Post Licence Priority Service Guidance

Section A: What is the post licence priority service?

If your organisation has a sponsor licence to employ overseas workers under the Worker and/or Temporary Worker routes, you are required to meet certain compliance duties. This includes notifying the Home Office of certain changes relating to your organisation and your sponsored workers within certain timescales.

Under the rules, some significant changes must be reported via the Sponsor Management System (SMS) within 10 working days, such as changes to key personnel, insolvency events, mergers or acquisitions and ceasing trading. Other changes, including a change to your business address or ownership structure, must be reported within 20 working days.

Having completed the necessary action, and submitted any documentation required in support, you may then be able to prioritise consideration of this request by submitting an application via email using the post-licence priority service. UKVI’s post-licence priority service allows sponsors to apply for faster consideration of certain types of requests for sponsor change of circumstances, to avoid lengthy delays when submitting changes for Home Office approval.

1. Post licence priority service processing time

Without using the priority service, sponsors can expect change of circumstances requests to take up to 18 weeks to be processed. This timeline reflects the heavy demand placed on UKVI and the detailed checks often required for licence updates. For sponsors, the wait can feel disproportionately long, especially if the change affects their ability to issue Certificates of Sponsorship or manage key personnel roles. During this time, recruitment may be delayed, and compliance duties may be harder to meet if the change is central to the functioning of the licence. Understanding that the standard processing route is slow explains why the post-licence priority service is in such demand. It provides sponsors with a practical mechanism to avoid long waiting periods that could otherwise cause operational or staffing issues.

The post-licence priority service offers a target turnaround of five working days. The countdown begins the working day after payment is made, or if a submission sheet is required, the day after that document is received. For example, if payment is made on a Monday, UKVI will begin counting from Tuesday, and the decision should normally be returned by the following Monday. This is a significant improvement compared with standard timelines and provides sponsors with a much faster resolution. However, it is important to note that the service only accelerates consideration, not approval. UKVI may still reject or refuse a request if it does not meet the rules, even though it has been prioritised. Sponsors should therefore treat the service as a way to speed up decisions rather than a guarantee of a positive outcome.

Although the service aims to deliver decisions within five working days, delays can occur. UKVI may need to carry out additional checks if the request raises compliance questions or if the change is complex. Examples include corporate restructures, changes of ownership, or unusual CoS allocation requests. In these situations, the Authorising Officer will normally be contacted by email with a request for further information. It is vital that sponsors monitor the inboxes of their key personnel, including spam and junk folders, to ensure they do not miss such communications. Failure to respond within the time specified by UKVI can result in the request being refused, even if it was originally eligible for priority handling. In practice, this means the five-day turnaround is not always guaranteed, and sponsors should build in contingency time when planning urgent licence changes.

2. Post licence priority service Fee

The charge to use the post-licence priority service is £350 per request. The payment is for consideration of the request for a fast-tracked decision and does not guarantee that your underlying request for a sponsor licence change will be accepted. The service only shortens the processing time, it does not increase the likelihood of approval.

You can apply for multiple priority requests, although you will need to pay a fee for each one. There are certain circumstances when you may have to complete more than one action on the Sponsor Management System (SMS) to notify the Home Office of a change in circumstances. For example, if you report a change of address, you may also need to report a change to the working address for your key personnel, where you must request each change separately and pay the fee for each action.

In limited cases, changes will automatically update in your SMS account once you have reported them. This includes a change to your main or head office address, as well as a change to the address of your Authorising Officer, Key Contact or Level 1 user, provided their new address matches your main or head office address or, in the case of a Key Contact or Level 1 user, the address of your representative. Where the change does not auto-update, it must be considered by a caseworker and, if a fast-tracked decision is required, payment made for a priority request.

a. Refund rules and non-refundable fees

The fee for using the post-licence priority service is non-refundable in almost all cases. Refunds are only given in very limited circumstances, such as when UKVI cannot process the request due to a technical error or where a duplicate payment has been made. Sponsors should not assume they can recover their money if a request is rejected or if it falls outside the daily allocation limit. This makes it critical for employers to ensure their request meets the eligibility criteria before applying. Submitting the wrong type of request, missing documentation, or applying after the limit has been reached will still result in the loss of the fee. Employers should therefore treat the £350 as a sunk cost unless they are fully confident the request is valid.

