Sponsor licence: how it works

A sponsor licence lets an organisation sponsor workers from outside the UK. Gov.uk says you usually need one to employ someone from outside the UK. It does not guarantee that a worker gets a visa.

There are two licence types. A Worker licence covers skilled or long-term roles, including Skilled Worker and Senior or Specialist Worker. A Temporary Worker licence covers shorter routes such as Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Secondment and Service Supplier. An organisation can apply for one or both.

An A-rated licence lets you assign Certificates of Sponsorship and puts you on the register of licensed sponsors. A B-rating blocks new certificates until the organisation completes an action plan with the Home Office, and losing a licence means waiting at least 12 months before applying again.

To apply, gov.uk describes five steps: choose the licence type, appoint an authorising officer, a key contact and a level 1 user, check you are eligible, apply online and send the supporting documents, then pay the fee. Most decisions take under 8 weeks, and the Home Office may visit the business.

After you hold a licence, sponsor duties apply. You assign certificates only to suitable jobs, check workers' right to work and keep records, monitor and report issues such as a worker not turning up, and report significant business changes within 20 working days. Breaking these duties can lead to a downgrade, suspension or withdrawal.