Amin K. Excellent service. QC responded promptly, provided me with thorough, precise and easy to follow advice. Exactly what I needed when I was stressing about my daughter's citizenship status. Thank you so much.
UK sponsor licence for employers
A sponsor licence lets a UK employer hire workers from overseas on routes such as Skilled Worker. You apply to the Home Office with evidence that your business is genuine and has the systems to meet sponsor duties. Once licensed, you assign a Certificate of Sponsorship for each worker and must keep records and report changes.
- Usually 8 weeks to decide
- Fee £611 or £1,682 by size
- Ongoing sponsor duties
- 4.9 on Google
- IAA Level 3 · the highest tier
- 7,000+ clients helped
- Fast-track support
Reviewed by Qiyin Chuah, IAA Level 3 · Last reviewed
Compare sponsor licence stages
Most employers move through these stages in order. Problems at the compliance stage are what usually lead to suspension.
Comparison table, scroll sideways to see every route
| Requirement | Before you hire Applying for a licence | Each hire Assigning a CoS | Ongoing Changes and reporting | Ongoing Compliance and audits | When things go wrong Suspension or revocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| When you need it | Before you can sponsor anyone | When sponsoring a worker for a new role or extending sponsorship, as required | When your business, staff or key personnel change | Throughout the life of the licence | If the Home Office suspects or identifies serious non-compliance |
| What’s involved | Online application, supporting documents, key personnel, possible pre-licence visit | Defined or undefined CoS, correct occupation code and salary | Reporting relevant worker and organisational changes through SMS within applicable deadlines | Right to work checks, Appendix D records, worker monitoring and cooperation with audits | Responding to Home Office allegations and providing evidence, usually within 20 working days if suspended |
| Home Office cost | £611 small, £1,682 medium or large | £525 for Skilled Worker and certain other routes; £55 for Temporary Worker and certain other routes, plus Immigration Skills Charge where applicable | No fee for routine reporting* | No fee for routine compliance visits* | No fee to respond |
| Typical timeframe | Usually within 8 weeks; eligible priority applications within 10 working days (£750 extra) | Often immediate for an available undefined CoS; defined CoS requires Home Office approval first | Usually 10 working days for worker changes; 20 working days for organisational changes* | Visits can be announced or unannounced | Usually 20 working days to respond to a suspension notice; subsequent decisions vary |
| Main risk | Refusal; usually a 6-month reapplication restriction, but exceptions and longer periods apply | Incorrect occupation code, salary or sponsorship details may cause visa refusal or compliance action | Missed reports, which count as breaches | Record-keeping or monitoring failures may lead to sanctions, suspension or revocation | Revocation can lead to cancellation or curtailment of sponsored workers’ permission, normally to 60 days or less |
| Full guide | Applying for a licence guide | Assigning a CoS guide | Ask about this route | Compliance and audits guide | Suspension or revocation guide |
Sponsor licences no longer need renewing every 4 years for most sponsors. Summary only: each guide sets out the rules and deadlines.
What the Home Office expects from every sponsor
These are the duties that apply from the day your licence is granted. Most compliance problems come from the first three.
- Right to work checks
For every employee, not just sponsored workers, before they start.
- Appendix D records
Keep the documents the rules list for each sponsored worker, and produce them on request.
- Reporting changes
Report changes to workers or your business on time.
- Genuine vacancies
Roles must be real, at the right skill level and salary.
- Key personnel
An Authorising Officer and Level 1 user who are suitable and reachable.
Applying for your first licence?
We’ll check your eligibility and your HR systems before you apply, so the application and any pre-licence visit go smoothly. You’ll get a fixed-fee quote for the application, with no obligation.
Licence fee £611 small or charitable, £1,682 medium or largePriority decision £750
- Eligibility. A genuine, trading UK business with no unspent relevant convictions among key personnel.
- Documents. Usually at least four from the Appendix A list.
- HR systems. Ready for right to work checks, record keeping and reporting.