3. Outcome of the request

Once UKVI has reviewed the priority request, the outcome will be communicated via email to the key personnel listed on the licence. This could be the Authorising Officer, the Key Contact, or the Level 1 user depending on the circumstances. The outcome may be an approval, a request for further information, or a refusal. Importantly, the fact that a request has been fast-tracked does not increase its chances of being approved. The priority service only shortens the waiting time; it does not alter the underlying assessment. If the change does not meet the rules or if the sponsor fails to provide the required documents, the request will still be refused. Sponsors should therefore approach the service with realistic expectations. It is a tool to avoid waiting up to 18 weeks for a decision, but not a way to bypass compliance requirements.

Section B: Who can use the post licence priority service?

The post-licence priority service is only available to sponsors licensed under the Worker and Temporary Worker routes. It cannot be used for the Student route, Scale-up route, or for Global Business Mobility routes such as UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier or Secondment Worker.

You also have to be a fully active licensed sponsor on either the Worker and Temporary Worker immigration routes with an A-rating to be eligible for the post-licence priority service. When you apply for a sponsor licence, if your application is approved, you’ll get an A-rated licence. However, your licence may be downgraded to a B-rating at a later stage if you don’t meet your ongoing obligations as a sponsor. In this instance, you will not be allowed to issue new CoS until you’ve made improvements and upgraded back to an A-rating and you will not be eligible to use the post-licence priority service.

To be approved for a priority request, you must also satisfy the following requirements:

1. You must have submitted a sponsor change of circumstances request via your SMS account prior to emailing the priority service mailbox

Submitting the sponsor change of circumstances request through your Sponsor Management System (SMS) account is the first and non-negotiable step in the process. The Home Office requires that all change requests are officially lodged through the SMS platform, which serves as the formal channel of communication between sponsors and UKVI. The system generates a digital trail that UKVI uses to verify whether the change has been properly recorded and whether supporting evidence has been attached. Only once the request has been logged on SMS can you move to the second stage, which is contacting the Post Licence Priority Service by email to request fast-tracked processing.

Employers often make the mistake of emailing the priority service first without completing the SMS submission. In these cases, UKVI will automatically reject the request, and the sponsor will lose valuable time while still being charged the £350 non-refundable fee. Ensuring the SMS action has been submitted first is not only about procedural compliance but also about demonstrating that the sponsor understands and follows the correct reporting framework. For sponsors under pressure to action urgent staffing changes, skipping this step creates unnecessary setbacks and can undermine their credibility with the Home Office.

2. You must have printed the submission sheet if your request is either to replace the Authorising Officer or appoint a representative

Certain types of changes require additional documentary evidence to be accepted by UKVI, particularly where they relate to the appointment of new key personnel. For example, replacing an Authorising Officer or appointing a representative both demand a signed submission sheet generated by the SMS. This sheet acts as a formal declaration and authorisation for UKVI to update sensitive records. Without this signed form, the Home Office will not process the change, even if the priority request has otherwise been lodged correctly.

This requirement reflects the significance of the roles in question. The Authorising Officer is legally responsible for the organisation’s compliance with sponsor duties, while representatives can act on behalf of the sponsor in dealings with UKVI. The Home Office wants to be certain that the appointment of these individuals is deliberate, authorised and backed by evidence of the sponsor’s formal approval. A failure to provide the submission sheet will see the application rejected outright, with no refund of the fee. From a compliance perspective, it is therefore critical to plan ahead, ensure the right senior-level approvals are in place and that the completed submission sheet is ready before the priority request email is sent.

