A Skilled Worker sponsor licence is the permission granted by the Home Office to UK employers who want to hire workers on the Skilled Worker visa route.
Once you hold the licence, you can assign Certificates of Sponsorship to workers applying for a Skilled Worker visa. Without a valid licence, you cannot legally employ anyone who needs sponsorship under this route.
The licence is valid for 10 years. Holding it comes with ongoing duties, which we cover further below.
Who Needs One?
You need a Skilled Worker sponsor licence if you want to employ a worker who will be applying for, or who already holds, a Skilled Worker visa.
You do not need one if the worker already has the right to work in the UK. This includes Irish citizens, people with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, and anyone who holds indefinite leave to remain or another form of permission to work in the UK.
The application process is detailed. You need to meet specific eligibility criteria, appoint key personnel, prepare the right documents, and demonstrate that your HR systems meet UKVI requirements. If anything is missing or incorrect, the application will be refused and there is no right of appeal.
NARA Solicitors manages the full process on your behalf. We check your eligibility before you apply, prepare your documents and submissions, and handle everything through to the Home Office decision.
Our Services
Sponsor Licence Applications
We assist UK businesses in preparing and submitting Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence applications to the Home Office. Whether you are applying for the first time or reapplying after a previous refusal, we handle the entire process, from gathering the required documents to ensuring your application meets all compliance requirements.
Learn more about Sponsor Licence Refusals →
Judicial Review Against Sponsor Licence Refusals
If your Sponsor Licence application has been refused, there is no right of appeal. However, a judicial review may be available to challenge the decision. Our solicitors will assess your refusal, advise on the merits of a challenge, and pursue judicial review proceedings where appropriate.
Learn more about Sponsor Licence Refusals →
Sponsor Licence Compliance Audits
We conduct internal Home Office-style audits to identify and address any weaknesses in your current systems. This helps ensure your HR processes, record-keeping, and reporting practices are fully compliant with sponsor licence duties before any official inspection takes place.
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Pre-Action Protocol and Judicial Reviews for Revocation
If your sponsor licence is being revoked, time is critical. We act quickly to issue Pre-Action Protocol letters and, where necessary, apply for judicial review to challenge the revocation decision and protect your ability to continue sponsoring workers.
Learn more about Sponsor Licence Revocation →
Representation Against Suspension
If the Home Office suspends your sponsor licence, we provide legal representation throughout the suspension process. Our goal is to resolve the issues raised, reinstate your licence, and minimise any disruption to your business operations.
Learn more about Sponsor Licence Suspension →
New CoS Applications
We support businesses in applying for and assigning Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to skilled migrant workers. Whether you need to assign a defined or undefined CoS, we ensure each application is correctly prepared and submitted.