- Your first hire. We can prepare the Certificate of Sponsorship at the same time.
What a sponsor licence costs
You pay the licence fee once. Each sponsored worker then carries a Certificate of Sponsorship fee and, for most routes, the Immigration Skills Charge.
Worked example
Small company, one Skilled Worker for 3 years
CoS £525 + Immigration Skills Charge 3 × £480 = £1,965, plus the one-off licence fee of £611
The worker’s own visa fee and health surcharge are separate; some employers choose to pay them.
| Cost | Small or charitable | Medium or large |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsor licence | £611 | £1,682 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship | £525 | £525 |
| Immigration Skills Charge, per year | £480 | £1,320 |
| Priority licence decision | £750 | £750 |
Home Office fees per applicant, from the 8 April 2026 schedule.
How we can help
From your first licence to staying compliant. Your first consultation about a sponsor licence is free.
Sponsor licence application For employers who need a licence before they can hire. See what’s included → Sponsor licence compliance Ongoing support so your licence stays safe. See what’s included → Visa application package We prepare and submit your application from start to finish. See what’s included →
What our clients say
What individuals, families and businesses say about working with QC Immigration.
Amin K. 
Monya R. QC have been invaluable throughout Home Office procedures for Tier 2 /ILR applications. The entire team is dedicated, professional and responds swiftly to queries. The application process was straightforward thanks to QC's skilful team. Highly recommended.
Danille D.
Once again, QC Immigration managed to help me with my visa extension. Without them, I'd have to deal with the stress of doing the application on my own. We made the right choice of continuing to work with QC Immigration. Thank you so much!!!
Mary
Outstanding service! QC provided precise, easy to follow advice and support throughout my permanent residence application process. The team is friendly, very professional, with invaluable in depth knowledge and advice that made the all process a pleasant experience. Highly recommended!
Ching-Fei L.
QC Immigration handled our application in a way that was truly professional, clear and to the point. They explained all the options and procedures clearly to us and showed great respect for our privacy. The whole process was trouble-free and the result successful! Great value for money!
Jessica C.
The are truly amazing and lovely as well as extremely professional. They not only helped us with all the paper work but also were supportive when we were worried and getting anxious. I will definitely contact them again when the next step comes and I highly recommend them.
Warwick B.
QC guided me from application to naturalisation and passport with efficiency, knowledge, patience and care. They were recommended to me by a prestigious Law firm and I recommend them to you...
Anna R.
Having engaged QC Immigration to support my citizenship application I could not have been more satisfied with the service. My case was handled consistently by the same person. Ligia guided me through the process and made it all very simple. Any questions I had along the way were answered promptly. I have been putting off my application for years feeling overwhelmed by the bureaucracy involved. With QC Immigration support I was able to secure a successful outcome quickly and with no stress whatsoever. Charge for the service was very reasonable considering the quality of support and the responsiveness.Read the full review
Diego G.
Xiaohan was so helpful with the process and we got accepted!
Tala A.
My partner and I had a great experience with QC. Both Dorota and Ninder were professional and attentive. I’d definitely work with them again.
Scott C. I recently engaged the services of QC Immigration to assist me in getting my first British passport. I applied from outside the British Isles and my situation was somewhat complex. Ninder and Dorota from QC treated me with the utmost of professionalism and courtesy. They took the time to review and explain my situation, and guide me through the steps of the application process, ensuring that my application stayed on track. With their expert assistance, my application was processed smoothly by HMPO and I received my new passport with no issues. I would highly recommend the services of QC Immigration to anyone who needs assistance navigating immigration, citizenship, or a VISA application to the UK.Read the full review
Maria R. We couldn’t be happier with QC Immigration. My partner and I applied for the UK Unmarried Partner Visa from Italy and received the decision in only 5 days after the biometrics appointment: truly incredible. Dorota followed us with exceptional kindness and professionalism, always available and supportive despite the large amount of documents we had to prepare. A special thank you also to Ninder! We felt fully supported and reassured throughout the entire process. We are over the moon and extremely grateful. Absolutely recommended!Read the full review
Nicholas S.
