Securing a Sponsor Licence in the UK: A Step-by-Step Guide for Businesses
Are you looking to sponsor migrant workers in the UK? Obtaining a sponsor licence is essential. By working with Sponsor Licence Services, you’ll have a dedicated account manager by your side to ensure your application is comprehensive, accurate, and ready for approval.
Applying for a sponsor licence in the UK can seem daunting, but fear not! Sponsor Licence Services is here to help you and take all the difficulty and complexity away.
Here’s a quick rundown of the process to obtain a sponsor licence. By following these steps and providing the necessary documentation, you’ll be well on your way to securing a sponsor licence and sponsoring migrant workers in the UK.
We know that providing the right documentation is absolutely the key to a successful application. That’s why your dedicated account manager will guide you every step of the way to ensure your paperwork is complete and meets all the requirements outlined in Appendix A of the sponsor guidance.
Alternatively, let us do the work! Our success rate is very close to 100% because we’ve done it thousands of times, and we know how to make the process as seamless and pain free as possible.
Our guide below outlines the process, and the key requirements and documentation involved.
Step 1: Verifying Your Business Legitimacy
The UK government needs assurance that your business is genuine. To demonstrate this, you’ll need to provide specific documents (Appendix A of the sponsor guidance) depending on your business’s age and nature.
New Businesses (Under 18 Months): Submit a traditional bank statement showcasing business transactions.
Established Businesses: You have the option to provide audited accounts, corporate tax return evidence, or the notice to deliver your accounts.
Regulated Industries: If your industry falls under a specific regulatory body (like the Financial Conduct Authority), provide an up-to-date copy of your registration, proving good standing
Step 2: Demonstrating Genuine Need
Beyond business legitimacy, you need to convince the authorities that the sponsored vacancy is real and aligns with the Home Office’s job codes and roles. Here’s what you’ll need:
Genuine Business Operations: Documents such as service contracts, leases, or invoices can serve as evidence.
Genuine Vacancy: Provide a job description and specifications that clearly demonstrate the need for a migrant worker’s skills.
Step 3. Recruitment Efforts (Optional)
If you’ve already tried recruiting for the position domestically, demonstrate your efforts through:
Recruitment Process Documentation: Show details and documents related to advertisements, interviews, and reasons for selecting the migrant candidate (especially if they’re already in the UK).
Step 4. Tailoring Your Application (Based on Business Structure):
Depending on your business size and structure, additional documents might be required:
Organizational Chart: Illustrate your current staffing structure and how the sponsored role fits within the organization, highlighting its necessity.
Payslips (if applicable): Provide the past 3 months’ payslips for the migrant worker you intend to sponsor (if they’re currently employed by you).
Representation: Ensure your application addresses the mandatory requirements outlined in Appendix A. This includes confirming the job salary and relevant SOC code for the sponsorable role.
The short version:
A complete and accurate set of documents is critical for your sponsor licence application’s success. Ensure each document is current, clear, and directly relevant to the requirement it fulfills. Remember, missing documentation can lead to application rejection after 8 weeks.