UK Sponsor Licence & Skilled Worker Visa – Legal Advice for Employers

As the UK continues to refine its immigration system, businesses must stay up to date with changing legal requirements—especially when hiring skilled workers from overseas. If your company wants to employ non-UK nationals, you’ll need to obtain a Sponsor Licence and meet strict compliance standards under the Skilled Worker visa route.
At Rashid Law, we provide tailored legal support for UK businesses seeking to obtain and maintain their Sponsor Licence, ensuring compliance with all current immigration laws and Home Office regulations.

What Is a Sponsor Licence?

A Sponsor Licence is a legal authorisation granted by the UK Home Office that allows UK-based businesses to sponsor foreign nationals for employment. Without this licence, you cannot legally hire non-settled or non-British workers under the Skilled Worker route.
Our solicitors at Rashid Law assist employers in:

Assessing eligibility

Submitting a compliant Sponsor Licence application

Advising on documentation and HR systems

Responding to Home Office audits or inspections

Skilled Worker Visa: The Legal Route for Overseas Talent

The Skilled Worker visa, governed by Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules, allows foreign nationals to live and work in the UK in qualifying roles for licensed sponsors.

Key Legal Requirements (as of 2025):

A confirmed job offer from a UK sponsor with a valid Sponsor Licence
Role must be on the eligible occupations list
A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) issued by the employer
Minimum salary of:
- £38,700/year (standard threshold)
- £30,960/year for new entrants
- Lower thresholds for shortage roles listed on the Immigration Salary List (ISL)
B1-level English language skills
Valid right to work and immigration status

This visa offers a route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 5 years.

How to Apply for a Sponsor Licence

If you’re considering sponsoring overseas workers, here’s a summary of the legal process:

Eligibility check – Ensure your business is lawfully operating in the UK.
Appoint key personnel – Assign a Level 1 User and an Authorising Officer to manage your licence in the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
⁠Prepare required documents – At least four documents proving your trading and regulatory status.
Apply online and pay the correct fee:
1. £536 for small businesses/charities
2. £1,476 for medium/large businesses
Home Office processing – Standard decisions take up to 8 weeks; optional priority service offers 10-working-day turnaround.

Tip from Rashid Law: Ensuring your documents and systems are compliant before submission is essential to avoid delays or refusals.

Ongoing Legal Responsibilities for Sponsors

Once you hold a Sponsor Licence, you are subject to ongoing compliance duties, including:

Keeping up-to-date HR records and right-to-work documentation
Reporting employee changes (e.g. job title, salary, termination) within 10 working days
⁠Ensuring sponsored roles meet salary and skill thresholds
Cooperating with unannounced Home Office audits
Preventing illegal working

Failure to comply may result in penalties, licence revocation, or being barred from sponsoring again.

At Rashid Law, we help our clients stay fully compliant and mitigate risk.

Why Choose Rashid Law?

Expert legal advice tailored to your business

Full application preparation and representation

Skilled Worker visa support for your employees

Ongoing compliance monitoring and training

Book a Consultation Today

With Home Office scrutiny at an all-time high, it’s never been more important to get your Sponsor Licence application and compliance right.
Let Rashid Law help you hire legally, confidently, and strategically.

📞 Call us today to schedule a consultation with one of our immigration solicitors.

💼 Protect your business. Hire global talent. Stay fully compliant.