Post Licence Priority Service

The UK’s sponsor licence system places significant compliance duties on employers and organisations that hold a licence to sponsor migrant workers. Licence holders are required to keep their licence details accurate and up to date, from key personnel appointments to company address changes. Traditionally, updates made through the Sponsorship Management System (SMS) could take weeks for the Home Office to process, creating risks of disruption for sponsors.

To address these issues, the Home Office introduced the post-licence priority service, which allows eligible sponsors to pay an additional fee to have certain licence updates processed more quickly. This service can be especially useful where urgent business needs require swift decisions on changes that directly affect the ability to sponsor migrant workers.

What this article is about: This article provides a comprehensive guide to the post-licence priority service. It explains what the service is, which requests are eligible, how to apply, the costs involved, and the timescales sponsors can expect. It also explores compliance considerations and best practices for employers to ensure that requests made under this service are accurate and avoid Home Office scrutiny.

Section A: Understanding the Post Licence Priority Service

The post-licence priority service was introduced by the Home Office to help sponsor licence holders deal with time-sensitive updates that could otherwise take weeks to resolve. As sponsor compliance requirements have grown more stringent, delays in processing routine updates such as appointing new key personnel or securing extra Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) have become a significant operational risk. The priority service addresses this by offering a fast-track route for certain post-licence requests.

The service is open to existing sponsor licence holders that need urgent decisions on eligible updates. By paying an additional fee, sponsors can have qualifying requests considered within a much shorter timeframe than standard processing. This allows employers to maintain compliance while minimising disruption to recruitment plans or business operations.

For example, if an organisation needs to quickly appoint a new Authorising Officer or request additional CoS to meet an immediate hiring need, using the priority service can ensure the request is dealt with in days rather than weeks. This can be critical where there are candidates ready to apply for visas, or where compliance requirements must be satisfied without delay.

The benefits of the service are therefore twofold. First, it reduces the uncertainty caused by long Home Office processing times. Second, it helps organisations remain compliant by ensuring licence records are kept up to date in line with their duties. However, it is important to note that the service is limited in scope and not all requests qualify for fast-tracking.

Section Summary
The post-licence priority service provides UK sponsor licence holders with a mechanism to have certain post-licence updates considered quickly by the Home Office. It is designed to reduce disruption to business operations and to help employers stay compliant, but only specific requests are eligible.

Section B: Eligible Requests Under the Service

The post-licence priority service is not available for every type of sponsor licence update. The Home Office limits the service to certain categories of requests that are commonly time-sensitive and can directly affect a sponsor’s ability to meet compliance duties or proceed with recruitment plans. Sponsors must therefore understand which changes are eligible before applying for priority consideration.

1. What Changes Can Be Prioritised

The following types of requests are generally eligible for fast-tracking under the post-licence priority service:

• Key personnel changes: Requests to replace or add an Authorising Officer, Key Contact, or Level 1 User. These roles are central to licence management and compliance, and delays in updating them can disrupt communications with the Home Office.
• Amending organisational details: Updates to a sponsor’s address, name, or other key company details that must remain accurate on the sponsor licence.
• Adding or removing branches or sites: Sponsors with multiple trading locations can request changes to reflect the correct operating structure.
• Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) allocation: Requests for an increase in CoS allocation, which may be needed urgently to support recruitment campaigns.

These updates are considered priority because any delay can have immediate implications for compliance and workforce planning.

2. Requests Outside the Service

Certain requests fall outside the scope of the post-licence priority service and cannot be expedited. Examples include:

• Initial sponsor licence applications: New licence applications must follow the standard process.
• Sponsor licence renewals: Extensions of an existing licence cannot be prioritised under this service.
• Complex change requests: Submissions requiring detailed Home Office consideration, such as ownership changes, corporate restructures, mergers, takeovers, or de-mergers, will not qualify.

Sponsors attempting to use the service for ineligible requests will not receive a refund, as the £200 fee is non-refundable. It is therefore critical to ensure the request qualifies before making payment.

Section Summary
The post-licence priority service can be used for certain urgent updates, including key personnel changes, company detail amendments, branch updates, and CoS allocation requests. However, new applications, renewals, and complex variations such as mergers or takeovers cannot be prioritised. Sponsors must confirm eligibility before applying, as fees will not be refunded if the request falls outside the scope of the service.

Section C: How to Apply for the Post Licence Priority Service

Sponsors must follow a defined procedure when using the post-licence priority service. The Home Office requires applications to be submitted in the correct way and accompanied by the appropriate fee to be considered for fast-tracking. Careful preparation is vital to avoid rejection or delays.

1. Application Process

To apply, the sponsor must first submit the relevant request through the Sponsorship Management System (SMS). Once the request has been created, the sponsor must email the Home Office using the designated post-licence priority service mailbox to confirm that the request should be considered for priority processing.

The email should include:

• The sponsor licence number
• The SMS submission reference number
• The type of request being prioritised
• A completed payment confirmation sheet as required by the Home Office

The Home Office will then review the request and determine whether it falls within the scope of the priority service. Sponsors are notified if their request has been accepted for expedited processing.

2. Cost and Payment

The fee for the post-licence priority service is currently £200 per request. This fee is payable in addition to any other charges that may apply to the underlying request itself. Each separate request requires a separate payment and application, as the fee is charged per submission.

