Unlock Global Talent for Your UK Business: Understand Your Sponsor Licence Duties

What Are Your Key Responsibilities?
Keep detailed records.
- You must keep copies of your workers' passports and visas.
- Store their employment contracts and job descriptions.
- Keep their up-to-date contact details.
- Record their attendance and any time off.
- Make sure you have proof you are paying them the correct salary. You need to keep these records while they work for you. Keep them for one year after their sponsorship ends.
Report changes to the Home Office.
- You must tell the government about certain changes.
- Use the Sponsor Management System (SMS) to do this.
- Report if a worker does not start their job.
- Tell them if a worker is absent without permission for too long.
- Report if a worker resigns or is dismissed.
- Inform them about changes to a worker's job or salary.
- Also report changes within your own company. You usually need to report these changes within 10 working days.
Follow immigration laws.
- You must always follow the UK's immigration rules.
- Make sure the jobs you offer are real and need skilled workers.
- You must pay the right salary for the job.
- Remember, having a sponsor licence is a privilege, not a right.
Appoint key people.
- You need to choose people in your business to manage the sponsorship.
- These roles are: Authorising Officer, Key Contact, and Level 1 User.
- These people must be based in the UK.
- They will use the SMS to manage your licence.
Ensure jobs are genuine.
- The jobs you sponsor must be real jobs.
- They must need the skills that foreign workers have.
Pay the correct salary.
- You must pay your sponsored workers at least the minimum salary set by the government.
Check workers have the right to work.
- You must make sure your sponsored workers continue to have permission to work in the UK.
Issue Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).
- Before a worker can get a visa, you must give them a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
- You request and assign CoS through the SMS.
Prepare for checks.
- The Home Office might check if you are following the rules.
- These checks can be in person or online.
- Make sure your records are organised.
- Your staff should know their roles.
Why Compliance Matters
- Your licence rating could go down.
- Your licence could be suspended or taken away. This means you cannot sponsor any more workers.
- You could face fines.
- It could disrupt your business.
- Your company's reputation could be damaged.
Get Help if You Need It
- Help you apply for the licence.
- Check if you are following the rules.
- Train your staff on what they need to do.
- Help you prepare for checks.
- Assist if you have problems with your licence.
Note: IndiBlogHub features both user-submitted and editorial content. We do not verify third-party contributions. Read our Disclaimer and Privacy Policyfor details.