3. If the request is for additional CoS, they must be for undefined CoS only, where any defined CoS requests will be rejected without a refund of your fee

The priority service can only be used to request an increase in the allocation of undefined Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS). Undefined CoS are those assigned to workers already inside the UK who are applying to extend or switch into a visa category that requires sponsorship. Defined CoS (DCoS), in contrast, are for Skilled Worker visa applicants based overseas. Requests for defined CoS go through a different process in the SMS and cannot be expedited through the priority service. DCoS are requested through SMS on a per-role basis and as such are not eligible for the post-licence priority service.

Sponsors who mistakenly include defined CoS in their priority request will see their application rejected and lose their £350 fee. The Home Office is explicit on this point: the fast-track service does not apply to overseas recruitment. The rationale is that defined CoS applications are already processed relatively quickly and do not require the same form of queue-jumping that undefined CoS requests may need. In practice, this rule means that employers should carefully consider whether their recruitment needs involve workers applying from inside or outside the UK before submitting a priority request. Misunderstanding this distinction can cost time and money and may also flag the sponsor as lacking knowledge of their obligations.

4. You must submit a fully completed application to the priority service team

Once the SMS request has been submitted, the next step is to email the Post Licence Priority Service team with a fully completed Worker and Temporary Worker priority request form. UKVI will not chase for missing information or incomplete forms. If the application is incomplete or documents are missing, the request will simply be rejected. In addition, the fee will not be refunded, which means the sponsor loses both time and money.

A complete application must include all required supporting documents, the correct form, and, where applicable, the submission sheet. The documents should be legible, correctly formatted and titled within UKVI’s requirements. Errors as minor as attaching a file with a name longer than 25 characters or using an unsupported file type can lead to rejection. Employers should therefore build in time for internal checks before sending the application email. From a practical standpoint, assigning responsibility for this process to a Level 1 user or compliance officer with detailed knowledge of UKVI’s requirements will reduce the likelihood of costly mistakes. Sponsors that adopt a systematic approach to document preparation are best placed to benefit from the faster turnaround offered by the priority service.

5. Your request must not be in progress or have been allocated to a caseworker

The Home Office will not accept a priority request for any change that is already being processed or has been allocated to a caseworker under standard procedures. This restriction is in place to prevent sponsors from trying to “upgrade” an existing request once it is already in the system. Sponsors often encounter problems where they submit the change of circumstances through SMS, wait some time for acknowledgement, and then attempt to speed it up by requesting priority. If UKVI has already assigned the case to a caseworker, the priority request will automatically be refused.

For sponsors, this means timing is crucial. The request for priority consideration must be submitted immediately after the SMS action has been logged and before UKVI picks it up for processing. Given that daily allocation for priority requests is capped and demand is high, the window to act can be narrow. Employers should set up internal alerts so that as soon as the Level 1 user completes the SMS action, the priority request is emailed without delay. A lack of coordination between HR and compliance teams can easily result in missed opportunities, leaving the sponsor stuck in the standard 18-week queue.

6. Premium sponsors are not eligible for the post licence priority service

Premium sponsors cannot use the post licence priority service because they already benefit from a higher level of Home Office support. Premium customer service is an optional add-on for employers who want enhanced assistance with sponsorship, and it comes at a significant additional cost. In return, the sponsor is assigned a dedicated account manager who acts as a direct liaison with UKVI. This account manager provides advice on sponsorship duties, oversees the sponsor’s compliance record, and can escalate urgent requests, including changes of circumstances. As a result, the Home Office does not allow premium sponsors to also access the £350 per request post-licence priority service.

For sponsors considering whether premium service is worth the investment, the distinction is important. Premium membership costs substantially more but gives organisations flexibility and faster handling of changes as part of the package. For non-premium sponsors, the post licence priority service offers a more affordable way of expediting urgent requests. However, for premium sponsors, requests must always be channelled through the account manager rather than the general priority service mailbox. Attempting to use the priority service as a premium sponsor will only lead to rejection and wasted effort. In practical terms, this means premium sponsors should have internal procedures in place to route all post-licence changes via their dedicated account manager to avoid unnecessary delays.

