Hire the talent you need, with a sponsor licence.
Solicitor-led help to become a licensed sponsor and start hiring, with the platform to keep you compliant once you’re approved.
What is a UK sponsor licence?
A UK sponsor licence is Home Office authorisation that lets your organisation hire overseas workers on sponsored routes such as Skilled Worker, Temporary Worker and Global Business Mobility. Without it, you cannot employ a worker who needs a sponsored visa.
There are two main licence families: a Worker licence for long-term routes like Skilled Worker, and a Temporary Worker licence for shorter, route-specific categories; education providers sponsoring students sit under a separate regime. Getting one rests on a genuine vacancy, suitable key personnel (an Authorising Officer, a Key Contact and at least one Level 1 user), and HR systems capable of meeting your sponsor duties.
Expert advice at hand.
I-Migrator Ltd is a law firm authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in England and Wales. Our immigration practice is led by Dhruti Thakrar, and the solicitor responsible for your case is named on your file.
Dhruti Thakrar · Solicitor · SRA 158293
Recommended Lawyer, The Legal 500 2026
What the Home Office needs to see.
- No relevant unspent convictionsYou cannot have any unspent criminal convictions for immigration offences or certain other crimes, such as fraud or money laundering.
- A genuine, legally operating businessThe Home Office must be satisfied your business or organisation exists and is genuine, and that you are legally operating or trading in the UK.
- Key personnel in placeYou must appoint an authorising officer, a key contact, and at least one level 1 user to manage sponsorship using the sponsorship management system; at least one level 1 user must normally be an employee, partner or director based in the UK.
- Suitable staffAnyone involved in managing your sponsorship must pass suitability checks. For example, they must not have been fined by UKVI in the past 12 months, have unpaid VAT or excise duty, or have a history of non-compliance with sponsor requirements.
- Systems to monitor sponsored workersYou need HR systems that let you monitor sponsored workers' immigration status, keep the required records, carry out right-to-work checks, and report problems to the Home Office.
- Job suitabilityAny job you sponsor must comply with UK minimum wage and working time regulations and meet the other criteria for the worker's visa.
- No recent refusal or revocationYou will not get a licence if you had one revoked in the last 12 months (24 months if revoked more than once), and will not usually get one if you applied unsuccessfully in the last 6 months.
From application to ongoing compliance.
Understand the requirements
Look up the published sponsor rules alongside your own business information: who can apply, the evidence expected, and the licence types.
Organise your materials
Assemble the supporting information the application asks for, in one place, with structured checklists and a document vault.
Submit and track
Keep documents, key dates and Home Office correspondence together through the application period, including any caseworker queries.
Manage ongoing compliance
Once approved, track sponsored workers, log reporting events, and keep records audit-ready for inspections.
What this costs.
- Basis of our charge
- Fixed fee, agreed in writing before we start
- What sets your fee
- Your company structure and the complexity of the application
- VAT
- Included at 20%
- Our turnaround to submission-ready
- 10 working days
- Worker licence (small or charitable sponsor)
- £611
- Worker licence (medium or large sponsor)
- £1,682
- Temporary Worker licence (small, charitable, medium or large sponsor)
- £611
- Worker and Temporary Worker licence (small or charitable sponsor)
- £611
- Worker and Temporary Worker licence (medium or large sponsor)
- £1,682
- Priority service (decision within 10 working days)
- £750 in addition to the licence fee
- Action plan to upgrade from a B-rating
- £1,579
The Home Office fees above are disbursements you pay directly, not part of our fee. Always verify current fees on gov.uk. How to complain.
After your licence: the compliance work
Right to Work
Every check, every method, in one audit trail.
Explore →Worker Records
A complete, inspection-ready file per sponsored worker.
Explore →Certificate of Sponsorship
Check the going rate before you assign a certificate.
Explore →Audit Readiness
A pre-audit questionnaire and a ready-to-share pack.
Explore →Applying for a licence or managing ongoing compliance?
Questions employers ask.
How long does a sponsor licence application take?
Can a small business or startup get a sponsor licence?
What are the ongoing duties once we have a licence?
What’s the difference between a Worker and a Temporary Worker licence?
Do we need an immigration solicitor as well?
What happens if a sponsor licence is suspended or revoked?
Read the complete guide.
The full picture for employers: costs, timelines, key personnel and ongoing duties.