UK employers who sponsor, or plan to sponsor, overseas workers
Sponsor licence advice for employers
Clear advice for employers on obtaining a sponsor licence and meeting the duties that come with it.
Employers who want to sponsor workers on most UK work routes need a sponsor licence from the Home Office. A sponsor licence is different from a worker's visa: the licence allows the employer to assign Certificates of Sponsorship, and each worker still makes their own visa application.
Holding a licence brings continuing duties on record-keeping, reporting and right-to-work checks. Failing to meet them can lead to the licence being suspended or revoked. Official guidance on every UK immigration route is published on GOV.UK. The rules change regularly, so we check the current position before advising.
Who this may be relevant to
- Employers applying for a sponsor licence for the first time
- Licensed sponsors assigning Certificates of Sponsorship
- Sponsors wanting to review their compliance processes
- Employers planning future overseas recruitment
What we can advise on
- Licence applications
- Eligibility, licence categories and the supporting documents usually required.
- Certificates of Sponsorship
- How certificates are requested and assigned to workers.
- Sponsor duties
- Record-keeping, reporting and right-to-work responsibilities.
- Licence management
- Key personnel, the sponsor management system and renewals.
- Compliance risks
- Compliance visits and the risk of suspension or revocation.
How Resolve can help
- Explain whether your business appears eligible and which licence type may be needed
- Prepare the licence application and supporting documents
- Explain your ongoing duties in plain terms
- Review compliance processes where appropriate
How a sponsor licence matter usually begins
First contact
Tell us briefly about your circumstances and what you are trying to achieve. Please do not send documents at this stage.
Initial discussion
We carry out our conflict and identity checks, then discuss the route, the main requirements and how we charge.
Reviewing the position
We review your business, your recruitment plans and your existing HR processes.
Next steps
We agree in writing what we will do. Decisions are made by the Home Office, and no outcome or processing time can be guaranteed.
Working with Resolve
- Plain explanations of the requirements and the risks before anything is submitted
- Honest advice where another route may be more suitable, or where an application is unlikely to meet the rules
- Clear communication about your matter and the next steps
- Based in Watford, advising clients across Hertfordshire, London and England & Wales
Where we act
Our office is in Watford, Hertfordshire. We advise on UK immigration matters for clients in Hertfordshire, London and elsewhere, and can communicate by telephone, video and email where appropriate.
Frequently asked questions
Which immigration matters does Resolve deal with?
We offer a selected range of immigration services: Global Talent and Innovator Founder visas, spouse and partner visas, business immigration, sponsor licences, Indefinite Leave to Remain and British citizenship.
If your matter falls outside these services we will tell you promptly so that you can find the right adviser.
Is a sponsor licence the same as a work visa?
No. A sponsor licence is held by the employer and allows it to assign Certificates of Sponsorship. Each worker then makes their own visa application, which is decided separately.
Start Your Enquiry
Tell us briefly what has happened and what you need. Email and telephone are both required so we can respond in the way that suits you.