Sponsor Licence Application 👇

🏢 1. What It Means A Sponsor Licence is official permission granted by the UK Home Office to a UK-based business, allowing it to hire foreign workers. This licence is essential for companies wanting to employ individuals under various sponsored visa categories, most notably the Skilled Worker and Global Business Mobility routes.

Without this licence, a UK company cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), which is a mandatory electronic document required for a worker's visa application.

📜 2. Who Can Apply A UK organisation can apply for a Sponsor Licence if it meets several key criteria. The business must:

• Be a genuine organisation operating lawfully in the UK (e.g., registered with Companies House).
• Have an established trading presence in the UK.
• Demonstrate that its key personnel (those who will manage the sponsorship process) are honest, dependable, and reliable.
• Not have unspent criminal convictions for immigration offences, fraud, or money laundering.
• Have no history of failing to carry out sponsorship duties.
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🔑 3. Key Requirements To be granted a licence, the Home Office must be satisfied that the organisation is capable of meeting its responsibilities as a sponsor. This involves:

• Genuine Vacancy: The business must show it has a genuine need to hire foreign workers for roles that meet the required skill and salary levels.
• HR Systems: The organisation must have robust HR and recruitment systems in place to monitor sponsored employees' attendance, keep records, and report any significant changes to the Home Office.
• Key Personnel: The business must appoint responsible individuals from within the company to manage the sponsorship process. These roles are the Authorising Officer, Key Contact, and Level 1 User.
• Supporting Documents: The applicant must provide a specific set of documents to prove the organisation is genuine and trading. This typically includes items like corporate bank statements, employer's liability insurance, and audited accounts.