Quick answer
A sponsor licence is the Home Office permission a UK employer needs before it can sponsor workers from overseas, for example on a Skilled Worker visa. We check that your business can apply, prepare the documents and submit the application. Once you hold a licence, we help with Certificates of Sponsorship and your sponsor duties.
On this page
What we do for you
- Check that your business is eligible, and that your HR and record-keeping systems meet the Home Office's requirements
- Send you the list of supporting documents the Home Office asks for, and check each one
- Complete the online application with a covering letter that describes your business and the roles, and submit it
- Prepare you for a compliance visit, if the Home Office decides to make one
- Help you assign Certificates of Sponsorship to the people you want to hire
- Prepare the Skilled Worker visa applications of the people you sponsor (see Skilled Worker visas)
- Advise you on your duties as a sponsor once you hold a licence
- If the application is refused, go through the reasons with you and the options that are open
The rules for sponsors are on GOV.UK.
What it costs
| Sponsor licence application | Our legal fee: typically £1,500 to £3,000 |
|---|---|
| Certificate of Sponsorship support | Our legal fee: typically £600 to £900 |
| Skilled Worker application | Our legal fee: typically £1,500 to £2,500 |
| VAT | Where VAT applies it is charged at 20%. Whether it applies depends on residence and immigration status, and we tell you when we confirm our fee in writing. |
We confirm our fee in writing before we start. Our published fee ranges, and what they cover, are on our fees page.
Not part of our fee: Home Office fees, and any biometric, translation or interpreter charges. Home Office fees are set by the government and change, so we confirm any third-party cost and get your authority before we pay it. The current Home Office fees are on GOV.UK.
How it works
How long the preparation takes depends on your business and how quickly the documents come together. The Home Office then decides most applications in less than 8 weeks.
- Eligibility and systems
You tell us about your business and the roles you want to fill. We check that you can apply and that your HR systems are ready, and send you a written quote.
- Documents
We send you the list of supporting documents for your type of business and check each one.
- Application and fee
We complete the online application, you pay the Home Office fee, and the supporting documents are sent in.
- Possible visit
The Home Office may visit your business before it decides. We tell you what its officers usually look at.
- The decision
Most decisions come in less than 8 weeks. Once you have a licence, you can request and assign Certificates of Sponsorship.
Typical Home Office processing time (Home Office estimate, not guaranteed): Most applications are decided in less than 8 weeks. A faster decision, within 10 working days, can be bought for some applications, with a small number of places each day (GOV.UK, checked 8 October 2026).
Who oversees your application
Oliverta Mediu
Partner — Immigration & Family
Oliverta leads the firm's immigration work.
What clients say
Firm-wide reviews across all our services.
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Regulated by the SRA SRA No. 605949, view our record
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CQS accredited Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme
Where we act
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Leicester office 3rd Floor, St George's House, 6 St George's Way, Leicester LE1 1QZ 0116 393 0334
Immigration in Leicester
Questions employers ask
How long does a sponsor licence application take?
The Home Office says it decides most applications in less than 8 weeks. For some applications you can pay for a decision within 10 working days, but only a small number of those places are offered each day (GOV.UK, checked 8 October 2026). Getting your documents ready comes first, and depends on your business.
How much does a sponsor licence application cost?
Our legal fee for a sponsor licence application is typically £1,500 to £3,000, excluding VAT. The Home Office application fee is separate, depends on the size of your business and is paid to the government. You get our fee in writing before we start.
What documents does the Home Office want?
It depends on your type of business. Most employers send a set of supporting documents, such as proof of registration, bank and tax details, and evidence that the business is trading. GOV.UK lists them in its guidance for applicants, and we send you the list that applies to you.
What is a compliance visit?
Before or after it grants a licence, the Home Office may visit your business to check that you can meet your sponsor duties: keeping right-to-work checks and records, reporting changes and monitoring the people you sponsor. We tell you what officers usually look at so you are ready.
Can you also help the worker apply for their visa?
Yes. Once you have assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship, we can prepare the worker's Skilled Worker application. Our legal fee for that is typically £1,500 to £2,500, excluding VAT, with Home Office costs separate.
What if our application is refused?
The refusal letter explains the reasons and what you can do next. There is often a set period you must wait before you can apply again, so we go through the letter with you before you decide. Call our London office on 020 7063 9040 or our Leicester office on 0116 393 0334, or see our refusals and appeals page.
Helpful guides
Ready to talk about sponsoring workers?
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