We are proud to share another success story from NARA Solicitors.
Our client, an off licence retail store, has been granted a sponsor licence by the Home Office in just 3 days.
Yes, you read that right. Three days from submission to grant.
For context, the Home Office states that most sponsor licence applications are decided within 8 weeks. Even with the priority service, which costs an extra £500, the standard expectation is a decision within 10 working days. A grant in 3 days is an exceptional outcome, and it shows what a well prepared application can achieve.
Our client runs an off licence retail store in the UK. Like many retail businesses, they wanted the ability to hire skilled migrant workers and needed a sponsor licence to do so.
Retail businesses often assume that sponsor licences are only for large companies or specialist sectors like IT and healthcare. That is not true. Any genuine UK business with a real vacancy at the right skill level can apply, whether it is a management consulting firm, a care provider, or a local retail store.
Our Approach
The speed of this grant did not happen by accident. It came down to preparation.
Our team handled the sponsor licence application from start to finish. That included:
Reviewing the business and confirming its eligibility to sponsor
Preparing the supporting documents required under Appendix A of the sponsor guidance
Ensuring the key personnel roles (Authorising Officer, Key Contact and Level 1 User) were correctly assigned
Checking that the business had suitable HR systems in place to meet its sponsor duties
Submitting a complete, accurate and well organised application
When an application is complete and the evidence is clear, the Home Office caseworker has everything they need to make a decision. There is no back and forth, no requests for further information, and no delays. That is exactly what happened here. The application went in, and 3 days later the licence was granted.
The Outcome
Our client now holds a sponsor licence and can assign a Certificate of Sponsorship to hire skilled migrant workers for their store. The licence is valid for the standard period, and the business can start recruiting straight away.
For a retail business, this opens up a much wider pool of candidates. Instead of being limited to the local labour market, our client can now recruit qualified workers from overseas for eligible roles.
Sponsor licences are not just for big companies. Small and medium sized retail businesses, including off licence stores, can and do get sponsor licences. What matters is that the business is genuine, the role is eligible, and the application is properly prepared.
Preparation determines speed. The Home Office can move quickly when there is nothing to query. A complete application with the right documents, correct key personnel and clear evidence of HR systems gives the caseworker no reason to pause.
Get it right the first time. A refused application means losing the application fee and, in most cases, waiting 6 months before you can reapply. That is 6 months of not being able to hire the workers you need. Professional preparation is far cheaper than a refusal.
Your duties start on day one. Getting the licence is the beginning, not the end. Sponsors must keep records, report changes and stay compliant. Our sponsor licence compliance audit service helps licence holders stay ready for any Home Office visit.
How NARA Solicitors Can Help
At NARA Solicitors, we handle sponsor licence applications, compliance audits, and challenges to refusals, suspensions and revocations. We work with businesses of all sizes, from early stage startups to established companies, across retail, care, IT, consulting and many other sectors.
Established in 2024 by Mr Sukhvinder Singh Nara, a dual qualified lawyer in England & Wales and India, our Canary Wharf based firm is SRA regulated (No. 8006464) and was named Best New Business at the Legal Growth Awards 2025.
You can read more of our success stories to see the results we have achieved for clients across different industries.
If your business is thinking about applying for a sponsor licence, or you have questions about hiring skilled migrant workers, we are here to help.
Book a consultation with NARA Solicitors today.
