Sponsor Licence
Definition
A sponsor licence is Home Office (UK Visas and Immigration) authorisation that allows a UK organisation to employ workers from outside the UK on sponsored routes such as the Skilled Worker visa. Licensed sponsors appear on a public register, assign Certificates of Sponsorship to their workers, and must meet ongoing record-keeping and reporting duties.
How to become a licensed sponsor
An organisation applies online, choosing the licence type that matches the roles it wants to fill, most commonly the Worker route for Skilled Worker visas. It must appoint key personnel, including an Authorising Officer, a Key Contact, and at least one Level 1 User to run the Sponsorship Management System.
The Home Office assesses whether the business is genuine, lawful, and capable of meeting its duties, and may carry out a compliance visit. A fee applies and varies by organisation size, so verify the current amount. Agencies that offer sponsor licence support help employers prepare documents and systems before applying.
Validity and duties
Sponsor licences were historically valid for four years, but from 6 April 2024 the Home Office removed the renewal requirement: licences due to expire on or after that date were automatically extended for ten years and no renewal fee applies. Confirm the current position, as rules can change.
Holding a licence carries duties. Sponsors assign a Certificate of Sponsorship to each worker, keep records, report changes such as a worker not starting or leaving, and cooperate with compliance checks. Failure can lead to suspension or revocation, which affects sponsored workers' visas in the United Kingdom.
Sponsor compliance depends on tidy records and timely reporting, which is exactly where a system helps. VisaCRM can help an employer or advising agency track sponsored workers, Certificates of Sponsorship, and reporting deadlines in one place.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a UK sponsor licence?
It is permission from the Home Office (UK Visas and Immigration) that lets a UK organisation employ people from outside the UK on sponsored visa routes, such as the Skilled Worker visa. Without a licence, an employer generally cannot assign the Certificate of Sponsorship a worker needs to apply. Licensed sponsors are listed on a public register.
How long does a sponsor licence last?
Licences were valid for four years, but from 6 April 2024 the Home Office stopped requiring renewals and automatically extended affected licences for ten years, with no renewal fee. The licence can still be suspended or revoked if duties are not met. Because these rules change, confirm current validity and obligations on the official GOV.UK guidance.
What duties does a licensed sponsor have?
Sponsors must appoint key personnel, keep accurate records on sponsored workers, report certain events (like a worker not turning up or leaving early), assign Certificates of Sponsorship correctly, and only sponsor genuine roles that meet the rules. They must also cooperate with Home Office compliance checks. Breaching these duties risks suspension or revocation of the licence.
Related terms
Related visa types
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