If your business wants to hire non-UK resident talent on routes like Skilled Worker (and other Worker/Temporary Worker routes), you usually need a UK Sponsor Licence first. The Home Office expects you to prove you’re a genuine UK operation (or have the right “UK footprint” for certain routes) and that you can meet ongoing sponsorship compliance duties.
This guide is written as a practical checklist you can follow before applying.
Important: This is general information, not legal advice. Sponsor rules change, so always cross-check the official guidance and Appendix A documents list before submitting.
1) Quick overview: what the Home Office checks
Your application is assessed on two big areas:
A) Eligibility (trading presence + evidence)
You must provide the required supporting documents in the format and timeframe required (via Appendix A). If mandatory items are missing/incorrect, your application can be treated as invalid and rejected (with a refund).
B) Suitability (trust + compliance readiness)
They consider things like relevant convictions/civil penalties, whether you have a credible need for the roles you’re sponsoring, and whether your HR systems are robust enough. The Home Office can do pre-licence compliance checks (including visits/inspections), and if you can’t show you can meet sponsor duties, refusal is likely.
2) Step-by-step sponsor licence application checklist
Step 1 — Decide which licence type and route(s) you need
Sponsor licences sit across “Worker” and “Temporary Worker” routes. Choose only the routes relevant to your hiring plan (e.g., Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility routes, etc.).
Practical tip: Write down:
Which role(s) you want to fill
Estimated start dates
Where the employee will work
Salary and working hours
Why the role is needed (genuineness/business need)
(You’ll reuse this in your supporting narrative.)
Step 2 — Confirm you can meet the document deadline (this is a common fail point)
The guidance explicitly says you must be able to send all relevant supporting documents listed in Appendix A within 5 working days of submitting the application.
Checklist:
✅ Identify exactly which Appendix A “sections” apply to your organisation type and route(s)
✅ Gather documents and make sure they are current, legible, and match your business details (name/address/registration)
✅ Prepare scans/photos in a clean, readable format
✅ Ensure your team can respond fast if UKVI asks for more documents (they typically give 5 working days to respond).
Step 3 — Choose your Key Personnel (don’t treat this as admin)
You’ll need to nominate key roles (commonly Authorising Officer, Key Contact, Level 1 user(s)). These people must be appropriate and reliable because the Home Office considers suitability risks linked to “you/your” as defined in the guidance.
Checklist:
✅ Pick a responsible Authorising Officer (senior, accountable)
✅ Confirm who manages day-to-day sponsor admin (Level 1 access)
✅ Ensure key people have no issues that can trigger refusal (e.g., certain unspent convictions/civil penalties)
Step 4 — Get your HR systems “audit-ready”
A lot of refusals happen because the business can’t demonstrate strong HR systems during checks.
Minimum you should have in place before applying:
Right to work check process (who does it, how it’s recorded)
Offer letters / contracts process (who signs, where stored)
Absence and onboarding tracking
Up-to-date employee records and reporting workflow
Clear job descriptions that match actual needs (avoid vague “catch-all” roles)
The Home Office can do compliance checks/visits/inspections, and a failure to show capability can lead to refusal.
Step 5 — Build your “Document Pack” (Appendix A)
Appendix A is the official supporting-evidence checklist. In many cases the Home Office expects a minimum set of documents, with additional route-specific items depending on your route and business type.
Common document categories (examples — check Appendix A for your exact list):
Proof your organisation is established and operating/trading in the UK
Proof of business premises/operating address
Financial and operational evidence appropriate to your type/size
Any required route-specific evidence (some routes require endorsements or special documents)
Extra information often required for Skilled Worker / Minister of Religion (where applicable):
Appendix A notes that for some routes, you may also need to submit information about your organisation and the jobs you intend to fill, in addition to the core document count.
What they may ask you to include:
Why you’re applying for a sponsor licence
Sector(s) you operate in, operating hours (in some cases)
A hierarchy chart (owners/directors/partners/board)
Details of the jobs you intend to fill (title, occupation code, duties, weekly hours, where it sits on the hierarchy chart)
Step 6 — Submit the online application
You register and complete the UKVI sponsor licence application online.
Important fee note:
The sponsor licence fee depends on the route(s) and your organisation size/status (small/charitable vs large).
If you don’t pay the full fee, the application can be invalid.
Where the Home Office has started considering the application, the fee is not refunded if refused.
Step 7 — Send supporting documents within 5 working days
After submitting the online form, you must send the supporting documents to the address/email specified (per the submission instructions), and you must do it within 5 working days.
If mandatory items are missing/incorrect: your application may be treated as invalid and rejected (and the fee refunded).
If UKVI requests more information: you may get 5 working days to respond.
Step 8 — Prepare for a possible compliance check (visit/inspection)
The guidance defines compliance checks as potentially including a compliance visit or digital compliance inspection, plus reviews of evidence and requests for additional records.
Be ready to show:
You are genuine and operating
You understand sponsor duties
Your HR systems can track reporting and record-keeping obligations
3) Timeline: how long it takes (realistic planning)
Standard processing
GOV.UK states most applications are dealt with in less than 8 weeks, and UKVI may need to visit your business.
Faster decision option
There is a priority option in some cases: you may be able to pay an extra £750 to get a decision within 10 working days, subject to limited daily availability (first-come, first-served).
A practical “project timeline” you can follow
Week 0–2 (prep): route selection, key personnel, HR readiness, document pack compiled
Application day: submit online form + pay fee
Within 5 working days: submit supporting documents
Weeks 2–8: Home Office review + potential requests/visit
Decision issued: licence granted or refused (see refusals below)
4) Common reasons sponsor licence applications are refused (and how to avoid them)
1) Missing or incorrect supporting documents
This is one of the most common causes of delay/invalidity.
Avoidance: use Appendix A as your master checklist; pre-label each document and ensure names/addresses match.
2) Failing the 5-working-day submission window
The guidance is clear on the timeline to send documents after submission.
Avoidance: have your document pack ready before you submit the online application.
3) False or misleading documents (serious)
Knowingly sending false documents can lead to refusal and referral for prosecution.
Avoidance: only submit genuine, verifiable docs; don’t “edit” PDFs; keep clear audit trails.
4) No trading/operating presence (or no UK footprint where required)
The guidance indicates refusal if you have no operating/trading presence in the UK (and similar logic for certain routes).
Avoidance: ensure you can evidence premises/operations appropriately for your organisation type.
5) Poor HR systems / failing a compliance check
If you can’t show you’re capable of complying with sponsor duties, refusal is likely.
Avoidance: document your processes (right to work, record-keeping, reporting changes, tracking absences, etc.).
6) Suitability issues: key personnel, civil penalties, unspent convictions, past non-compliance
The Home Office can refuse based on suitability factors linked to the people under “you/your.”
Avoidance: sanity-check key personnel and address any historic issues honestly and proactively.
5) Post-approval (what happens after you get the licence)
Once granted, you use the Sponsor Management System (SMS) to manage sponsorship activities, and you must comply with ongoing duties. The Home Office can conduct checks after approval as well.
Copy-paste “Sponsor Licence Application Checklist” (client-friendly)
☐ Confirm the right route(s) for your hiring plan
☐ Appoint key personnel (Authorising Officer, Key Contact, Level 1 user)
☐ Prepare HR compliance processes (right to work + record-keeping)
☐ Build Appendix A document pack (minimum required items + route-specific evidence)
☐ Submit online application + pay correct fee
☐ Send documents within 5 working days
☐ Be ready for requests/inspection/visit
