVI interview preparation
Fee guidance
CoS issuance support
Alternative solutions
Handling suspensions/revocations

Sponsorship Licence FAQs

What is a sponsorship licence?

A sponsorship licence is permission from the Home Office that allows UK employers to hire and sponsor non-UK nationals.

Who needs a sponsorship licence?

How long does it take to get a sponsor licence?

Can I sponsor someone without a sponsor licence?

Glossary

Term	Definition
Sponsorship Licence	Permission from Home Office to sponsor workers.
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)	Electronic job confirmation document.
Immigration Skills Charge (ISC)	Employer fee for sponsoring workers.
Skilled Worker Visa	Main UK work visa route.
Sponsorship Management System (SMS)	System to manage sponsor licence.
Clawback Clause	Contract clause to recover costs.
A-rated Licence	Standard licence rating.
Compliance Visit	Home Office inspection.
Temporary Worker Licence	Short-term worker sponsorship licence.
Global Business Mobility (GBM)	Visa routes for overseas workers.

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