The process of getting a UK sponsor licence is both exciting and scary. Understanding how to obtain a UK sponsor licence is crucial as global politics shift and individuals and businesses seek opportunities in different countries. This guide covers the entire process, explaining its significance, the correct procedures, and considerations for those involved.

What is a UK Sponsor Licence?

The Government issues a UK Sponsor Licence to companies and organisations in the UK to support foreigners. This sponsorship enables the recruitment of international staff, enhancing diversity and skill levels in the UK workforce.

Why Do You Need a UK Sponsor Licence?

A UK Sponsor Licence is the key to a world of potential employees without limits, as talent knows no borders in a global village. The gains contribute not only to hiring but also to increasing the cultural diversity that enriches the workplace.

UK Sponsor Licence Requirements

The Home Office uses the application process to determine the ability of the employer to comply with the eligibility and suitability criteria. The sponsor applications team in the Home Office will consider applications for sponsorship.

Any organisation, regardless of size or type, can receive the sponsorship licence as long as it meets the eligibility and suitability criteria for the specific category or tier it is applying for.

Meeting both the eligibility and suitability criteria is crucial to prevent the cancellation of the application.

Eligibility criteria

1. The organisation is real, working and doing business or engaging in trade lawfully within the United Kingdom.

A limited company must register with the Companies House, for instance.

The guidelines specify that an employee at the institution must be a UK resident and be easily reachable when the Home Office has questions about the application.

2. The organisation is UK-based.

You can only apply for the application if you have an operating or trading presence in the UK. If the organisation does not have premises in the UK and runs its business virtually, it may still apply for a sponsor licence. It will also require proof of its ability to fulfil sponsor functions and responsibilities and that it carries out or conducts its business legally in the UK.

Steps to Obtain a UK Sponsor Licence

This form can be accessed via the Sponsorship Management System (SMS) online.

It is a simple system that needs to be updated; as a result, applications must save periodically to prevent data loss.

• Tell clearly what kind of licence you will be applying for
• Contact information
• Select the people who are of prime importance in the licence
• Indicate documents to be appended.

Even though a legal professional may assist in filling out the form, the regulations explicitly state that a relevant party from the organization must ultimately “press the button” and apply to the Home Office. 

You must pay the application fee for the license at this point (refer to the costs for details).

Upon payment of the fee and when submitting, the AO will generate a submission sheet and must sign it. Afterwards, the AO should send it along with the supporting document bundle.

Submitting the licence application form

Please submit the form only when the AO (Authorised Officer) is convinced that the UK organisation possesses the necessary systems to comply with the sponsor’s duties and obligations. Additionally, ensure that the supporting documents are in order and prepared for submission.

After completion, the AO is the only authorised individual who can submit the online sponsor licence form. The applicants must only fill out the draft online application form, but the AO may hire legal counsel to assist.

After applying, save the submission sheet in its generated state, as obtaining a copy becomes impossible once you submit the application.

The UK organisation should retain a copy of the application form that becomes the sponsor licence application once completed and submitted online.

How long does it take to get a sponsor licence?

The sponsorship licence process has several steps, and time is one of the factors you need to consider to ensure you progress effectively in your application.

Knowledge of the processing timeframes can also have an impact on recruitment planning.

You must allow up to eight weeks for the first license requests to process the application. We can often shorten the processing times if you submit a comprehensive and valid application. However, the fastest decision time for a license application will usually be four to six weeks at best.

The licence applicant pays a fee of £500 for the priority application service, enabling them to receive a response within ten working days.

This service may be important when the employer is unwilling to lose a particular candidate involved in processing for a long time.

Processing times can be affected by the following

• Pre-licence compliance visit:If the Home Office decides to conduct a site audit of the employer, the notice period should be two weeks from the audit date. It may take six to eight weeks to write the inspection report and advance the application. Pre-licence visits are more prevalent among smaller employers and within organisations identified as ‘high risk’ by the Home Office.
• Supporting documents: As we discussed earlier, submitting supporting documents needs to be relatively rigid, having multiple points to make mistakes. The organization applying must provide certified copies of specific documents in accordance with its nature. The organization should certify the copies in a prescribed manner. Additionally, the organization must send physical copies of the documents to the Home Office within 5 working days of submitting the online application form. 
• Essential personnel must be available. The appointed Authorising Officer should sign the submission sheet, which they will send, along with the supporting documentation, to the Home Office within five working days of submitting the online application form (unless temporary emergency pandemic measures allow for a relaxation of this). 
• The employer processes the sponsored worker’s application by granting the license and issuing the CoS to the worker. The worker has three months to process the visa application with the Home Office. Consequently, when calculating the date of employment start, one must also consider the Home Office processing. 
  For overseas visa applications, authorities make decisions within three weeks following the visa interview or within five days if using the priority service. The waiting period for visa applications from within the UK can take approximately eight weeks after receiving the BRP appointment. Priority service and super priority service offer faster processing in 5 working days and the next working day, respectively. However, these services may not be available because of limits on service during the pandemic.

How much does a sponsorship licence application cost?

Upon submission, the AO should pay the proper sponsor licence application fee as part of the online submission.

• The amount of money needed to apply for a sponsor licence will depend on the size and type of an organisation.
• The small business sponsor license fee is £536 for non-profitable UK organisations or fall under the category of a small company according to sections 381 – 384 of the Companies Act 2006.
• It employs workers with at most 50.
• A significant sponsor licence fee of £1,476 applies for organisations outside the small company regime.

• This can also refer to Sending the CoS – £239 per skilled worker or £25 per temporary worker
• Every year, the government will charge workers £1000, or £364 for smaller companies and charities under the Immigrant Skill Charge. 
• Fees that apply to the visa application of a sponsored worker

FAQs about UK Sponsor Licence

Q1: What is the processing time for a UK Sponsor Licence?

A: The processing time varies, although it is usually several weeks. Factors like the document’s completeness and the issue are also among the factors that affect the duration.

Q2: Can a small business obtain a UK Sponsor Licence?

A: Yes, applying for a UK Sponsor Licence is feasible for all businesses, regardless of size, provided the latter fits the eligibility requirements.

Q3: Are there any of the sectors that gain more benefits from the possession of a UK Sponsor Licence?

A: Although the UK Sponsor Licence can be helpful in different sectors, those with a high demand for professional people usually benefit from it.

Q4: Is it possible to include family members of the person that has been sponsored?

A: In some instances and types of visa, we can permit this, considering the inclusion of the family members. 

Q5: What would it be if there was a change in the business structure after obtaining a UK Sponsor Licence?

A: Promptly, the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) must be enlightened about any changes to maintain compliance.

Conclusion

Understanding the UK Sponsor Licence is essential for those navigating international recruitment. This blog  covers the application process and ongoing compliance, providing a detailed guide for aspiring entrepreneurs.