Section C: Types of Changes Eligible for Post Licence Priority Service

The post-licence priority service can be used to fast-track a number of different requests to register a sponsor licence change, including the scenarios set out below.

1. Additional Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) allocation

Sponsors sometimes exhaust their existing allocation of undefined Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) earlier than anticipated, particularly where recruitment needs shift unexpectedly or multiple extensions are required for existing workers. In these circumstances, an application for additional undefined CoS becomes urgent, as the inability to issue new certificates can cause delays in worker applications and disrupt staffing plans. The post-licence priority service allows sponsors to fast-track these requests, ensuring additional allocation is considered more quickly than through the standard process. This can be particularly useful where a sponsor faces time-sensitive recruitment demands or a risk of losing a preferred candidate. However, it is important to remember that only undefined CoS requests can be expedited under the priority service. Requests for defined CoS, which are used for workers applying from overseas, must follow the standard defined CoS application process in the SMS and cannot be prioritised.

2. Annual CoS allocation

Every year, sponsors must apply for an annual allocation of undefined CoS through the SMS. If this allocation is not requested in time, or if UKVI has not yet processed the request, employers may be unable to issue CoS when needed, placing recruitment plans at risk. The priority service enables sponsors to escalate their annual allocation requests so that they can continue assigning CoS without unnecessary delays. This is particularly important for organisations with cyclical recruitment patterns, such as universities, care providers or large seasonal employers, where a failure to secure CoS in time can result in operational disruption. By using the post-licence priority service, sponsors can reduce the risk of recruitment bottlenecks caused by slow allocation approvals and ensure continuity in staffing and compliance.

3. Adding a new Level 1 user

The Level 1 user plays a crucial role in managing the day-to-day functions of the sponsor licence through the SMS. Where a new Level 1 user needs to be added, for example due to staff turnover or organisational restructuring, a delay in UKVI approving the update can leave the business unable to effectively manage its sponsorship duties. Without a Level 1 user in place, sponsors may struggle to assign CoS or submit change requests, putting them at risk of non-compliance. Using the priority service for this type of change helps avoid disruption by ensuring the addition of a new Level 1 user is considered more quickly, allowing the organisation to maintain continuity in sponsorship management and reduce the risk of falling behind on compliance obligations.

4. Changing your Level 1 user

Replacing an existing Level 1 user is equally important, particularly if the current user has left the organisation, moved roles, or no longer has responsibility for sponsorship duties. If no authorised user is in place, the sponsor may be unable to manage its licence properly. This could have significant compliance consequences, especially if urgent actions are required, such as reporting worker changes or requesting additional CoS. Fast-tracking this type of change via the post-licence priority service ensures that the organisation has uninterrupted access to the SMS, enabling it to continue meeting reporting and compliance duties without delay. Sponsors should ensure the nominated replacement has the right level of training and authority, as UKVI expects Level 1 users to have a clear understanding of sponsor responsibilities.

5. Replacing your Authorising Officer (AO) or Key Contact (KC)

The Authorising Officer and Key Contact are designated roles with responsibility for overseeing the sponsor licence and liaising with UKVI. If either individual leaves the organisation, or if the sponsor wishes to replace them, the Home Office requires the change to be reported promptly. Without an approved Authorising Officer, the licence itself is technically non-compliant, and UKVI may take enforcement action if the vacancy is not resolved swiftly. Using the priority service ensures that the replacement of these key roles is processed faster, reducing the risk of compliance issues or potential suspension of the licence. This route is particularly valuable where the previous officer left suddenly, leaving the organisation at risk of failing to meet its statutory obligations as a sponsor.

