Sponsor Licence Application Solicitors

If you licence has been refused, you must read the refusal letter and determine what the grounds for refusal were. If you believe there was a mistake in the decision, you may apply for a caseworker error review. This will need to be done within 14 days of receiving your refusal. Alternatively, you may submit a fresh application once the cooling-off period (varied from 6 months to 5 years) expires. Should your refusal be unlawful or unreasonable, you may be able to apply for a judicial review. You will have 3 months from the date of refusal to apply for judicial review, and it may take over a year to conclude.

Yes, a Sponsor Licence can be revoked if the licence holder fails to meet their sponsor duties. The Home Office closely monitors compliance and expects licence holders to maintain accurate records, report changes in employee circumstances, and adhere to all immigration rules. If a business is found to be non-compliant, the Home Office may take compliance action, which can range from issuing warnings to imposing restrictions on the licence. In serious cases, they may downgrade the licence or even revoke it entirely, preventing the organisation from sponsoring migrant workers in the future. To minimise the risk of such outcomes, many businesses seek the guidance of experienced sponsor licence application solicitors, who can provide ongoing advice, ensure compliance, and support the business in meeting all regulatory obligations.

Once your business has successfully obtained a sponsor licence, you can assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to the skilled workers you wish to employ. Each certificate contains important information about the worker’s role and enables a worker to apply for their visa under the UK’s immigration system. There are different types of Certificates of Sponsorship, and the process you must follow will depend on whether you need a defined or undefined certificate. Our specialist sponsor licence application solicitors can guide you through this stage—helping you understand your ongoing compliance duties, manage your licence effectively, and ensure every certificate is assigned correctly to avoid costly mistakes or Home Office penalties.

The cost of a Sponsor Licence depends on the size of your organisation. The Home Office currently charges £574 for small sponsors or charities and £1,579 for medium and large sponsors. These fees cover the official application but do not include the time and expertise needed to prepare a complete and compliant application. At OTB Legal, our fees start a comprehensive service for £3,500 plus VAT, which includes full guidance from start to finish, document preparation, review of your organisation’s eligibility, and ongoing support throughout the submission process. We also offer flexible pricing depending on the level of service your business requires. By working with experienced sponsor licence application solicitors, you can ensure your application is accurate, complete, and meets all Home Office requirements, significantly reducing the risk of delays or refusals while giving your business confidence in navigating the process.

It is not mandatory to use a solicitor. However, immigration law is complex. Many people try applying on their own and end up with a rejection due to a simple mistake or lack of evidence. Working with experienced our experienced Sponsor Licence Solicitors at OTB Legal gives you peace of mind that your case is being handled properly, by someone who knows exactly what the Home Office is looking for.

After obtaining a sponsor licence, it’s vital to meet your ongoing compliance responsibilities to keep your licence in good standing. The Home Office sets out detailed guidance on what employers must do, known as sponsor duties. These include accurate reporting of any changes to your sponsored workers or business, maintaining proper record keeping of documents and employee details, complying with all immigration laws and the published sponsor guidance, and ensuring your organisation continues to follow UK law more broadly. You must also avoid any behaviour deemed not conducive to the public good. Our experienced sponsor licence application solicitors can help your business understand and meet these ongoing obligations—offering practical advice, compliance checks, and support to prevent suspension or revocation of your licence.

To keep your sponsor licence secure, your business must be prepared for Home Office compliance visits. These inspections ensure that your systems, records, and processes meet all key sponsor duties. It’s essential that your records are accurate, up to date, and readily available upon request. You should be able to clearly demonstrate to the compliance officer how your HR and monitoring systems operate, and confirm that your sponsorship management system (SMS) reflects the correct business information. All key personnel roles—such as Authorising Officer, Key Contact, and Level 1 User—must also be properly assigned and active. Our expert sponsor licence application solicitors can help you prepare for Home Office visits by conducting mock audits, reviewing your internal procedures, and ensuring full compliance to protect your business from licence suspension or revocation.

Under the current UK immigration system, sponsor licences are granted on an indefinite basis, meaning they no longer need to be renewed every four years as they did previously. Your licence will remain valid unless it is surrendered voluntarily or revoked by the Home Office due to non-compliance or a breach of sponsor duties. While this change reduces administrative burdens for employers, it also places greater emphasis on maintaining compliance at all times. Our experienced sponsor licence application solicitors can help you manage your licence effectively, ensure your HR systems remain compliant, and protect your business from the risk of suspension or revocation.