UK Visa Sponsorship Licence for Employers

Obtaining a UK visa sponsorship licence allows employers to sponsor non-UK workers to work in the UK. This is essential for hiring individuals from outside the UK and includes citizens from the European Union (EU) who are not settled in the UK.

Eligibility Criteria

Before applying for a sponsorship licence, ensure your business is eligible:

• Your business must be a genuine organization operating legally in the UK.
• You must not have any unspent criminal convictions for immigration offences or certain other crimes, such as fraud or money laundering.
• You must have appropriate systems in place to monitor sponsored employees.

You must meet all other requirements depending on your circumstances.

Supporting Documents

The applicants will need to provide several documents in support of their sponsor licence application as per Sponsor guidance appendix A.

You must provide the following documents when you apply for a sponsor licence:

• Provide Job information including job title, occupation code, duties, salary etc.
• Organisational hierarchy chart detailing any owner, director and board member.
• Certificate of employer’s liability insurance cover
• Evidence of registration with HMRC as an employer
• HMRC VAT registration certificate
• Latest business bank statement
• Proof of ownership or lease of your business premises

Types of Sponsorship Licence

The licence you need depends on whether the workers you want to fill your jobs are:

• 'Workers' - for skilled or long-term employment
• 'Temporary workers' - for specific types of temporary employment

You can apply for a licence covering one or both types of workers.

Duties of a Skilled Worker Licenced Sponsor

As a Skilled Worker licenced sponsor, you must comply with certain duties, including, but not restricted to, a duty to inform the Home Office, UKVI if the Skilled Worker Migrant does not turn up for work, or if he is absent without permission for a significant period.

You must also keep proper records of the migrants you sponsor, including contact details and a copy of their biometric residence permit (BRP), and supply any documentation to the Home Office, UKVI on request.

The Home Office, UKVI will monitor your behaviour and compliance with your duties once you have been granted a Skilled Worker sponsor licence.

Sponsorship Licence Processing Time

Currently, the Home Office is taking 8 weeks or less to process a sponsorship licence application. However, it may take longer depending on the complexity of the matter. UKVI may need to visit your business.

You may be able to use priority service to get a faster decision from the Home Office on your sponsor licence application.

Sponsor licence fees

UKVI sponsor licence application fee is between £536 - £1,476 depending on the type of licence you are applying for and the size of your organisation/company.