Uk Sponsor Licence: Your Questions Answered

By Author: The SmartMove2UK
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A UK Sponsor Licence allows UK-based employers to hire eligible foreign workers. 
 
The following are some frequently asked questions regarding sponsor licences.

Who Needs a Sponsor Licence?
What are the eligibility requirements for a sponsor licence?
How does an organization apply for a Sponsor Licence?
Is there a Minimum Turnover a Business Needs?
Do you need a UK Resident to apply for a Sponsor Licence?
Who Can Be Sponsored Under the Sponsor Licence Scheme?
What are the Key Personnel Roles?
How Much Does a Sponsor Licence Application Cost?
How Long Does a Sponsor Licence Last?
How Long Does it Take to Get a Sponsor Licence?
What are Sponsor Licence Duties?
What Happens if a Sponsor Licence Application is Refused?
Can you sponsor relatives once you have a Sponsor Licence?
What is a Sponsor Licence Compliance visit?

 
For comprehensive guidance on UK Sponsor Licence applications and ongoing compliance, reach out to ...
... The SmartMove2UK today. 
As a UK immigration law firm with a proven track record since 2009, their team of experienced business experts is well-equipped to provide tailored support throughout the entire process.
Who Needs a Sponsor Licence?

UK-based employers who want to hire foreign employees for their UK company.
Businesses looking to hire immigrants already within the UK.
To assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to overseas nationals for a UK Skilled Worker visa or other sponsored work visa routes.
A Sponsor Licence is also needed for unpaid job roles, such as running a charity.
You’ll also need a sponsor licence to employ EEA and Swiss citizens coming to the UK to work from 1 January 2021.

What are the eligibility requirements for a sponsor licence?

To be eligible, an organization must have a UK presence and be operating or trading lawfully in the UK.
The applicant cannot have unspent criminal convictions for immigration offenses, fraud, or money laundering.
The business needs to be genuine and legally operating in the UK as a PLC, Ltd, LLP, or Sole Trader.
The business should be operational, and someone resident in the UK should be available to deal with queries from UK Visas and Immigration at the Home Office.
The company requesting the sponsor licence needs to show that they are aware of and capable of fulfilling its sponsor responsibilities.
Businesses applying for a sponsor licence must be genuine and legally operating in the UK. This means they are a bona fide business with a UK presence operating within the law.

How does an organisation apply for a Sponsor Licence?

A company needs to submit an online application form.
A minimum of four specified supporting documents as evidence of its trading presence in the UK, in addition to a covering letter providing background information about the company, are needed.
You can apply online through the UK Home Office’s website.
Scan or take pictures of your submission sheet along with the supporting documents.
Send them to the email address mentioned on your submission sheet.
Ensure your files are in JPEG, PDF, or PNG format, have descriptive titles with 25 characters or less, and are easy to read and high quality.
To apply for a sponsor licence, you will need to show that your organisation has HR systems in place that comply with the sponsorship compliance duties and that the roles you are recruiting for and the workers you intend to sponsor meet the necessary requirements.

Is there a Minimum Turnover a Business Needs?

There is no minimum turnover a business is required to show before applying for a licence.
It is advisable that the sponsoring company has a current or projected level of business turnover that would justify their business aspirations and pay the salary of a skilled worker.

Do you need a UK Resident to apply for a Sponsor Licence?

You and your allocated staff must be based in the UK most of the time.
There is no requirement for you to be British or have Indefinite Leave to Remain, but you must be based in the UK.

Who Can Be Sponsored Under the Sponsor Licence Scheme?

You can sponsor anyone under the sponsor licence.
You must demonstrate that the vacant role is for a Non-British/ROI national based lawfully inside the UK or from outside the UK who requires permission to work in the UK.

What are the Key Personnel Roles?
You will be required to appoint people within your business to manage your sponsorship licence. These people will need to be declared when applying for the licence. The roles are:

Authorising officer – a senior and competent person responsible for the actions of staff and representatives who use the SMS.
Key contact – your main point of contact with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
Level 1 user – responsible for all day-to-day management of your licence using the SMS.

How Much Does a Sponsor Licence Application Cost?

The fee for a business sponsor licence depends on the size and type of organisation.
Organisations classified as “medium” and “large” must pay a sponsor licence fee of £1,476.
For small businesses or charities, the fee is £536.

How Long Does a Sponsor Licence Last?

Since 6 April 2024, sponsor licences do not expire unless they are withdrawn or revoked.
But now the sponsor licence usually stays valid for as long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements. If you have a licence to sponsor Scale-up Workers or UK Expansion Workers, it will be valid for 4 years.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Sponsor Licence?

The application process typically takes around 8 weeks, though this can vary depending on the complexity of the application and whether a compliance visit is required.

What are Sponsor Licence Duties?

Sponsoring businesses must have the necessary systems and processes to meet their duties.
As a licensed sponsor, you must meet certain duties, such as telling the Home Office if a worker is not attending work.
When there are particular changes in a worker’s circumstances, it’s crucial to report them within either 10 or 20 working days, depending on the nature of the changes.
If a worker is absent from work for more than 10 consecutive working days without permission, this absence must be reported no later than 10 working days after the tenth day of absence.

What Happens if a Sponsor Licence Application is Refused?

If your application is refused, the Home Office will provide reasons for the refusal.
You may be able to request an administrative review of the decision, depending on the reasons given.
You may need to address the issues identified and reapply after a cooling-off period, typically six months.

Can you sponsor relatives once you have a Sponsor Licence?

Business owners can employ relatives if they wish to.
Great care should be taken to make sure that you meet the specific requirements for sponsoring relatives.
If you are the level 1 user for the sponsor licence you cannot assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to a partner or a close relative.
If a CoS is being assigned to a family member of someone in the organization, then a sponsor note should be added via the Sponsor Management System confirming this.

What is a Sponsor Licence Compliance visit?

A Sponsor Licence compliance visit is an inspection by the Home Office to ensure your business is adhering to its sponsorship responsibilities.
This can happen either before your licence is granted or at any time after you become a licence holder.
The visit is to verify that your business is genuine, capable of managing sponsored workers, and compliant with immigration rules and regulations.
The inspection could be a digital one or an on-premises visit.

For comprehensive guidance on UK Sponsor Licence applications and ongoing compliance, reach out to The SmartMove2UK today. 
 
As a UK immigration law firm with a proven track record since 2009, their team of experienced business experts is well-equipped to provide tailored support throughout the entire process.

The SmartMove2UK (a unit of SmartMove Immigration) is a specialist immigration law firm in India with branches in India (Mumbai | Delhi | Gurgaon | Chandigarh | Bangalore) & UK (London) led by a specialist Solicitor. Evolving from practicing exclusively in the areas of UK nationality and immigration law. Our expertise now encompasses a wider global mix including immigration laws of Australia, New Zealand, USA, Malta, Portugal (Golden Visa), Dominica, St. Kitts & Nevis, India and Canada. With more than a decade of Experience providing immigration and nationality services, we offer clients a personal and friendly, yet comprehensive solution to their immigration, travel and business needs. With the benefit of our extensive experience, we understand your needs and advise on the prospects of success and potential pitfalls in pursuing an application. Working together, we will use our experience to find a solution that matches your needs wherever possible. Our clientele includes Individuals, Corporates Corporations, Investors , Entrepreneurs and Innovators.