FAQs

A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is an electronic document required for workers to apply to work in the UK. Employers must ensure the role meets eligibility criteria, and CoS allocations are requested through the Sponsor Management System (SMS).

The documents required for a Sponsor Licence vary based on the size and type of the business and the immigration route the company is applying for. Commonly required documents include proof of VAT registration, bank statements, business registration and evidence of physical premises. The Home Office provides a detailed list of acceptable documents.

Yes, businesses operating in multiple sectors or under different entities can apply for separate Sponsor Licences. Each licence is assessed independently based on the specific entity or sector.

Yes, a Sponsor Licence can be revoked if the business fails to meet compliance obligations, such as reporting changes in employee status or conducting necessary right-to-work checks.

It's valid for an indefinite time. It is automatically renewed unless there is an issue with your compliance or other concerns raised by the Home Office. However, businesses must ensure they remain compliant with the Home Office’s requirements to avoid any disruptions in the renewal process.

If your application is refused, there is no formal appeal process. However, you can reapply after addressing the reasons for the refusal. Seeking advice from an immigration expert can help you avoid repeating the same errors.

There is no formal appeal process for Sponsor Licence refusals, but you can submit a fresh application after addressing the reasons for the refusal.

Typically, the Home Office processes Sponsor Licence applications within 8 weeks. Opting for the priority service can reduce the processing time to 10 working days, depending on availability.

No, a Sponsor Licence only allows you to sponsor workers for eligible roles that meet specific visa criteria. These include the Skilled Worker or Global Business Mobility routes, each of which has its own skill and salary requirements.

Roles under the Skilled Worker route must meet skill and salary thresholds. Typically, this requires a role to have at least RQF Level 3 qualifications (equivalent to A-levels) and a minimum salary of £41,700, the on-going rate for the specific job code or per hour, whichever is the highest.

Non-compliance with Sponsor Licence duties can result in fines, suspension or revocation of your licence. It can also harm your ability to sponsor international workers in the future.

As above, a Sponsor Licence is initially valid for 4 years from the date it is granted and is automatically renewed, provided there are no compliance issues or concerns raised by the Home Office. To ensure a smooth automatic renewal process, businesses must stay compliant with the Home Office’s requirements.

Yes, small businesses can apply for a Sponsor Licence. They must meet the same eligibility criteria as larger businesses, but the application fee is lower for small businesses and charities.

A defined CoS is for Skilled Worker applicants applying from outside the UK, while an undefined CoS is for those already in the UK (e.g. switching visa categories). Defined CoS allocations must be requested separately through the Sponsor Management System.

The formal Resident Labour Market Test requirement has been abolished. However, you must still ensure that the role meets the skill and salary thresholds under the Skilled Worker route and that genuine vacancy of the roles is demonstrated. Additionally, you must maintain records of your recruitment process in case the Home Office requests them.

Possibly. They may visit your business premises to check that you are trustworthy and capable of carrying out the sponsorship duties. The Home Office introduced digital inspections in late August 2022.

Usually up to 5 years. You’ll need to extend or switch visas before it expires if you want to continue staying or working.

An application category for people already in the UK to extend their visa or switch into new visa status (e.g. on family, private life, etc.).

Yes, if the new employer holds a valid sponsor licence and they issue a new CoS, visa holders may switch, subject to rules.

Fees depend on type of visa, duration, whether priority service is needed. Also likely to pay healthcare surcharge.

If applying from outside the UK, you can apply up to 6 months before your course starts. If inside the UK, up to 3 months before start. Must apply before your current visa expires if switching or extending.

In many visa routes (Student, Skilled Worker, Family), yes, subject to meeting eligibility for dependents.

You may be able to extend your visa (for example, Student visa to continue studies, Skilled Worker if job continues) if you still meet requirements. GOV.UK Some visas allow switching to different visa types while inside the UK (e.g. Student → Skilled Worker) if conditions are satisfied.

The rules on Skilled Worker Visas and the need for UK employers to hold a sponsor licence are the same whatever the size of your company. They do not differ whether you are a small start-up or a multinational company. Workers who are not subject to immigration control and who therefore do not require work visas are settled workers or EU nationals who entered the UK on or before 31 December 2020 and who have pre-settled status or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. There are some other overseas nationals whom a business can employ even if the business does not have a sponsor licence. They include: Family Visa holders who have the right to work in the UK without needing a sponsoring employer Global Talent Visa holders who are in the UK because of their exceptional talent or promise International students on Student Visas who are entitled to work on a part-time basis Graduate Visa holders who studied in the UK on a Student Visa and then secured a Graduate Visa allowing them to work for any employer. The Migration Advisory Committee is reviewing the Graduate Visa route so the eligibility criteria are likely to change ` Others can work in the UK when they are subject to immigration control. However, it is worth taking immigration law advice if you are unsure.

Under the old-style Work Visa, a sponsor licence holder had to advertise a job in the UK and conduct what was called the Resident Labour Market Test. This test was intended to establish if there were no suitable settled workers available to fill the post. Following the introduction of the Skilled Worker Visa and the Health and Care Worker Visa a sponsoring employer no longer must carry out this test. Instead, a sponsoring employer must be able to show that they have a genuine vacancy. It is important to keep evidence of genuine vacancies because if an employer employs migrant workers where there are no genuine vacancies, they risk losing their sponsor licence.

Skilled migrant workers need a minimum of 70 points, made up of 50 mandatory points and 20 tradeable points, to secure a Skilled Worker Visa. The mandatory points are: Job offer from employer with sponsor licence 20 Job at the required skill 20 Knowledge of English - through the applicant’s country, qualification or passing English language test 10 The tradeable points can be achieved in a variety of ways, such as: The salary is higher than the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker Visa or the going rate for the job – whichever is the higher figure 10 The job is on the shortage occupation list 20 Job applicant has a PhD qualification in a STEM subject that is relevant to the job applied for 20 Job applicant has a PhD qualification in a subject relevant to the job applied for 10

Entry clearance is the procedure used by Entry Clearance Officers (ECOs) at British Embassies and missions overseas to check, before a person arrives in the United Kingdom, if that person qualifies under the immigration rules for entry to the UK. In some cases entry clearance is mandatory (compulsory), in others it is optional.

The answer to this question will depend upon several factors, including the visa category/ categories and how long you have been living in the UK.

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