Sponsor Licence Application Help

Before you apply

• Confirm the roles you need are eligible for sponsorship
• Check that pay for each role meets the rules
• Decide who will hold the key personnel roles
• Review HR record keeping and right to work checks

Key personnel

The licence names an Authorising Officer, a Key Contact and at least one Level 1 User. These people are checked by the Home Office and carry responsibility for how the licence is used.

Supporting documents

Mandatory documents must arrive within a short period after the online form is submitted. Which documents are needed depends on the type and age of the organisation.

• Evidence of registration with HMRC as an employer
• Business bank statements
• Employer's liability insurance
• Proof of business premises
• Regulatory registration, where the sector requires it
• Information about the roles you intend to fill

How the process works

Sponsorship work normally begins with the organisation itself: what it does, who it needs to employ, and whether its HR systems can meet sponsor duties.

• Tell us about the business and the roles you need to fill
• Have your eligibility, documents and HR systems reviewed
• Prepare and submit the application or response
• Put processes in place to keep the licence in good standing

If an application is refused

There is no right of appeal against a licence refusal, and a cooling-off period can apply before the business may apply again. Getting the first application right matters.