QC Immigration successfully secured British Citizenship through descent for my son. It was by no means guaranteed, but their extremely thorough approach and direction ensured that everything was done clearly and successfully. A special thanks to Ligia W. who supervised the whole process with patience and diligence. Many thanks! they are extremely good at what they do and they deliver!Read the full review
Anamaria C. I am deeply grateful to Ninder J. for her invaluable support regarding my son’s citizenship application. After waiting for over a year without progress, she kindly advised me to reach out to our regional MP for assistance. Thanks to her guidance, the application was successfully reviewed and resolved. What stands out most is that Ninder offered this advice freely, without charging, simply as a gesture of good citizenship and genuine care. Her professionalism, generosity, and commitment to helping others truly impressed me. I wholeheartedly recommend Ninder J. to anyone seeking honest, knowledgeable, and compassionate legal guidance. Her support made a real difference for my family, and I will always be thankful.Read the full review
Holland W.
Just an amazing experience with this team and their information, service and advice have been amazingly helpful.
Nikul K.
My experience with QC Immigration was outstanding. Ninder provided the most accurate and straightforward guidance. She explained every detail with great clarity and honesty, which made the whole process easy to understand and stress-free. Her expertise and professionalism are truly impressive. I’m very thankful for her support and would strongly recommend QC Immigration to anyone who wants reliable and clear immigration adviceRead the full review
Solomon P. Good service 👍
Ramzi H.
I want to thank QC Immigration, especially Dorota, and Ninder for their great support. My case wasn’t easy at all – I had received a refusal with a 10-year ban because the Home Office considered one of my documents suspicious. It was a very stressful time, but Dorota took over my application and handled everything with so much care and attention. She always explained things clearly, kept me updated . What really makes Dorota special is not only her professionalism, but also her passion and the way she genuinely cares. She fought hard for fairness in my case. After months of waiting, I finally received a positive outcome, and I am sure this wouldn’t have happened without her. I’m truly grateful to Dorota. If you are looking for someone who is not only highly professional but also kind, supportive, and truly dedicated, I can’t recommend her enough.Read the full review
Emilie W.
Competent, empathetic and knowledgable support and guidance through my application for a student visa !! A special thank you to Sara and Xiaohan who supported me through it and who was always quick with answers.
Hakunawadi P.
The team is exceptionally professional, and meticulous. No excuses. I would recommend them to anyone in need any day. Thank you very much.
Questions about sponsor licences
For route-specific questions, see each guide.
Most are decided within 8 weeks of submitting your documents, longer if the Home Office visits first. A priority service can bring a decision within 10 working days for an extra fee, but places are limited each day.
Yes. Size isn’t a barrier, but you must show the business is genuine and trading, with a real need for the role. New businesses usually need more evidence, and the Home Office may visit before deciding.
You usually have to wait 6 months before applying again, and there’s no appeal. You can ask for an error correction if the Home Office made a mistake. Most refusals come from missing documents or HR gaps, which is why preparation matters.
Carry out right to work checks, keep the records in Appendix D, report changes on time, and make sure sponsored roles stay genuine. The Home Office can visit without notice to check.
You can’t assign new certificates while it’s suspended, and you usually have 20 working days to respond. If it’s revoked, sponsored workers’ permission is normally cut short. Get advice as soon as you receive the letter.
You must pay the Certificate of Sponsorship fee and the Immigration Skills Charge, and you can’t pass the Skills Charge on to the worker. The visa fee and health surcharge are the worker’s, though many employers choose to cover them.
Tell us what you need help with
A regulated adviser reviews your situation and comes back with an honest next step within one working day.
- An IAA-regulated UK immigration adviser reviews your case.
- A personal reply with your next step, within one working day.
- No payment required. Fixed fees if you proceed.
- 4.9 on Google
- IAA Level 3 · the highest tier
- 7,000+ clients helped
- Fast-track support
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