What is a Sponsorship Licence?

A Sponsorship Licence allows UK-based employers to legally hire skilled workers and temporary workers from outside the UK, including the EU.

If your business plans to sponsor foreign nationals under work visa routes like the Skilled Worker or Global Business Mobility, a valid sponsor licence is essential.

Who Needs a Sponsor Licence?

You need a licence if:

You want to hire non-UK residents under the Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, or Temporary Worker visa routes.
You are a UK-registered business, educational institution, or charity.
You are not hiring Irish citizens, those with settled/pre-settled status, or dependants already eligible to work.
Types of Sponsorship Licences

Worker Licence – for long-term roles:

Skilled Worker

Health and Care Worker (not for new applicants)

Senior or Specialist Worker (Intra-company)

Minister of Religion

Temporary Worker Licence – for short-term or seasonal roles:

Creative Worker

Charity Worker

Religious Worker

Seasonal Worker

You can apply for one or both types, depending on your needs.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply, your organisation must:

Be a legally operating UK entity
Have genuine job roles eligible under the immigration rules
Demonstrate a clear recruitment process and right-to-work checks
Have appropriate HR systems and record-keeping
Appoint key personnel to manage the licence (Authorising Officer, Level 1 User, etc.)
Not have a recent history of immigration or corporate violations
Documents Required
You must submit at least 4 supporting documents proving your organisation’s legitimacy, such as:

VAT Certificate

Employers Liability certificate

Additional documents must be provided and depend on business type (e.g. charities, franchises, educational bodies), these must be provided.

Documents are customised to meet the circumstances and operations of a business.

It is therefore prudent to obtain correct legal advice on this matter, before you consider applying for your license.