Sponsor Licence (Tier 2)
UK Sponsorship Licence
If you are a UK-based business seeking to hire migrant skilled workers, you must have a valid Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence. The UK Sponsorship Licence, previously known as the Tier 2 Sponsor Licence, enables UK-based employers to hire skilled workers outside the UK. Your business must be eligible to apply for the Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence, and you must require skilled workers above NVQ Level 3 to meet job suitability requirements.
Eligibility for a Sponsor Licence
Before applying for a sponsorship licence, it is essential to note that your company/business must be lawfully trading in the UK and have an effective HR system, record-keeping, and compliance to apply for a Sponsor Licence. You are only eligible to apply if:
- Your sponsorship licence was not revoked in the past 12 months.
- You were not involved in criminal/immigration offences, including fraud and money laundering.
Businesses are also required to comply with the right to work of employees to prevent illegal work and ensure compliance with the Home Office.
The Home Office has also introduced a priority service for the Sponsor Licence for an additional fee of £500. If your request to consider the priority application is accepted, the application can be processed within 10 working days. The Sponsor Licence application processing time can take up to 8 weeks, and it may take longer if the Home Office requests a pre-compliance visit.
Supporting Documents Required for a Sponsor Licence Application
Appendix A provides an extensive list of documents required by organisations that want to apply for a sponsor licence under the Worker, Temporary Worker, or Student routes. The list of documents required varies depending on the nature of the business and the types of licences. You are required to provide a minimum of four mandatory documents from Appendix A, but businesses can provide additional documents depending on the nature of the business and how long the business has been trading to prove the genuineness of the business to the Home Office. With the correct supporting documents checklist, our team can compile comprehensive and sound evidence to ensure a successful Sponsor Licence application.
Sponsor Licence Costs
The cost of applying for a Sponsor Licence depends on the company’s size, classified as a small, medium, or large organisation. Here is a breakdown of the Sponsor Licence costs:
- Medium or large businesses must pay £1,476 before applying for a Sponsorship Licence in the UK.
- Small businesses, including registered charities in the UK with an annual turnover of £10.2 million or less, must pay £536.
- If you add a temporary worker sub-category to an existing ‘worker’ sponsor licence, no Home Office fee applies if you are a small or charitable sponsor.
- However, for medium or large sponsors, a fee of £940 must be paid first, even if you are applying for additional worker sub-category licences with an existing licence.
Additional costs are associated with a Sponsor Licence, including the CoS assigning fee and the Immigration skills charge.
Sponsor Licence Holder’s Obligations
The sponsor licence holders have the following obligations:
- Record keeping – maintaining an accurate record of all employees they sponsor.
- Reporting – reporting certain information or events to the Home Office using the SMS within specific time limits.
- Compliance with immigration laws – complying with UK immigration laws and all parts of the Worker and Temporary Worker sponsor guidance.
- Compliance with broader UK law – complying with more comprehensive UK law (other than immigration law).
- Good behaviour – not engaging in actions that are not conducive to the public good.
How to Apply for a Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence?
If your business meets the eligibility criteria for applying for a Sponsor Licence, you can make an application online. The Home Office will carry out necessary eligibility checks against your
