Sponsor Licence & Criminal Record Rules
When applying for a UK sponsor licence, the Home Office will closely assess whether your organisation and its leadership can be trusted to uphold immigration control. This requires showing that key personnel and senior figures are honest, dependable and reliable, with no unspent convictions for relevant offences. Criminal records play a central role in this […]
Sponsor Licence Cooling Off Period
This guide explains the Home Office’s sponsor licence cooling off policy. It sets out when the cooling off rules apply, how long they can last, and the consequences for both sponsors and sponsored workers. It also provides practical steps that employers can take to manage business risk during a cooling off period and how to […]
Sponsor Licence Compliance Guide
This guide explains sponsor licence compliance under the UK’s points-based immigration system. It sets out what compliance means in practice, the records sponsors must keep, what changes must be reported to UKVI and when, and how audits and inspections are carried out. It also covers the most common breaches, the sanctions employers can face, and […]
Representative of an Overseas Business Visa
The Representative of an Overseas Business visa is a UK immigration category for employees of overseas newspapers, news agencies, or broadcasting organisations who are assigned to work in the UK on a long-term basis. While the route remains formally named the Representative of an Overseas Business visa, in practice new applications are now limited to […]
Sponsor Licence Check UK
A sponsor licence is the formal permission granted by the UK Home Office to allow a business to employ non-UK workers under the Skilled Worker route and other eligible immigration categories. Licences are normally granted for four years and are subject to renewal. Once granted, the licence comes with strict compliance duties under the Immigration […]
Sponsor Licence Application Priority Service
The UK’s immigration system requires employers who wish to hire overseas nationals under work visa routes, such as the Skilled Worker visa, to hold a valid sponsor licence. Obtaining a sponsor licence is a critical first step, but the application process can be time-consuming. For employers needing a faster decision, the Home Office offers a […]
Sponsor Licence Application Fee 2025
Applying for a sponsor licence is the first step for any UK business that intends to employ overseas nationals under the Skilled Worker or Temporary Worker visa routes. The licence acts as formal permission from the Home Office to sponsor eligible workers, but securing it requires more than just meeting compliance duties. Employers must also […]
Sponsor Guidance UK
The UK immigration system requires organisations that employ overseas nationals or enrol international students to hold a sponsor licence. This licence comes with strict compliance responsibilities set out in detailed Home Office guidance. Known as sponsor guidance, these documents outline what licence-holders must do to retain their ability to sponsor and to remain in good […]
Sponsor Duties & Compliance UK
Employers in the UK who hold a sponsor licence take on significant legal responsibilities under immigration law. A sponsor licence is not simply permission to hire overseas workers, it is an ongoing commitment to meet strict Home Office compliance standards. These obligations are designed to ensure that the UK immigration system is not abused and […]
Sponsor Change of Circumstances Form
The UK sponsor licence regime imposes strict compliance duties on employers and education providers that sponsor overseas nationals. One core obligation is to keep the Home Office informed of relevant changes via the Sponsor Management System (SMS) and, in limited scenarios where SMS cannot be used, by submitting a Sponsor Change of Circumstances form. Timely […]