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Getting a UK sponsor licence: a guide for employers

To employ someone from outside the UK you will usually need a sponsor licence first. What the Home Office asks for, in plain words.

Checked against the official pages listed below on 25 September 2026.

Do you need one?

You will usually need a sponsor licence to employ someone to work for you from outside the UK. You apply online, and the licence usually stays valid as long as you keep meeting the requirements.

What it costs

  • £611 for a small or charitable sponsor.
  • £1,682 for a medium or large sponsor.

How long it takes

Most applications are dealt with in less than 8 weeks. You may be able to pay an extra £750 for a decision within 10 working days.

Three roles to fill

  • Authorising officer: a senior person responsible for everyone who uses the sponsorship management system.
  • Key contact: your main point of contact with UK Visas and Immigration.
  • Level 1 user: manages the licence day to day in the system.
  • One person can hold all three, or you can split them.

After the licence

Each worker then needs a Certificate of Sponsorship, and you pay the Immigration Skills Charge. See the Skilled Worker guide and your duties as a sponsor.

Sources

For employers

Want us to handle it?

We do the paperwork from start to finish. A member of our team will get back to you within one working day.

  • No retainer. Nothing to sign until you have met people.
  • Trade tested before you see them, not after.
  • Nothing is ever charged to the candidate.

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General information for employers, not legal advice. Checked against the official pages above on 25 September 2026. The rules and figures change; the official pages are the authority, and we confirm the current position before anything is submitted.