Sponsor Licence Advice Derby

Who Needs a Sponsor Licence?

A UK employer usually needs a sponsor licence if it wants to employ a migrant worker under the Skilled Worker route or another sponsored work route. The licence lets the business assign Certificates of Sponsorship to eligible workers.

Main Requirements

The Home Office will consider whether the organisation is genuine, lawful and capable of carrying out sponsor duties. It will also consider whether the roles being sponsored are genuine and meet the relevant route requirements.

• The business should have a genuine trading presence in the UK.
• Key personnel should be honest, dependable and based appropriately.
• HR systems should be able to monitor sponsored workers.
• The business must understand reporting and record-keeping duties.

Documents to Prepare

• Companies House records or evidence of business registration
• Employer liability insurance if required
• VAT, PAYE, lease, bank or accounting evidence where relevant
• Organisation chart and HR process evidence if useful
• Details of the role, salary, occupation code and recruitment need

Sponsor Compliance Duties

After a licence is granted, the sponsor must keep records, report certain changes, monitor attendance, keep contact details updated and only sponsor genuine eligible roles. Failure to comply can lead to suspension, revocation or worker visa problems.

Self-Sponsorship Considerations

The UK does not have a visa route officially called a self-sponsorship visa. In practice, some business owners explore whether a UK company can obtain a sponsor licence and sponsor them under Skilled Worker. This can be complex and must be structured carefully around genuine business, genuine vacancy, salary, ownership and compliance issues.

Frequently Asked Questions