6. Amending the details for your current AO or KC

Sometimes the Authorising Officer or Key Contact remains the same individual, but their details change, for example due to a change of job title, updated contact information, or a change of address. Even though the role-holder has not changed, sponsors are still required to ensure that their details are accurate and up to date on the licence. Inaccurate or outdated details can cause communication delays with UKVI, create issues during compliance checks, and be treated as a breach of sponsor duties. The priority service allows sponsors to expedite these updates, reducing the risk of operational or compliance issues caused by delays in the Home Office updating its records. This is particularly helpful for organisations that have recently undergone restructuring or relocation, where multiple role holders’ details may need to be updated quickly.

7. Adding a representative

Sponsors may wish to appoint a representative, often an immigration law firm, to assist with the management of their licence. Appointing a representative requires UKVI approval, as this grants the representative authority to act on the sponsor’s behalf in dealings with the Home Office. Where urgent advice or representation is required, delays in processing the appointment can leave the sponsor without the external support they need. The post-licence priority service offers a faster route to have a representative approved, ensuring that sponsors can access expert advice and delegate key compliance tasks more quickly. This can be especially useful for businesses that lack internal HR capacity to manage sponsorship duties in-house and rely heavily on external specialists for compliance.

8. Amending your organisation details – moved to new premises

When an organisation moves to new premises, the Home Office must be notified promptly, as the licence details must accurately reflect the sponsor’s trading address. Failure to update this information can trigger compliance concerns during an inspection or audit. In some cases, a change of address may also affect sponsored workers’ conditions, particularly where they are tied to a specific workplace. Using the priority service allows sponsors to expedite updates to organisational details, ensuring their licence reflects the most current information. This reduces the risk of compliance action or the appearance that the sponsor is not operating transparently. For employers undergoing relocation, securing a fast-tracked change provides reassurance that their licence remains fully valid and up to date during the transition.

Section D: How to Request the Post Licence Priority Service

To request the post licence priority service, you have to be organised. Follow these steps to give your request the best chance of being accepted.

1. Run pre-checks before starting

Before making a request, confirm that the change is eligible and that your licence is A-rated and active under the Worker or Temporary Worker routes. Requests relating to defined CoS, Student, Scale-up or specified Global Business Mobility routes fall outside the scope and will be refused. Do not use the service if the change is already in progress or has been allocated to a caseworker. You should also check whether the 10 or 20 working day reporting duty applies and record the date you must meet that deadline. For requests involving key personnel, make sure the proposed individual meets the suitability rules and will be available to respond to any UKVI checks. Only proceed once you are satisfied that eligibility and timing requirements are fully met.

2. Log the change on the SMS

The change must be submitted in the SMS using the correct function. This step creates the official record with UKVI. A priority request sent before this step will be automatically refused. Take care to ensure the details on the SMS are accurate, as they will be cross-checked against the priority request form and any supporting documents. Mistakes at this stage often lead to refusals and wasted fees.

3. Generate the submission sheet and gather evidence

Some requests trigger a submission sheet on the SMS. This must be downloaded and signed where required. Replacing an Authorising Officer or appointing a representative always requires the signed sheet. You should also prepare all other supporting evidence specified in the guidance for the change in question. Files must be in PDF, JPEG, PNG or Word format, with descriptive filenames of 25 characters or fewer. Unreadable scans, unsupported formats or poorly labelled files are common reasons for rejection.

4. Complete the priority request form

The Worker and Temporary Worker priority request form must be filled in carefully so that every detail matches the SMS submission. Organisation name, licence number and request type must align exactly. Inconsistencies are treated by UKVI as weak licence management and usually result in refusal. Keep a copy of the completed form for your own records and for any potential compliance audit.

5. Email the priority mailbox

Once the SMS and documents are ready, send the request by email to PostLicencePriorityService@homeoffice.gov.uk. The subject line must read: “Priority service request: [organisation name] ([licence number]): [request type]”. The mailbox is only open from 7am to 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. Requests outside these hours are not considered. Only include requests linked to the same licence in one email. Attaching requests for different licences will lead to rejection. Demand is high and the daily quota of 100 slots often fills early, so submit shortly after 7am.

