Sponsor Licence Suspended or at Risk?
A sponsor licence problem can affect both the business and sponsored workers.
If your organisation has received correspondence from the Home Office concerning its sponsor licence, obtain advice as early as possible.
Advice available in English and Albanian
For Employers
Suspension & Revocation
What the Home Office can do
- Downgrade the licence and impose an action plan
- Suspend the licence while it investigates
- Revoke the licence
- Refer suspected illegal working for civil penalties
If the licence is suspended
A suspension letter sets out the allegations and gives a short period to respond in writing. During suspension the business cannot assign new Certificates of Sponsorship.
The response is usually the only opportunity to answer the allegations with evidence before a final decision.
If the licence is revoked
There is no right of appeal. The decision can sometimes be challenged by judicial review, which has its own strict time limit. A cooling-off period normally applies before a new licence application.
What it means for sponsored workers
Workers' permission is usually curtailed after revocation, leaving them a limited time to find a new sponsor, switch route or leave. Tell them early and accurately.
What to do now
- Note the date on the letter and the deadline to respond
- Do not reply informally or piecemeal
- Gather the files for each worker and issue raised
- Send the letter for review straight away
Frequently asked questions
01How long do we have to respond to a suspension?
The letter states the period. It is short, so act on the day you receive it.
02Can we keep employing our sponsored workers during suspension?
Existing workers can usually continue, but no new sponsorship is possible until the matter is resolved.
03Can we apply again after revocation?
Usually only after a cooling-off period, and the reasons for revocation will be examined again.
Speak to a Solicitor
Tell us briefly about your immigration matter and how you would like to be contacted.
- Languages
- English · Shqip
Advice available in English and Albanian