Applying for a Sponsor Licence
Once you have been deemed eligible for a sponsor licence, we will assist you through the stages of future PBS visa applications, ensuring you comply with the Home Office’s requirements every step of the way. The process includes:
- Making sure you apply for the correct type of sponsor licence
- Helping you find someone suitable in your business/institution to manage the sponsoring
- Collating all the necessary supporting documents for your sponsor licence application
- Advising on the correct way to fill in the sponsor licence application form and ensuring you pay the correct fee
Following an application, your business may be subjected to a compliance check from the Home Office – this can be carried out digitally or in person – to assess whether or not to grant the sponsor licence. This process will involve your HR and recruitment processes being scrutinised, and compliance officers will require proof to see how you intend to meet your compliance duties.
When it comes to renewing your licence, you should also expect a compliance visit from the Home Office who will conduct an audit to ensure you have operated in line with your duties before granting a renewal.
Throughout the application process (and the duration of the licence), you must be responsive and cooperative with any requests from the Home Office. Requests can include providing certain information or documentation, or carrying out a site inspection – you have a responsibility to act honestly and with full disclosure.
Our expert solicitors will be with you at every step of the visa application process and can provide advice on renewing a sponsor licence.
How much does it cost to apply for a sponsor licence?
The sponsor licence fee you are required to pay will vary depending on the type of workers you are planning to hire, the length of time they will be employed for, and the size of your business.
If you are applying:
- For a standard Worker licence – £536 for small or charitable sponsors, and £1,476 for medium and large sponsors.
- For a Temporary Worker licence – £536 for both small and charitable, and medium and large sponsors.
- For a Worker and Temporary Worker licence – £536 for small or charitable sponsors, and £1,476 for medium and large sponsors.
- To add a Standard Worker licence to an already existing Temporary Worker licence – no fee is required for small and charitable sponsors, but £1,476 for medium and large sponsors.
- To add a Temporary Worker licence to an existing Worker licence – no fee is required for sponsors of any size.
For any questions about these bands, or what your company qualifies as, please call 0044 161 234 6800 for our Manchester office, or 0044 203 752 6620 for our London office.
What supporting documents do I need to make a sponsor licence application?
You will be required to provide supporting documentation as part of your application for a sponsor licence. To understand which supporting documents you will need to include in your submission, refer to the latest version of Appendix A to Home Office guidance. In addition, you will be required to present information about your business activities, including details of your company, the industry you occupy, the number of existing employees, and why you need to apply for a sponsor licence.
Typically, you will need to provide at least four pieces of evidence, and these must be supplied within five days of the application. Failure to provide all required supporting documents may result in your application experiencing delays or being rejected.
We understand that gathering and providing the required evidence can be time-consuming, particularly if your organisation is large or complex, which is why we provide specialist advice on the documentation requirements specific to your application to help you avoid delays or issues.
What is the ‘genuineness test’?
The test will assess the role(s) you are looking to recruit from overseas for and how these roles will fit within your organisation. Many applications are let down by a failure to pass the genuineness test, so it is vital you are able to convince the Home Office of the following:
- The role meets the requirements of the occupation category
- The role is suitable for a business of your type
If you already have somebody in mind for the role, you must provide evidence that their previous employment or training is suitable for this new role.
How long does it take to process a sponsor licence application?
Sponsor licence applications are typically processed within eight to 10 weeks, although you may pay an additional £500 to use the Sponsor Licence Application Priority Service for processing in around two weeks.