A sponsor licence is the Home Office's permission for an organisation to employ people who need sponsorship to work in the UK. The application is made online by the organisation itself, followed by a signed submission sheet and supporting documents. This guide follows the steps in the order GOV.UK and Part 1 of the sponsor guidance set them out. It explains the process. It does not assess whether any particular organisation will get a licence.
Before you start
Part 1 of the sponsor guidance (paragraph L3.2) lists what an organisation should do before it applies:
- read Part 1 and the guidance for each route it wants, so it understands the requirements
- decide which routes to apply for, such as Skilled Worker or one of the Temporary Worker routes
- appoint an Authorising Officer to manage the application and nominate a Level 1 User
- if it has several branches or sites, decide which branches to include
- estimate how many workers it is likely to sponsor in its first year, which sets how many Certificates of Sponsorship it asks for
- make sure it can send every required document within 5 working days of submitting the form
Paragraph L2.5 adds that every applicant must read all relevant parts of the guidance, including the appendices and glossary. The role checker shows the published rules for an occupation code, and the cost calculator adds up the Home Office fees.
Step 1: choose the licence type and routes
GOV.UK splits licences into Worker routes (for skilled or long-term work, including Skilled Worker) and Temporary Worker routes (including Creative Worker, Charity Worker and the Global Business Mobility temporary routes). An organisation can apply for one type or both, and for as many routes as it is eligible for (L1.11, L6.22). If the application succeeds, those are the only routes on which it can sponsor workers.
Step 2: appoint key personnel
The form asks for three roles: an Authorising Officer, a Key Contact and at least one Level 1 User (L4.2). One person can hold all three. Each must be based in the UK, hold a National Insurance number unless exempt, and pass suitability checks (L4.8). A representative cannot send the application or be the Authorising Officer (L6.4, L4.17).
Step 3: complete the online form
The organisation registers on the UKVI online sponsor application system and then completes the form (L6.19). The guidance says the form takes about 20 to 30 minutes if the information is gathered first. UKVI cannot provide a copy afterwards, so it suggests taking notes or screenshots as you go (L6.21). The form asks for an estimate of the Certificates of Sponsorship needed in the first year, with reasons (L6.23 to L6.26).
Step 4: pay the fee
The fee depends on the licence type and the size of the organisation. For a Worker licence, GOV.UK lists £611 for small or charitable sponsors and £1,682 for medium or large sponsors (figures checked 3 Oct 2026). The fee is not refunded if the application is refused, or withdrawn after consideration has begun (L6.15). If the fee is not paid in full, the application is invalid and rejected (L6.14).
The sponsor must pay the licence fee itself. Part 1 (L6.17) says the Home Office will normally take the licence away if a sponsor recoups, or tries to recoup, the licence fee or associated administrative costs from a worker.
Step 5: send the submission sheet and documents
When the form is submitted, a submission sheet is generated. The Authorising Officer signs and dates it, and the organisation emails all pages, with the documents in Appendix A, to the address on the sheet within 5 working days (L6.27, L6.29; Appendix A, section 1.3). Most organisations send at least 4 documents. Skilled Worker applicants also send information about the organisation and the jobs they intend to fill (Appendix A, sections 1.2 and 3.11).
Missing or incorrect mandatory documents make the application invalid. It is rejected and the fee refunded (L6.30). If other documents are missing, UKVI emails the Key Contact and allows 5 working days. Missing that deadline leads to refusal without a refund (L6.31, L6.32).
Step 6: checks and possible visit
UKVI reviews the form and documents and may check them with the issuing bodies (Appendix A, section 6.7). GOV.UK says UKVI may visit the business. Part 1 says a compliance check can happen before a decision, in person or by video (L8.18, L8.19).
Step 7: the decision
GOV.UK says most applications are dealt with in less than 8 weeks. For eligible routes, the pre-licence priority service costs £750 extra and aims for a decision within 10 working days, with a limited number of places each working day.
The decision letter is emailed to the Authorising Officer (L9.2). A granted licence starts with an A-rating, and the organisation appears on the public register of licensed sponsors (L3.7, L8.27). The letter gives the number of Certificates of Sponsorship the sponsor may assign and its sponsor licence number (L9.3). The sponsor licence check searches that register.
There is no right of appeal against a refusal. An error correction request can be made within 14 calendar days if the refusal came from a caseworker error or evidence that was not considered (L9.8, L9.9).
After the licence is granted
Sponsor duties start on the day the licence is granted (Part 3, C1.8). They include reporting changes about workers and the organisation, and keeping records. The compliance checklist lists each duty with its guidance reference. For advice on your own circumstances, speak to a regulated immigration adviser or solicitor.
Common questions
Can a solicitor or adviser submit the application for us?
No. Part 1 (L6.4) says the organisation must make the application itself. A representative can help fill in the form but must not send it. If they do, the application is refused and the fee is not refunded.
How long do we have to send documents?
Five working days from submitting the online form (L6.29). The same 5-day window applies if UKVI later asks for more (L6.31).
Does the licence need renewing?
Part 1 (L3.8) says a licence is valid indefinitely unless the Home Office ends it or the sponsor surrenders it. Licences on the UK Expansion Worker and Scale-up routes last at most 4 years.
Will we get the number of certificates we ask for?
Not necessarily. UKVI may grant fewer than requested, or none, if it is not satisfied with the reasons given (L6.26).