Sponsor Licence Number FAQs

sponsor licence number

For UK-based organisations looking to sponsor migrant workers, they will first need to be allocated a unique sponsor licence number before being able to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to prospective new recruits. Equally, for migrant workers looking to work in sponsored job roles in the UK, they will first need to be assigned a […]

Appendix A Sponsor Licence Documents

appendix a sponsor licence documents

When applying for a sponsor licence, you will need to evidence to the Home Office that your organisation meets the eligibility requirements by providing certain supporting documents. Appendix A of the Sponsor Guidance sets out what these documents are. Failure to submit the correct documents can result in your application being rejected – which is […]

Sponsor Licence Change of Circumstances

sponsor licence change of circumstances

Among the compliance duties that sponsor licence holders have to meet is the requirement to inform the Home Office of certain changes in circumstances relating to sponsored workers and to the organisation itself. Failure to the meet this duty can result in enforcement action, potentially impacting your permission to sponsor overseas workers. The following guide […]

Increase in Fees to Assign Certificates of Sponsorship

increase in certificate of sponsorship fees

Among the latest increases in Home Office fees announced last week, the cost of assigning Certificates of Sponsorship will rise from 4 October 2023. The change impacts sponsor licence holders assigning all types of CoS to sponsored workers. Most notably, the cost of a Certificate of Sponsorship for a Skilled Worker is rising to £239 from […]

Sponsor Licence Downgraded?

sponsor licence downgrade

Sponsor licence holders are legally required to meet certain compliance duties. Where there has been a failure to discharge those duties, the Home Office can take enforcement action against the organisation, including downgrading the sponsor licence from an A to B rating. In this guide, we explain what a sponsor licence downgrade means, the steps to […]

Can Recruitment Agencies Sponsor Workers for Clients?

can recruitment agencies sponsor workers for clients

UK visa sponsorship rules are notoriously complex and strict. If you are considering your options to sponsor workers in the UK, you will need to ensure that your organisation is eligible. To sponsor migrant workers in the UK, organisations need to hold an appropriate sponsor licence. This requires the organisation to be approved by UK Visas […]

A-Rating Sponsor Licence Guidance

a rating sponsor licence

In this guide, we look at UKVI’s sponsor licence rating system, including what it means for an organisation to have an A-rated sponsor licence. We also look at the consequences of being downgraded to a B-rating and how to reinstate an A-rating.   What is an A-rated sponsor licence? For routes other than UK Expansion […]

Skilled Occupations: Which SOC Code?

soc codes

Matching the role you are recruiting for with the relevant occupation code, or SOC code, is a crucial step when hiring a new sponsored worker. It will be important for the sponsor to allocate the correct occupation code to avoid issues with the Home Office and potential refusal of the visa application. Caseworkers do investigate […]

Authorising Officer: Compliance Guide

authorising officer sms

When you are applying for a sponsor licence, you will be required to nominate certain key personnel to manage the sponsorship process, including an Authorising Officer. The following comprehensive guide to the Authorising Officer role looks at who can and cannot fill this position, together with a detailed account of the Authorising Officer’s responsibilities and […]

Sponsor Licence Expired?

sponsor licence expired

If your organisation’s sponsor licence has expired and it has not been renewed, you will need to take action quickly to regain status as a sponsor licence holder. Without a valid sponsor licence, you are not permitted to lawfully employ sponsored migrant workers. This leads to a number of immigration problems directly affecting the immigration […]