Search

How can we help?

Icon

Received a sponsor licence decision – these are the next steps you should take’

The long wait is over, and you now have a sponsor licence decision. If everything was done correctly, you should either have a grant, which means you are now licenced to sponsor migrant workers, or your application has been refused. In this blog, we look at how to deal with these decisions.

Processing times

A sponsor licence decision can normally take up to 8 weeks. In practice, for straightforward applications, it can take as little as 3 weeks, but if the Home Office intends on making a pre-decision compliance visit, it can take longer than 8 weeks.

Decision – Granted

If you have been granted a sponsor licence, your legal representative (if you have one), can normally advise you of the decision (to grant) by checking the Tier 2 register of sponsors (surprisingly this is updated before the actual decision is received in most cases).

This is usually followed by an email from the Home Office providing you with your Level 1 user password. Strangely enough, this email also does not mention that you have been granted a sponsor licence, but as a level 1 account is only opened for licenced sponsors, you can infer that you are now a registered sponsor.  However, you should still wait for your official letter confirming the approval of your licence. The decision letter will contain your Level 1 username, which you will need to access the Sponsor Management System along with the password you received earlier.

As a licenced sponsor, you should receive a Sponsor Licence number and access to the Sponsor Management System. You can use the latter to maintain your licence (we cover this in a later blog).

Decision – Refused

Unfortunately, a significant number of sponsor licence applications are still being refused by the Home Office. However, this is usually because of a lack of preparation, which can lead to insufficient information being provided.

If you have been refused, you should contact your legal representative urgently. If you do not have a legal representative, you should seek independent legal advice.

You cannot appeal a sponsor licence decision, but you may be able to seek a review if you think the decision was incorrectly refused because of:

  • A Home Office caseworker error
  • You sent supporting evidence to the Home Office, but this was mistakenly not considered by them

If the Home Office accepts that the decision was indeed made in error, you will be invited to re-apply with a further fee. The further fee will be refunded, once your new application is received by the Home Office.

If the Home Office refuses your application (and review, if applicable), you cannot reapply for a further 6-month period. This is known as a ‘Cooling-Off’ period. In some cases, this period may be longer, if the reason for refusal includes a previous revocation, or n immigration offence.

In any event, if you reapply (after the Cooling-Off period), you should appropriately address previous reasons for refusal.

A sponsor licence decision can normally take up to 8 weeks.

If you think the decision to refuse your application was incorrect, you may be able to challenge this decision by way of Judicial Review.  Judicial Review is not covered in this blog, but we encourage you to seek legal assistance if you consider this to be appropriate for your case.

About this article

Disclaimer
This information is for guidance purposes only and should not be regarded as a substitute for taking legal advice. Please refer to the full General Notices on our website.

About this article

Read, listen and watch our latest insights

Pub
  • 27 May 2025
  • Corporate and M&A

Thinking of exiting your business? Part 3

In the third and final episode of our three-part podcast series, join Stuart Mullins and Nicky Goringe Larkin as they discuss the sectors that are currently popular for business exits, as well as those that may have difficulty attracting buyers.

art
  • 27 May 2025
  • Privacy and Data Protection

Extension of UK adequacy: The European Data Protection Board adopts the European Commission’s decision

Earlier this year, the European Commission adopted an extension of the two 2021 adequacy decisions with the UK for a period of six months, until 27 December 2025.

art
  • 21 May 2025
  • Immigration

UK Immigration 2025: Essential Updates for Employers

In our most recent and timely webinar held on 7 May 2025, the immigration law experts here at Clarkslegal LLP provided employers with a critical update on recent and upcoming changes to UK immigration policies and laws.

art
  • 21 May 2025
  • Employment

The Rise of Side Hustles and Polygamous Working

In the evolving world of work, the rise of side hustles and “polygamous working” is reshaping the employment landscape in the UK.

art
  • 21 May 2025
  • Privacy and Data Protection

ICO investigating online platforms and the importance of having a good privacy notice

The ICO has recently reported that it is investigating how social media and video sharing platforms use UK children’s personal information.

Pub
  • 19 May 2025
  • Corporate and M&A

Thinking of exiting your business? Part 2

In the second instalment of our three-part series, join Stuart Mullins from Clarkslegal and Nicky Goringe Larkin from Succession Planning as they discuss the complexities surrounding business financing, accounting practices, and valuation strategies, along with key insights into private equity.