UK Sponsor Licence lawyers & solicitors
UK businesses who want to hire non-UK resident workers must hold a Sponsor Licence. Mulgrave Law are Sponsor Licence specialists. Here to help you every step of the way.
What is a Sponsor Licence?
Brexit has ended free movement, causing many sectors across the UK to struggle with staff recruitment. The UK now lacks skilled workers in many areas including technology, finance, hospitality, and medicine. Due to this local talent shortage, UK employers are increasingly recruiting from overseas to fill gaps in the labour market. To sponsor a skilled worker from overseas, employers must comply with UK immigration law and first obtain a Sponsor Licence.
Types of Sponsor Licence
Sponsor Licences fall under the Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, or Temporary Worker categories. The type of role you are hiring for will determine which Sponsor Licence you need. Valid for four years with a renewal option, the licence allows UK businesses to hire workers from outside the UK under the Skilled Worker route (previously Tier 2), the Global Business Mobility route, and the Temporary Worker route (previously Tier 5).
Applying for a Sponsor Licence can be complex, requiring businesses to meet specific, strict conditions and timelines during the application process and to continue adhering to guidelines once the licence has been granted.
Mulgrave Law specialises in Sponsor Licences, helping companies overcome the challenges often encountered during the application process. For a confidential consultation about your UK Sponsor Licence application, contact our friendly immigration solicitors on 02072537248 or fill out simple form for a callback, below or click contact.
“Mehreen is very professional, helpful, and responsive to my requests and questions. She helped my employer to apply for the sponsor licence and assisted me in applying for the Skilled Worker visa. I am so pleased that both the sponsor licence and my Skilled Worker visa have been sorted out in a timely manner. It was lovely to work with her, and I definitely recommend Mulgrave Law if you ever need to apply for a Skilled Worker visa or sponsor licence.”
How to Get a UK Sponsor Licence
Almost all business sizes across nearly all sectors qualify for a UK Sponsor Licence. Applications are made to the Home Office. To be successful, considerable preparation is required by the employer. At the most basic level, your business must be lawfully trading in the UK and have genuine vacancies. Additionally, the business must demonstrate that it has appropriate systems in place to monitor sponsored workers and manage sponsorship duties.
As an employer, you must not have unspent criminal convictions for immigration offences or certain other crimes. You also must not have had a Sponsor Licence revoked in the last 12 months. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will review your application and supporting documents, and may visit your business premises to ensure trustworthiness and verify your capability to carry out sponsor duties.
You can sponsor a worker as long as the job complies with UK minimum wage and working time regulations. If it does not, the worker’s visa may be refused, and your business could lose its Sponsor Licence. Additionally, the worker must meet the criteria needed for their specific visa type, such as skilled workers, health or care workers, charity workers, seasonal workers, or workers on any type of “Global Business Mobility” visa.
The next step is to choose the type of licence you need based on the type of worker you are sponsoring. You will need to appoint people within your business to manage the sponsorship process when you apply for a licence. The main tool they’ll use is the Sponsorship Management System (SMS).
UK Sponsor Licence refusals
Most businesses that have their UK Sponsor Licence application rejected or refused do so because they do not seek advice from specialist Sponsor Licence lawyers. Each business is unique, and specific guidance needs to be applied. It is crucial to follow the rules set out by the UK government. Our experienced Sponsor Licence lawyers have worked with businesses across almost all sectors. Reach out to our experienced team and take advantage of our FREE 30-minute, no-obligation consultation to learn more about sponsor licences and why you should instruct us to help with your application.
What you can expect from our Free 30-minute consultation
Our immigration lawyers and solicitors pride themselves on making things simple! We guarantee advice that is clear, jargon-free, and tailored to your specific industry. During your consultation, our friendly expert lawyers will answer general questions and:
- Discuss eligibility criteria for your business for a Sponsor Licence.
- Guide you on how the Sponsor Licence scheme works: duties of a sponsor, licence management, compliance.
- Outline requirements that need to be met for the sponsored position.
- Outline the associated costs.
- Detail the timelines involved.
- Explain the role of Key Personnel.
- Describe the Home Office compliance visit and what to expect should the Home Office decide to visit your premises for an audit.
I am incredibly grateful for the exceptional service provided by Mulgrave Law. Their professionalism, diligence, and efficiency have significantly influenced the positive outcome of my case. I am truly overwhelmed by their dedication and cannot thank them enough for making such a difference. Highly recommended for anyone in need of outstanding legal assistance.”
Dedicated ongoing service from your lawyer / solicitor once your Sponsor Licence has been granted?
We never forget a client at Mulgrave Law! We believe there is no such thing as an end of service once the desired outcome of an application has been achieved. Our commitment to you extends well beyond the initial success. Your journey with us doesn’t end with a single application—it begins there. Let us be your trusted partner in all your immigration matters.
Our immigration lawyers and solicitors understand that legal matters can be ongoing and that new challenges or questions may arise. That’s why we offer continuous support and expert advice to ensure that you are always informed and prepared. Our aftercare service is rated second to none. Here is what else you can expect from us once your Sponsor Licence has been granted.
- Assistance with requesting and assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
- Ensuring that the role for which we are requesting a Certificate of Sponsorship meets the minimum salary requirement based on the job description / SOC code.
- Assistance with UK visa applications for members of staff.
- Ongoing compliance and maintenance of the licence via the Sponsor Management System.
- Related corporate immigration advice.
Frequently Asked Questions about UK Sponsor Licences
In order to qualify for a Sponsor Licence, your company needs to prove that it is a genuine business, that there is a genuine vacancy, that the company has key personnel (such as an Authorising Officer) in place to carry out the obligations as a sponsor, and that the business you are applying for a sponsor licence has no previous adverse compliance history.
Sponsor Licences are valid for four years, with the option to renew in the fourth year.
A Certificate of Sponsorship is an electronic document with a unique reference number that a Sponsor (Employer) must issue to the migrant worker to enable them to submit a visa application under the sponsored routes, such as Skilled Worker, ICT, and Temporary Worker.
A COS must confirm the worker’s personal details, the job title, duties, salary, location where the job will be carried out, the start and end dates of employment, and the relevant code.
Your business will need to have robust human resource and recruitment systems in place to be able to comply with your sponsorship duties and to maintain records as evidence of your compliance. If the Home Office has concerns about your ability to comply, your licence application could be refused, or your licence could be revoked after being granted.
The Home Office has introduced a priority service where businesses seeking to apply for a sponsor licence can now request their application be processed within 10 working days for an additional fee. The standard processing time for a sponsor licence application is up to eight weeks.
We recommend that you take advantage of our free 30-minute consultation. This can be booked via the form above, by emailing us at info@mulgravelaw.co.uk, or by calling our offices at 020 7253 7248. Our lawyers will be pleased to assist you.
READY TO HIRE AN IMMIGRATION LAWYER?
Whether you are a business seeking clear, jargon-free advice or a private individual needing help with your UK immigration application, get in touch with the best immigration lawyer firm in London. We provide services to business and private clients in the UK and across the world. To arrange an initial FREE consultation meeting, call our immigration lawyers on 02072537248 or fill out the form below by clicking open.