6. Monitor responses from UKVI

If your request is accepted, UKVI will send two emails: one confirming acceptance and one containing the payment link. Check all relevant inboxes, including junk folders, as silence usually means the request was not accepted. If that happens, review the issues and prepare to resubmit on the next working day. Missing the quota or submitting outside service hours are the most common reasons for non-acceptance.

7. Pay the fee within 72 hours

Payment of the £350 fee must be made within 72 hours of receiving the link, and weekends are included in this period. If the deadline is missed the request expires, and you must start again. Arrange internal approvals in advance so that payment can be made without delay. Treat the fee as non-refundable, except in very limited cases of UKVI error.

8. Respond quickly to UKVI queries

UKVI may request additional information, particularly for more complex changes such as restructures or personnel appointments. The Authorising Officer is normally contacted directly. Any delay or incomplete response will almost always result in refusal. Maintain an evidence pack so you can reply within the timeframe set by UKVI.

9. Outcome and next steps

UKVI aims to consider accepted requests within five working days of payment, or of receiving the submission sheet where one is required. The service speeds up consideration only and does not improve the chances of approval. Once you receive the outcome, update internal records and retain all documents and correspondence for Appendix D compliance. If refused, resolve the underlying issue before resubmitting, and check whether the 10 or 20 working day reporting duty is still outstanding. Submitting repeated defective requests signals poor licence management and increases the risk of downgrade or compliance action.

Section E: Summary

The post-licence priority service provides UK sponsors with a valuable tool to reduce delays in processing urgent changes to their sponsor licence. While the standard system can take many weeks, priority handling offers a five-day target, helping employers avoid disruption when business operations or recruitment depend on timely updates. However, the service does not relax compliance standards, and any request that fails to meet the rules or documentary requirements will still be refused. Sponsors should view the service as a way to shorten waiting times, not as a guarantee of approval.

With a £350 non-refundable fee per request and a daily cap of 100 applications, planning is critical. Employers must ensure requests are eligible, complete and submitted early in the day. Failure to attach a submission sheet where required, or mistakenly including a defined CoS request, will result in immediate rejection and wasted cost. For this reason, careful preparation and internal coordination between HR, compliance and finance functions are key. Sponsors should also maintain active monitoring of UKVI communications, as missed emails can derail a request.

The service is not open to student sponsors, scale-up or Global Business Mobility routes, nor to premium sponsors who have an account manager. For eligible Worker and Temporary Worker sponsors with an A-rated licence, however, it can make the difference between meeting recruitment timelines and facing damaging delays. Used correctly, the post-licence priority service allows sponsors to manage their workforce needs more effectively while remaining fully compliant with UKVI obligations.

Section F: Need assistance?

Your licence may be downgraded, suspended or revoked if you do not fulfil your responsibilities as a sponsor. Your CoS allocation can also be reduced. This could result in significant and costly consequences for your organisation, including the cost of an action plan to upgrade your licence, the inability to recruit new overseas talent, or even significant disruption to your business through the loss of existing sponsored workers.

It’s therefore vital that you comply with your ongoing obligations as a licensed sponsor, including the duty to let the Home Office know about any change in your circumstances.

Full guidance on how to submit a sponsor change of circumstances request can be found in the online Home Office SMS Manual on managing your sponsor licence. Securing expert legal advice on how to manage your sponsorship duties can help you to remain compliant.

DavidsonMorris are UK business immigration specialists. We support employers with all aspects of corporate immigration to meet their UK talent needs through international recruitment and global mobility.

If you have a question about post-licence processing and priority service availability, and for tailored guidance, contact us.

Section G: Post Licence Priority Service FAQs

What is the Post Licence Priority Service?