Sponsors should be aware that the fee is non-refundable. If the Home Office determines that the request is not eligible for the service, or if the application is incomplete, the £200 will not be returned. It is therefore critical to ensure eligibility before submitting payment.

3. Timescales and Decision Making

Where a request is accepted under the post-licence priority service, the Home Office aims to process it within five working days of receipt. This is a service standard, not a guarantee, and processing times may be exceeded if cases are complex.

Sponsors should also note that:

• Delays may occur if further information or documentation is required.
• Requests that are incomplete, incorrect, or unsupported by evidence will be rejected.
• Complex requests that require deeper review may fall outside the scope of the priority service, even after submission.

Sponsors are therefore advised to prepare their supporting documents carefully and to respond promptly to any Home Office queries.

Section Summary
The application process for the post-licence priority service involves submitting a request through the SMS, followed by an email with a completed payment confirmation sheet. The fee is £200 per request, charged per submission, and non-refundable. Where accepted, the Home Office aims to process qualifying updates within five working days, although complex cases can take longer.

Section D: Compliance Considerations for Sponsors

Using the post-licence priority service does not exempt sponsors from their wider compliance responsibilities. Employers must ensure that any requests submitted under the service are accurate, properly evidenced, and consistent with the sponsor’s wider licence obligations. Incorrect or misleading submissions can attract penalties or even result in the suspension or revocation of the licence.

1. Importance of Accuracy

Sponsors have a legal duty to maintain their licence records accurately and to notify the Home Office of relevant changes within prescribed time limits. Submitting incorrect or incomplete information through the priority service can not only cause delays but may also be treated as a breach of sponsor duties.

For example, appointing a new Authorising Officer who does not meet the suitability requirements, or failing to provide evidence of a branch’s trading status when adding a new site, can both lead to adverse Home Office findings. Sponsors must therefore ensure that their requests are supported by all necessary documentation and that the information provided is correct.

2. Best Practice for Employers

Employers can reduce compliance risks by adopting best practice when using the post-licence priority service. These include:

• Maintaining accurate internal records so that licence updates are identified and submitted promptly.
• Carrying out internal checks before submitting requests, ensuring all information is up to date and correct.
• Preparing supporting documentation in advance to avoid delays or rejections.
• Limiting reliance on the service by managing licence duties proactively rather than reacting to urgent needs.

Sponsors should also be mindful that repeated errors, late updates, or inaccurate filings can result in compliance enforcement action by the Home Office. Penalties may include licence downgrading, suspension, or even revocation, which can severely affect the ability to sponsor migrant workers.

Section Summary
The post-licence priority service should be used with care. Sponsors remain responsible for ensuring accuracy and completeness in their submissions. Adopting best practice around record-keeping, checks, and proactive compliance helps employers use the service successfully while protecting their sponsor licence from potential enforcement action such as downgrading, suspension, or revocation.

FAQs

Can I use the service for urgent CoS allocation?
Yes, the post-licence priority service can be used to request additional Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) allocation. This is one of the most common reasons employers use the service, especially when they have candidates waiting to apply for visas.

What happens if the Home Office refuses my request?
If the Home Office determines that your request is not eligible for the service, or if it is incomplete, they will not prioritise it. The £200 fee is non-refundable, even if the request is rejected. The request may still be processed under standard timescales.

Is there a limit to how many requests I can make?
Yes. The service operates with limited daily capacity. At the time of writing, the Home Office accepts only 60 requests per day, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Sponsors must act quickly to secure a slot.

How do I track my request once submitted?
Sponsors should monitor their SMS account and email correspondence from the Home Office. Updates are communicated through the SMS or directly by email. There is no separate online tracking system for priority service requests.

Can I transfer my priority request to another case if I change my mind?
No. Once payment is made and the request submitted, the fee cannot be transferred to another application. Sponsors must ensure they are submitting the correct request before making payment.

Do priority requests guarantee approval?
No. The service only guarantees quicker processing. The underlying decision will depend on whether the request meets the Home Office’s requirements. Incorrect or non-compliant requests will still be refused.

Section Summary
The FAQs clarify that while the post-licence priority service offers faster decision-making, it does not guarantee approval. Sponsors must ensure requests are eligible, accurate, and supported by evidence. The £200 fee is non-refundable, daily capacity is capped at 60, and demand is high.

Conclusion

The post-licence priority service is a valuable tool for UK sponsor licence holders who need urgent updates processed quickly. By paying a fee, sponsors can access faster decision-making for certain requests, such as key personnel changes, company detail amendments, branch updates, and additional CoS allocations. This reduces the risk of disruption to business operations and helps employers meet their compliance duties.

However, the service is limited in scope and does not cover every type of licence request. Sponsors must confirm eligibility before applying and ensure that requests are accurate, complete, and properly evidenced. The £200 fee is non-refundable, and incorrect submissions can still lead to refusal or compliance scrutiny. Complex cases may also exceed the five-working-day service standard.

Employers using the service should view it as a support mechanism rather than a substitute for robust compliance practices. By maintaining accurate records, submitting requests promptly, and preparing supporting evidence carefully, sponsors can make the most of the post-licence priority service while protecting their licence.

Section Summary
The post-licence priority service provides sponsors with a way to expedite certain licence updates. Used correctly, it helps reduce disruption and ensures compliance. Used incorrectly, it risks wasted fees, delays, and Home Office scrutiny. The key is to apply the service strategically and ensure requests are accurate and well-supported.

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