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The sponsor licence cost is the fee that an organization must pay to the Home Office to sponsor skilled workers from outside the UK to work in their organization. The cost of a sponsor licence depends on the organisation’s size and whether it is charitable. Small or charitable organisations pay sponsor licence fees of £536, and Medium or largeorganisations pay £1,476. You can also pay an additional £500 for priority processing of your application.
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To be eligible for a sponsor licence, your organisation must meet certain requirements, including:
Here are the steps on how to get a sponsor licence in the UK:
1. Check your eligibility. You can check your eligibility for a sponsor licence on the GOV.UK website.
2. Gather your evidence. You will need to gather evidence to support your application, such as:
3. Complete the application form. You can complete the application form online on the GOV.UK website.
4. Pay the sponsor licence cost UK. The application fee for a sponsor licence is £536 for small or charitable organisations and £1,476 for medium or large organisations.
5. Submit your application. You can submit your application online on the GOV.UK website.
6. Wait for the decision. The Home Office will usually decide on your application within 8 weeks.
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To be eligible for a sponsor licence, your organisation must meet the following requirements:
You must be a legal entity in the UK.
You must be a resident of the UK.
You must have a good track record of compliance with UK immigration law.
You must be able to pay the relevant fees.
In addition to general requirements, there are also specific requirements for each type of sponsor licence. For example, to be eligible for a licence to sponsor skilled workers, your organisation must:
Offer a job that meets the requirements of the skilled worker visa.
Pay the jobseeker a salary that is at least the minimum salary for the role.
Provide the jobseeker with a suitable working environment.
You should contact the Home Office for advice if you are still determining whether your organisation is eligible for a sponsor licence.
Here are some details about the sponsor licence eligibility requirements:
There are two types of sponsor licences in the UK:
A worker licence allows you to sponsor people outside the UK to work in your organization in a skilled role. The work can be short-term, long-term, or permanent, depending on the worker’s visa.
The licence is divided into four categories:
A temporary worker licence allows you to sponsor people from outside the UK to work in your organization for a temporary period. The work can be in a variety of fields, including volunteering, job shadowing, and the creative industry.
The licence is divided into ten categories:
There are a number of different sponsorship management roles within an organization. Some of the most common roles include:
The specific responsibilities of each sponsorship management role will vary depending on the size and structure of the organization. However, all sponsorship management roles are essential to the success of a sponsorship program.
Here are some of the skills and qualifications that are typically required for sponsorship management roles:
You and your team will undergo thorough checks to ensure suitability for these positions. Your license application may be denied if anyone is involved in sponsorship:
In addition, both you and your designated staff must:
To obtain your license, you are required to submit an online application.
Upon completing the online application, you will need to submit the following:
If you need to include any affidavits or statutory declarations, they must be witnessed by a qualified and impartial individual. This can be a solicitor, Notary Public, Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Oaths, or, in Scotland only, a Councillor.
To send your submission sheet and supporting documents, you can scan or take pictures of them. These files should then be emailed to the provided email address, ensuring that they meet the following requirements:
In case your documents are not in English or Welsh, it is necessary to include a certified translation. Further information can be found in the supporting evidence guidance for sponsors.
If you cannot scan and send the documents via email, please contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) using the contact details provided on the submission sheet.
When applying for a license, you are required to pay a fee. The Sponsor licence application cost depends on the type of license you are applying for and your organisation’s classification.
License Type | 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 Worker license to an existing Temporary Worker license | No fee | £940 |
Adding a Temporary Worker license to an existing Worker license | No fee | No fee |
Determining if you are a Small or Charitable Sponsor
Typically, you are considered a minor sponsor if at least two of the following conditions are met:
The majority of applications are typically processed in under 8 weeks, although Sponsor licenceukvi fees may need to conduct a business visit as part of the process.
For a quicker decision, there is an option to pay an additional £500 to receive a response within 10 working days. However, this expedited service is limited to a small number of applications each working day, and decisions are prioritized based on the order of the requests received (first come, first served). Instructions on how to request a faster decision will be provided after submitting your application.
If you believe your application was refused due to an error made by the caseworker handling your case or if your supporting documents were not considered, you can apply for a review of your application. However, it’s important to note that you cannot apply for a review solely based on disagreeing with the decision.
A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is a document issued by a licensed sponsor in the United Kingdom to individuals they wish to sponsor for work. It is essential for individuals applying for a visa under the UK’s points-based system.
The CoS serves as confirmation that the sponsor has fulfilled their responsibilities and is willing to sponsor the individual for a specific job role. It contains important information such as the individual’s personal details, job details, start date, and duration of employment.
There are two types of Certificates of Sponsorship:
The sponsor must have a current and active sponsor licence in order to receive a Certificate of Sponsorship. The sponsor is responsible for allocating the CoS to the intended worker, verifying that the employment function fits the relevant standards, and adhering to the Home Office’s sponsor obligations. After receiving a Certificate of Sponsorship, the applicant can use it as part of their visa application to indicate that they have a work offer from a licenced sponsor in the UK.
In addition to the sponsor licence fee, there are other costs associated with sponsor licences in the UK. The cost of sponsor licence UK may vary depending on factors such as the size of the organization and the specific circumstances of the sponsorship. Here are some common additional costs to consider:
In conclusion, the cost of obtaining a Sponsor Licence depends on the type of licence and the size of your organization. It is essential to carefully review the fee structure provided and determine if you qualify as a small or charitable sponsor. Additionally, the application processing time is generally under 8 weeks, with an option for expedited decisions available for an additional fee. Remember, if your application is refused, you may request a review based on specific grounds. It is advisable to thoroughly understand the associated costs and requirements before applying for a Sponsor Licence.
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