How much does a skilled worker sponsor licence cost? – Employers looking to take on overseas workers need to obtain a sponsorship licence from UK Visas and Immigration. We take a look at the cost of applying for and renewing a sponsor licence.
If you are a UK employer who wants to employ foreign workers, you need a sponsor licence so that you can issue Certificates of Sponsorship. This will allow your potential employees to apply for the visa they need.
At Halliday Reeves, we represent employers in securing sponsor licences. The process can be complicated and UK Visas and Immigration will need to see a comprehensive range of paperwork in support of your application. We work with employers to ensure that the right documents are included so that the application is not rejected.
We know how important it is to be able to take on the talent you need. We can advise you on the sponsor licence process, put together the application on your behalf and prepare detailed representations in support of your application.
We have experience of working with employers in a wide variety of sectors and will be happy to discuss your needs with you.
To speak to one of our expert immigration lawyers, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.
“The service was great. Hannah helped immensely with informing us of the steps required to get the application through. There was plenty of communication and direction too. We look forward to working more with Halliday Reeves in the future when the need(s) arise.”
How Much Is A Sponsor Licence?
The government fee charges a fee that needs to accompany your sponsor licence application. The amount payable depends on what type of sponsor licence you need and what type of organisation you run.
| Type of licence | Fee for small or charitable sponsors | Fee for medium or large sponsors |
| Worker | £536 | £1,476 |
| Temporary Worker | £536 | £536 |
| Worker and Temporary Worker | £536 | £ 1,476 |
| Add a Worker licence to an existing Temporary Worker licence | No fee | £940 |
| Add a Temporary Worker licence to an existing Worker licence | No fee | No fee |
You will generally be classed as a small sponsor if two of the following apply:
- Your annual turnover is £10.2 million or less
- Your total assets are no more than £5.1 million
- You have no more than 50 employees
You will be considered to be a charitable sponsor where:
- You are registered as a charity in England or Wales or Scotland or Northern Ireland
- You are a charity that is excepted from charity registration
- You are a charity that is exempt from charity registration
- You are an ecclesiastical corporation and you were established for charitable purposes
Other Potential Sponsorship Licence Costs
If you need a rapid decision on your application, you may be able to pay an additional £500 to have a response within 10 working days. Only a certain number of applications are dealt with on this basis each day and this is on a first come, first served basis. We can advise you as to how to approach this if you need an urgent response.
If your sponsor licence has been downgraded to a B-rating because you did not fully meet your responsibilities as a sponsor, you will need to pay to upgrade your licence back to an A-rating. You will need to do this because you will not be able to issue new certificates if you only have a B-rating. The fee is £1,476 and when you pay this you will be provided with an action plan to follow to achieve the upgrade.
Sponsor licences need to be renewed after four years. This is the case even if you do not intend to take on more new workers from overseas but you still employ existing foreign workers. Your compliance may be investigated at this time to ensure that you are fulfilling your duties as a sponsor licence holder, so it is vital to ensure all of your records are in order before submitting your renewal application. The fee for renewing a sponsor licence is the same as the initial application fee shown above.
Contact Our Expert Immigration Solicitors For Help With A Sponsor Licence Application
At Halliday Reeves, we are immigration specialists. We routinely help employers secure sponsor licences and we also assist with the ongoing management and compliance responsibilities to ensure that when the time comes, it is straightforward to renew a sponsor licence.
We offer a free 15-minute enquiry service so that you can have an initial conversation with us about applying for a sponsorship licence and the implications of becoming a sponsor licence holder.
We have offices in Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Wakefield and Nottingham. To speak to one of our expert immigration lawyers, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.
“The Halliday Reeves team have been fantastic from the first engagement to the last in getting our spousal visa approved. Navigating us through the hurdles and ensuring we provided the correct information. Actively chasing up UK immigration to get the matter resolved. A big thank you to Louisa and Hannah for their professionalism, responsiveness, guidance, support, positivity and knowledge to get us through this stressful process. We wouldn’t have been able to do it without them. Thoroughly recommend, don’t risk doing this on your own, engage the professionals.”
