Sponsor Licence Solicitors in London
Expert help for UK employers applying for a Worker or Temporary Worker sponsor licence, from eligibility checks to Home Office approval and ongoing compliance.
call 0207 100 2525 to speak to a specialist today.Available24/7
A sponsor licence is the Home Office permission a UK employer needs before it can hire most workers from outside the UK, including EU nationals who arrived after 31 December 2020. Without one, you cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship, and your candidate cannot apply for a Skilled Worker visa.
Adam Bernard Solicitors are sponsor licence solicitors based in High Holborn and Upton Park. We prepare and submit sponsor licence applications for start-ups, SMEs, care providers, charities and large employers, then help you stay compliant once the licence is granted. Our solicitors are SRA-regulated and have handled sponsorship matters for 15 years.
Call 0207 100 2525 or book a free consultation.
What is a sponsor licence?
A sponsor licence is a licence issued by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) that allows an organisation to sponsor overseas workers for UK work visas. Once approved, you receive an A-rating and access to the Sponsor Management System (SMS), where you assign Certificates of Sponsorship and report changes to UKVI.
A licence usually stays valid for 10 years, as long as you continue to meet your duties (GOV.UK sponsorship guidance). The exceptions are Scale-up and UK Expansion Worker licences, which last 4 years.
Types of sponsor licence
| Licence | Used for |
|---|---|
| Worker licence | Long-term skilled roles: Skilled Worker visa, Senior or Specialist Worker (Global Business Mobility), Minister of Religion, International Sportsperson |
| Temporary Worker licence | Short-term roles: Creative Worker, Charity Worker, Religious Worker, Government Authorised Exchange, Seasonal Worker, International Agreement, Graduate Trainee, Service Supplier, Secondment Worker |
You can apply for both licence types in one application.
Who is eligible for a sponsor licence?
To get a sponsor licence, your business must be genuine, operating lawfully in the UK, and able to show it can meet sponsor duties. UKVI will check that:
- you have no unspent convictions for immigration offences, fraud, money laundering or other listed crimes
- you have HR systems that can monitor sponsored workers
- the people you name as key personnel are honest and based in the UK
- the role you want to fill is genuine and meets the skill and salary rules
Your application will be refused if you had a licence revoked in the last 12 months, more than one revoked in the last 24 months, or an application refused in the last 6 months (GOV.UK eligibility rules). UKVI may also visit your premises before deciding.
Skill and salary rules since 22 July 2025: most new Skilled Worker roles must be at RQF level 6 (degree level), with a higher general salary threshold. Lower-skilled roles are only allowed if they appear on the Temporary Shortage List. Check your roles qualify before applying, because a licence is no use if you cannot sponsor the job you need.
How much does a sponsor licence cost in 2026?
From 8 April 2026, a sponsor licence costs £611 for small or charitable sponsors and £1,682 for medium or large sponsors (Home Office fees table).
| Fee | Small / charitable | Medium / large |
|---|---|---|
| Worker licence | £611 | £1,682 |
| Temporary Worker licence | £611 | £611 |
| Worker + Temporary Worker | £611 | £1,682 |
| Priority service (decision in 10 working days) | £750 | £750 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (Skilled Worker) | £525 per worker | £525 per worker |
| Immigration Skills Charge (first 12 months) | £480 | £1,320 |
| Immigration Skills Charge (each extra 6 months) | £240 | £660 |
| Sponsor action plan (if downgraded to B-rating) | £1,579 | £1,579 |
Immigration Skills Charge rates are taken from the GOV.UK Immigration Skills Charge guidance. A small sponsor usually has an annual turnover of £15 million or less and 50 or fewer employees.
How long does a sponsor licence application take?
Most sponsor licence applications are decided in under 8 weeks. You can pay £750 for the priority service, which aims for a decision within 10 working days, but places are limited each day and allocated first come, first served (GOV.UK: apply for your licence). A compliance visit can extend the timeline.
How to apply for a sponsor licence
- Check eligibility: confirm your business and the roles you want to fill qualify.
- Choose your licence type: Worker, Temporary Worker or both.
- Appoint key personnel: Authorising Officer, Key Contact and Level 1 User.
- Prepare HR systems: right to work checks, record keeping, absence monitoring.
- Submit the online application and pay the fee.
- Send supporting documents (listed in Appendix A) within 5 working days.
- Prepare for a possible compliance visit.
- Receive a decision and your A-rated licence.
For a more detailed walk-through, read our step-by-step guide to applying for a sponsor licence.