The Post Licence Priority Service is a facility offered by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) that allows licensed sponsors to request faster consideration of certain post-licence changes. It is designed to reduce waiting times, which can otherwise be up to 18 weeks under standard processing. The service can be used to expedite eligible sponsor change of circumstances requests, such as additional allocations of undefined Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) or updating details for key personnel. Importantly, the service does not guarantee approval of a request; it only accelerates consideration.

What types of changes can be prioritised?

Eligible changes include requests for additional undefined CoS allocation, annual CoS allocation, adding or replacing a Level 1 user, replacing or updating details for an Authorising Officer (AO) or Key Contact (KC), appointing a representative, and amending certain organisation details, such as a change of business address. Defined CoS requests, Student route changes, Scale-up route changes, and Global Business Mobility (GBM) sub-routes such as UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier or Secondment Worker are not eligible for the service. Premium sponsors also cannot use the service, as they have a dedicated account manager.

How long does the priority service take?

Requests accepted into the Post Licence Priority Service are usually considered within five working days. The timeframe begins on the working day after payment of the fee, or if a submission sheet is required, from the day after UKVI receives the completed sheet. While this is a significant reduction compared to standard processing, the five-day turnaround is a target rather than a guarantee. Complex cases, or those requiring further checks, may take longer.

What is the cost of using the service?

The fee is £350 per request. This charge is in addition to any standard Home Office fees payable for the underlying change, such as CoS fees. Each separate request on the Sponsor Management System requires its own fee, even if the requests relate to similar changes. For example, reporting a change of address and updating key personnel details linked to that address would require two separate requests, each incurring a £350 fee if prioritised.

Can all requests be fast-tracked?

Only eligible change of circumstance requests made by A-rated sponsors licensed under the Worker and Temporary Worker routes can be prioritised. Requests that are already in progress, already assigned to a caseworker, or not on the list of permitted change types will be refused. Defined CoS allocations, Student sponsor changes, Scale-up and certain GBM routes are excluded. Applications sent outside of service hours or after the daily 100-request cap has been reached will not be considered.

How do I apply for the priority service?

After submitting the change of circumstances through the SMS, sponsors must email the Post Licence Priority Service team at PostLicencePriorityService@homeoffice.gov.uk. The email must include the completed Worker and Temporary Worker priority request form, the required documents, and, where relevant, a signed submission sheet. The subject line must follow the UKVI format: “Priority service request: [organisation name] ([licence number]): [request type]”. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, with only 100 requests accepted each working day between 7am and 5pm UK time.

What happens if my request is not accepted?

If your application is not accepted because the daily quota has been reached, because it is ineligible, or because it was submitted incorrectly, it will not be prioritised. In these cases, the request will either proceed under standard processing times or, if defective, may be rejected entirely. Sponsors should assume their application has not been accepted if no confirmation email is received from UKVI.

Is the priority service fee refundable?

The £350 fee is non-refundable in almost all circumstances. Refunds are only issued in limited cases, such as a technical error on UKVI’s part or a duplicate payment. No refund will be given if a request is rejected for being ineligible, incomplete, submitted too late, or if the daily allocation limit has been reached. Employers should therefore treat the fee as a sunk cost unless they are confident the request meets the eligibility and submission criteria.

Who can use this service?

Only organisations that already hold an A-rated, fully active sponsor licence under the Worker or Temporary Worker routes are eligible. Sponsors with a B-rating, premium sponsors, Student sponsors, Scale-up sponsors, and organisations on certain Global Business Mobility routes cannot use the service. Premium sponsors must route changes through their account manager.

Why is the priority service useful?

For eligible sponsors, the service can prevent delays that would otherwise impact recruitment, business continuity, or compliance standing. For example, where a sponsor urgently needs to replace an Authorising Officer, assign more undefined CoS, or update organisation details ahead of a compliance visit, priority handling can provide assurance that the change will be considered within days rather than months. While it comes at a cost and requires careful preparation, it offers sponsors a practical tool to manage time-sensitive licence changes more effectively.

Section H: Glossary

Section I: Additional Resources and Links