Sponsorship licences in more detail

To sponsor a person under the points-based system, your company must hold a sponsorship licence. Without one, you cannot transfer existing employees to the UK, extend an existing work visa or apply for permission to employ a migrant. 

Once granted, the sponsor licence allows you to make an application to employ a person – but each individual application will still be decided on a case-by-case basis.

You will be required to prove that you understand the duties and responsibilities expected of you as a sponsor.

As part of the audit, your organisation will be assessed across five key areas, which we can give guidance and direction on:

1. Monitoring immigration status and prevention of illegal working
2. Maintaining migrant contact details
3. Record keeping
4. Migrant tracking and monitoring
5. Recruitment practice and professional accreditation

We’ll help you put your case forward – adapting our approach depending on the size and nature of your organisation, and the categories you are looking to register under. We will make recommendations based on best practice and our own experience of working with similar types of organisations – and of course all our work will be carried out in the strictest confidence.

Extension applications

Your sponsor licence is granted for an initial period of four years. You must apply to extend this if you wish to continue sponsor any migrant nationals. This is a formal application to the Home Office, which may involve your business undergoing another audit.