Sponsor licence key personnel
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Authorising Officer | Senior person responsible for all sponsorship activity and for staff using the SMS |
| Key Contact | Main point of contact with UKVI |
| Level 1 User | Day-to-day SMS management, including assigning CoS and reporting changes |
One person can hold all three roles. At least one Level 1 User must be your employee; additional users can be your legal representative.
Documents required for a sponsor licence application
You must send at least four supporting documents from the Home Office’s Appendix A list. These usually include:
- latest audited accounts or business bank statement
- employer’s liability insurance certificate (at least £5 million)
- VAT and PAYE registration evidence
- proof of business premises (lease or ownership)
- sector-specific registrations, such as CQC registration for care providers
The right documents depend on your business type and age. Missing or incorrect documents are one of the most common reasons applications are refused.
Certificates of Sponsorship
Once licensed, you assign a Certificate of Sponsorship to each worker. A CoS for someone applying from overseas (formerly a “defined” CoS) must be requested from UKVI; one for a worker already in the UK (formerly “undefined”) comes from your annual allocation. Read more about Certificates of Sponsorship.
Your duties as a sponsor
Holding a sponsor licence means ongoing legal duties, and UKVI can visit without notice. You must:
- carry out right to work checks and keep copies
- keep records of each sponsored worker’s contact details, salary and role
- report changes (such as long absences, salary changes or the worker leaving) within 10 working days
- only sponsor genuine vacancies that meet the skill and salary rules
If you fall short, UKVI can downgrade you to a B-rating (with a £1,579 action plan), suspend, or revoke your licence. Revocations hit record levels in 2025: see what record sponsor licence revocations mean for employers. If your licence is suspended or revoked, our sponsor licence revocation solicitors can act quickly, including a judicial review where appropriate.
Do sponsor licences still need renewing?
No. The requirement to renew a sponsor licence was removed on 6 April 2024. Licences that were due to expire on or after that date were automatically extended by 10 years. Scale-up and UK Expansion Worker licences still last 4 years and cannot be renewed.
Why choose Adam Bernard Solicitors as your sponsor licence solicitors?
- Pre-application audit: we test your HR systems and documents before UKVI does
- Full application management: eligibility, forms, Appendix A documents, submission
- Compliance visit preparation: mock audits for your key personnel
- SMS training: for your Authorising Officer and Level 1 / Level 2 users
- Ongoing support: CoS assignment, reporting duties, B-rating action plans
- Two London offices: High Holborn (Central London) and Upton Park (East London), plus video consultations via Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp and Skype
Call 0207 100 2525 (24/7) or book a free consultation with our sponsor licence solicitors.
This page is for information only and does not constitute legal advice. Fees correct as of October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a sponsor licence cost?
From 8 April 2026, a sponsor licence costs £611 for small or charitable sponsors and £1,682 for medium or large sponsors. A Temporary Worker licence costs £611 for all sponsors.
How long does it take to get a sponsor licence?
Most applications are decided within 8 weeks. The £750 priority service aims for a decision within 10 working days.
Do I need a solicitor to apply for a sponsor licence?
No, but a refused application usually means a 6-month wait before you can reapply. Sponsor licence solicitors check your eligibility, documents and HR systems before submission to reduce that risk.
How long does a sponsor licence last?
Most sponsor licences now last 10 years and do not need renewing. Scale-up and UK Expansion Worker licences last 4 years.
Why are sponsor licence applications refused?
Common reasons include missing Appendix A documents, roles that do not meet the skill or salary rules, weak HR systems, unspent convictions, and key personnel who are not suitable.
Can a small business get a sponsor licence?
Yes. Small and start-up businesses can apply and pay the lower £611 fee. Newer businesses may need to show different evidence, such as a business bank account and premises.
What happens if my sponsor licence is downgraded?
You will be given a B-rating and an action plan costing £1,579. You cannot assign new Certificates of Sponsorship until you complete the action plan and return to an A-rating. If your licence is suspended or revoked, see our sponsor licence revocation service.
Request to book a Free Consultation
Our Clients Share Their Success Stories.
Good service 👍 👌 many thanks for the great service you have provided to us. Our visa got approved just within 2 weeks only because of your hardwork and subject matter expertise. I am very thankful to you
For me, it was the attitude towards the job the lawyers displayed. Totally unmatched. I've been in and out of law firms because of the divorce with my wife and other related issues but Adam Bernard Solicitors was it for me guys. The best!
I want to thank Adam Benard team, they really helped me in my process of purchasing a property, their team are listen and respond to their customers fast. I really love your service, thanks alot.
Adam Bernard team helped me to purchase the best property for the best amount of time for the best money i have . i personally love dealing with them and i thank the team for all the efforts they made to make the task better .
