How to apply for a sponsor licence: cost and how long it takes

You apply for a sponsor licence online. Then you send a submission sheet and supporting documents. Small or charitable sponsors pay £611. Medium or large sponsors pay £611 or £1,682, depending on the licence type. GOV.UK says most applications take less than 8 weeks.

How do you apply for a sponsor licence?

You apply online. When you finish the online form, you need to send in:

• the submission sheet from the end of the application
• your supporting documents, if you are asked to

You must send the submission sheet and the mandatory documents within 5 working days of finishing the online application. Your authorising officer (the senior person responsible for the staff who use your sponsorship system) must sign and date the sheet. (Part 1 of the sponsor guidance)

If a mandatory item is missing or wrong, the application is invalid. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) rejects it without looking at it any further, and refunds the fee.

Before you apply, check the eligibility rules. The online form asks you:

• which routes you want to be licensed on. If you are successful, these are the only routes you can sponsor workers on
• how many certificates of sponsorship you may assign in your first year. This is an estimate. A certificate of sponsorship is a record that gives details of the worker and their job. See certificate of sponsorship

The online form should take about 20 to 30 minutes if you gather the information first. UKVI cannot give you a copy of your application. Part 1 says to make a note or take a screenshot as you go.

How do you send the documents?

You can scan your submission sheet and supporting documents, or take pictures of them. Send them to the email address on the submission sheet. Your files must:

• be in PDF, JPEG or PNG format
• have clear titles of 25 characters or fewer
• be good enough quality to read

If your documents are not in English or Welsh, you must include a certified translation.

Affidavits and statutory declarations must be witnessed by a qualified, independent person. This can be a solicitor, Notary Public, Justice of the Peace or Commissioner for Oaths. In Scotland only, it can also be a Councillor.

If you cannot scan and email the documents, contact UKVI using the details on the submission sheet.

How much is the sponsor licence fee?

The fee depends on the type of licence you apply for and the type of organisation you are.

Type of licence	Fee for small or charitable sponsors	Fee for medium or large sponsors
Worker	£611	£1,682
Temporary Worker	£611	£611
Worker and Temporary Worker	£611	£1,682
Add a Worker licence to an existing Temporary Worker licence	No fee	£1,071
Add a Temporary Worker licence to an existing Worker licence	No fee	No fee

You must pay the fee yourself. Your licence may be revoked if you ask the sponsored worker to pay the fee, or any costs linked to your application.

Who counts as a small or charitable sponsor?

You are usually a small sponsor if at least 2 of these apply:

• your annual turnover is £15 million or less
• your total assets are worth £7.5 million or less
• you have 50 employees or fewer

You are a charitable sponsor if you are:

• a registered charity in England or Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland
• an excepted charity
• an exempt charity
• an ecclesiastical corporation (a church body) set up for charitable purposes

In Northern Ireland, if you are not on the charity register, you must give proof of charitable status for tax purposes from HM Revenue and Customs.

Part 1 of the sponsor guidance words the “small” fee test differently. You can pay the small fee if any of these apply:

• you are applying for a licence under the Temporary Worker routes only
• you have charitable status
• you are covered by the small companies regime in section 381 of the Companies Act 2006
• you are not a company for the purposes of that section, and you employ no more than 50 people

In all other cases, Part 1 says you must pay the large fee.

If you are not sure which group your business is in, GOV.UK points you to the Business Helpdesk (businesshelpdesk@homeoffice.gov.uk).

How long does a sponsor licence application take?

GOV.UK says most applications are dealt with in less than 8 weeks. UKVI may need to visit your business.

You may be able to pay an extra £750 to get a decision within 10 working days. Only a small number of these are available each working day. They are given out in the order requests arrive (first come, first served). You are told how to ask for a faster decision after you apply.

If UKVI needs more documents, it gives you 5 working days to send them. If it has not heard from you by the deadline, it refuses the application and does not refund the fee. (Part 1)

What happens if the application is refused?

There is no right of appeal against a refused licence application. (Part 1)

You can ask for a review if you think the application was refused because:

• the caseworker made a mistake
• your supporting documents were not considered

You cannot ask for a review just because you disagree with the decision.

Part 1 says you must send the error correction request form within 14 calendar days of the date of the refusal letter. UKVI aims to reply within 28 working days.

A refusal can also mean you have to wait before you can apply again. See sponsor licence eligibility.

What happens when the application is approved?

You get an A-rated licence, and your business is listed on the register. See sponsor licence ratings.

The decision letter tells you the most certificates of sponsorship you can assign, and gives your sponsor licence number. (Part 1)

Where can you get help?

You can call the sponsorship, employer and education helpline on 0300 123 4699. It is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm. UK businesses can also contact the Business Helpdesk.