Understand Sponsor Licence Requirements For A Successful Application

 

If you’re looking to recruit international talent for your organisation in the UK, the first step you need to take is to become a licenced sponsor. Obtaining a sponsor licence will give you the legal position to hire international workers.

 

That said, becoming a sponsor is not always easy. You need to meet a range of sponsor licence requirements to be eligible for a sponsor licence. If you don’t meet the requirements, your sponsor licence application may get rejected—the Home Office rejects hundreds of applications each year.

 

In this post, let’s take a deeper look at what sponsor licence requirements you need to meet for your sponsor licence application to be successful.

 

How can you obtain a sponsor licence?

 

Before discussing the sponsor licence requirements, it’s important to understand how to apply for a sponsor licence as it will help you better understand your requirements.

 

Here’s a breakdown of the steps you need to follow when applying for a sponsor licence:

1.    Ensure that your organisation is eligible for a sponsor licence

2.    Make sure that the job on offer is suitable for sponsorship

3.    Choose the right type of sponsor licence

4.    Appoint key personnel to manage your sponsorship activities

5.    Submit the completed application and documents

6.    Pay the licence fee

 

Eligibility requirements

 

As an applicant, the primary requirement is ensuring your organisation has the legal right to become a sponsor.

 

The Home Office has outlined some criteria to assess the eligibility of any sponsor licence applicant:

●     Your organisation should have a lawful presence in the UK, which you must prove by providing supporting documents during the application process

●     You or any key personnel nominated for managing your sponsorship activities must not be engaged in behaviour not conducive to the public good

●     You should have the capability to meet your sponsorship duties and conduct your sponsorship activities efficiently

●     You should prove that you have a genuine vacancy

●     You should not have any previous offences committed relating to immigration, money laundering, or related crimes

 

Job suitability requirements

 

Apart from meeting eligibility requirements, the job you’re offering must also meet a range of suitability requirements for your sponsor licence application to be successful.

 

For instance, the job you’re offering must have a suitable rate of pay and meet the skill level required for the corresponding visa.

 

If you’re sponsoring workers through the Skilled Worker visa, you must pay the highest between:

●     £25,600 per year or,

●     £10.10 per hour or

●     The ‘going rate’ for the job on offer

 

Appointment of key personnel

 

You need to appoint 3 key personnel to manage your sponsorship activities when applying for a sponsor licence.

 

The personnel must include:

1.    An authorising officer

2.    A key contact

3.    A level 1 user

 

Only the level 1 user can carry out daily sponsorship activities via the Sponsorship Management System (SMS), but you can apply one person for all three roles. In this case, it should be specified on the application.

 

Submission of supporting documents

 

You are required to submit a range of documents to support your sponsor licence application.

 

Supporting documents you need to submit may vary depending on the type of your organisation and the type of visa route.

 

When submitting your application, you should submit digital copies of your submission sheet and supporting documents. You should make sure the files:

●     Are in PDF, JPEG, or PNG format

●     Have descriptive titles with 25 or fewer characters

●     Are clearly readable

 

If your documents are not in English or Welsh, you must include a certified translation.

 

After submitting your application, you will need to pay the licence fee, which will vary depending on the size and type of your organisation.

 

If you’re a small or charitable organisation, you must pay £536 for your sponsor licence. You need to pay £1,476 if you’re a medium or large-scale organisation.

 

Sponsor duties after obtaining your sponsor licence

 

Once you obtain your sponsor licence, your requirements don’t end there. You need to continue to perform due diligence on your sponsorship duties, which include:

●     Record keeping

●     Reporting

●     Refraining from acting in a manner not conducive to the public good

●     Complying with immigration laws and the wider UK law

 

Understand Sponsor Licence Requirements For A Successful Application

 

Whether you are about to apply for a sponsor licence or are considering it, understanding your sponsor licence requirements will be hugely beneficial. It will help you meet the requirements and obtain your sponsor licence successfully.

 

If you need any help, work with experienced immigration and sponsorship experts.