Sponsoring migrant workers
The UK immigration system places strict obligations on businesses that wish to employ migrant workers from outside the UK. Employers must comply with a regulated framework designed to ensure that only legitimate, responsible organisations are able to recruit overseas talent.
To sponsor a migrant worker, a business must first obtain a valid sponsor licence from the Home Office. Without this licence, it is not legally permitted to employ individuals who do not already have the right to work in the UK. Navigating these requirements can be complex, particularly for organisations unfamiliar with immigration law, which is why professional guidance is often essential.
Sponsor Licence Requirements
Applying for a sponsor licence involves demonstrating that your organisation is genuine, operating lawfully, and capable of meeting ongoing compliance duties. The Home Office will assess a number of factors, including your HR systems, record-keeping practices, and ability to monitor sponsored employees.
Businesses must also nominate key personnel to manage the licence and ensure ongoing compliance. Failure to meet the required standards can result in a licence being refused, suspended, or revoked. As such, careful preparation and a thorough understanding of the requirements are critical to a successful application.
Expert Guidance on Sponsor Licence Applications
Our experienced immigration solicitors provide clear, practical, and commercially focused advice tailored to your business needs. We understand that every organisation is different, and we work closely with you to ensure your application is accurate, complete, and aligned with Home Office expectations.
We can assist with every stage of the process, including assessing eligibility, preparing supporting documentation, drafting representations, and liaising with the Home Office on your behalf. Our aim is to make what can be a complex and time-consuming process as straightforward and efficient as possible.
Sponsorship Management System and Certificates of Sponsorship
Once your sponsor licence is granted, your organisation will be listed on the official register of licensed sponsors and given access to the Sponsorship Management System (SMS). This online platform is used to manage your licence and fulfil your reporting duties.
Through the SMS, you will be able to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to eligible migrant workers. A CoS is an electronic document containing key details about the role and the individual, and it is essential for supporting a worker’s visa application.
Maintaining accurate records and updating the SMS in line with Home Office requirements is an ongoing responsibility and a key part of retaining your sponsor licence.
Supporting Sponsored Worker Visa Applications
In addition to assisting employers, we also support sponsored workers and their families with their visa applications. Our team regularly prepares and submits applications across a wide range of immigration routes under the Points Based System.
We ensure that all applications are properly evidenced and meet the relevant eligibility criteria, helping to minimise delays and reduce the risk of refusals. We can also advise on extensions, switching visa categories, and applications for dependants.
End-to-End Business Immigration Support
Our service does not end once your sponsor licence is granted. We provide ongoing support to help your organisation remain compliant with Home Office duties, including right-to-work checks, record-keeping, and reporting obligations.
We can also assist with audits, mock compliance visits, and responding to Home Office enquiries. By working proactively with you, we help safeguard your licence and ensure your business continues to operate smoothly.
Contact Us
If you require assistance with sponsoring migrant workers or applying for a sponsor licence, our specialist immigration team is here to help. We offer tailored, practical advice designed to meet your specific needs and objectives.
Get in touch with us today to discuss your requirements and find out how we can support your business.
“The team makes it very easy to ask questions and understand the advice given.”
Legal 500
FAQ – Sponsoring skilled migrant workers
It is important to understand that not all migrant workers need to be sponsored to work in the UK. This is because they may be lawfully in the UK under another immigration category which allows them to work. This could include, for example, as the spouse of a British citizen, an ancestry visa or even the dependent of a migrant who is sponsored.
However, for most migrant workers, who want to come to the UK for work, they must be sponsored. This means that they should have a job offer from a company which has a sponsor licence.
A sponsor licence is in effect an approval from the UK Home Office for an organisation to sponsor migrant workers. Organisations that can sponsor are included in a register of sponsors which is updated daily.
The UK government views its relationship with sponsors as one of trust. It allows companies to act as de facto gatekeepers to the UK work immigration route.
This licence (or relationship of trust) requires initial and ongoing validation. The initial validation comes through an application for sponsorship, and thereafter the UK Home Office may conduct occasional checks to ensure that the sponsoring company continues to abide by its sponsoring obligations.
The sponsor licence application is made online through the UK Home Office website. However, applying organisations should not make this application until they are satisfied that they have all the relevant documents.
The documents required for a sponsor licence vary depending on the type of organisation. For example, a start-up may need to show a lesser number of documents but may end up with more scrutiny at an initial and post-licence stage.
In addition to the prescriptive list provided by the Home Office, organisations intending on applying for a licence must also demonstrate that they fulfil the following criteria:
- Whether the organisation is genuine and operating lawfully in the UK, which can be demonstrated by providing documents listed in the relevant Appendices of the sponsor guidance.
- Have a Human Resources (HR) & recruitment system to meet their sponsor duties – the Home Office may conduct a compliance visit to check this
- Whether the organisation and its key personnel, are honest, dependable and reliable – the Home Office is likely to conduct background checks on the organisation and any of the key individuals to determine this.
- Whether you can offer genuine employment under the eligible roles of your intended sponsor category. It is important to note that not all employment roles are eligible for sponsorship.
Once you have taken the necessary steps and have the relevant documents, you should then complete the online application. You will have to pay the sponsor licence fee, which will vary depending on the size of your organisation.
Following the online submission, a submission sheet will be generated. This must be signed by the proposed Authorising Officer – the individual who is ultimately responsible for the management of the licence.
The standard period for a sponsor licence to be processed is 8 weeks. In our experience, most applications are decided sooner than this. If the Home Office sponsorship team need to make a compliance visit before they issue the licence, processing times may be longer. There is a Pre-Licence Priority service (an additional £500) which may be applied for which expedites the processing time to 10 working days. It is important to note that this service is highly sought for following the end of EU Settlement Scheme in June 2021, and with the service being limited to 10 requests per day, applications are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis on each working day starting at 9am.
The approval letter is sent via email to either the Authorising Officer or Key Contact with the Level 1 User’s ID access the Sponsorship Management System (SMS).
Key contacts
Videos
How to sponsor workers from outside the UK?
You can sponsor an overseas worker or non-settled worker already within the UK if you have a valid sponsor licence.
How to obtain a UK Worker sponsor licence?
UK businesses must have a sponsor licence to employ workers who do not have immigration permission to reside and work in the UK.
Common mistakes when hiring migrant workers in the UK
When hiring or sponsoring migrant workers in the UK there are many mistakes that businesses can make.
