Each stage, and how long we plan for it
| Stage | Standard | With priority | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare the licence application | 21 days | 14 days | Documents, HR processes and key personnel |
| Licence decision | 56 days | 14 days | Most are decided within 8 weeks; priority aims for 10 working days |
| Certificate of Sponsorship | 5 days (overseas) | 3 days | Workers applying from overseas need a defined certificate first, usually approved within one working day |
| More certificates, for workers inside the UK | 84 days | 7 days | Only if your allocation is too small: usually up to 12 weeks, or 5 working days with the paid priority service |
| Visa decision, from outside the UK | 28 days | 14 days | About 3 weeks after biometrics as standard |
| Visa decision, from inside the UK | 63 days | 14 days | About 8 weeks as standard |
| Travel and right to work check | 7 days (overseas) | 7 days | Before the first day of work |
Recruitment can run alongside the licence application, so finding a candidate often costs no extra time. The certificate can only be assigned once the licence is granted and you’ve chosen the worker.
The worker must apply for their visa within 3 months of you assigning the certificate, and can’t apply more than 3 months before the start date on it. So when the start date is further off, the plan works back from it and the certificate is assigned in the 3 months before.