From application to compliance — full sponsor licence support for UK employers. Apply, renew, manage compliance, and defend against Home Office suspension or revocation with IAA-registered advisers.
Sponsor Licence Services
A UK sponsor licence is Home Office approval that allows your business to employ overseas workers under the points-based immigration system — including Skilled Worker, Expansion Worker, and related visa routes. Without a licence, you cannot assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to any overseas hire. Immigration Consultants Ltd supports UK employers through the full sponsor licence lifecycle: initial SMS-1 applications, renewals and compliance for pre-2024 licences, Certificate of Sponsorship assistance, SMS training, immigration audits, suspension and revocation defence, and ongoing licence management — all delivered on a fixed-fee basis by IAA-registered advisers.
ICL assists with sponsor licence applications from start to finish. If your company is looking to sponsor foreign national workers who are inside or outside of the UK, we provide assistance and detailed representation to help support your case. Additionally, if your business is already a registered sponsor holder and you are looking to incorporate an additional visa route to your licence, we can help you to achieve this.
ICL provides assistance with individuals who have a business trading overseas and have found a space in the UK market to open a branch or subsidiary. This route provides flexibility for businesses to sponsor senior managers or specialist workers to undertake the work related to the business expansion in the UK.
If your licence has been granted post 6th April 2024, you no longer need to apply for the renewal of your licence as licences post this date are automatically extended by 10 years. If your company has an upcoming renewal or you fall under the pre-6th April 2024 update, we provide assistance on how you can continue to stay compliant.
Has the Home Office suspended your licence? We can assist your business with providing detailed representation to the Home Office to avoid suspension escalating to revocation.
Book a consultation with an IAA-registered adviser — we'll confirm eligibility, quote a fixed fee, and outline the timeline for your SMS-1 application.
If your licence has been revoked by the Home Office, this would indicate there has been serious breaches of compliance that have not been adhered to, resulting in the immediate removal of the business from the registered sponsor licence holders list. ICL can help you understand the reasoning for revocation and the next steps involved.
We provide assistance and detailed representation for those individuals and businesses involved. ICL will look to understand the reason for refusal, assess the eligibility and documentation, and provide advice on strengthening your case for reapplication or appeal.
Do you require assistance in requesting or assigning a certificate of sponsorship to foreign nationals who are being employed under the points-based system? ICL can assist businesses to ensure they are compliant with Home Office rules when issuing one.
As a sponsor licence holder, the Home Office may audit your company announced or unannounced. It is imperative your business remains compliant and adheres to its responsibilities. ICL provides assistance in a mock HR compliance audit with pre-audit preparation, ensuring you have an ongoing compliance strategy to fulfil your responsibilities as a sponsor.
ICL provides comprehensive training for both L1 and L2 users of SMS to avoid licence breaches. The training provided will ensure your team understands how to use the system correctly, effectively and efficiently.
We provide training for businesses and educational establishments who require up-to-date training. Training your HR department or your internal team is crucial to ensure all internal processes are streamlined and compliant with Home Office regulations.
We provide assistance in managing your sponsor licence to ensure you are compliant in all aspects. Failure to meet your licence obligations can result in the licence being downgraded, audited, suspended or revoked. ICL provides a service of managing, monitoring and ensuring compliance throughout the duration of your SMS.
Are you a sponsor licence holder and unsure of all of your responsibilities and duties? Do you need assistance in understanding and navigating your SMS? We provide a refresher course or training module with a step-by-step manual on how you remain compliant.
FAQs
A UK sponsor licence is Home Office approval that allows a UK business to employ foreign nationals under the points-based immigration system — including Skilled Worker, Expansion Worker, and related visa routes. Employers need one before they can issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to any overseas hire. Immigration Consultants Ltd supports employers through the full application from start to finish.
Sponsor licences granted after 6 April 2024 are automatically extended for 10 years — no separate renewal application is required. Licences granted before that date still fall under the previous renewal rules, and ICL provides ongoing compliance support to help those employers stay compliant with Home Office duties for the remainder of their licence term.
A suspension is usually the Home Office's first step when compliance concerns arise; a revocation means the business has been removed from the register of licensed sponsors, often after serious or repeated breaches. ICL provides detailed representation in both cases — reviewing the reason for action, gathering evidence, and preparing responses to challenge the Home Office decision or agree remedial steps to restore the licence.
To apply for a UK sponsor licence with Immigration Consultants Ltd, book an appointment through the website at immigration-consultants.co.uk/book-appointment, or contact the team on 07856241359 or info@immigration-consultants.co.uk. In the first consultation, an IAA-registered adviser confirms your eligibility, identifies the visa routes you want to sponsor (for example, Skilled Worker or Expansion Worker), and quotes a fixed fee. ICL then prepares the SMS-1 application, gathers supporting documents, drafts the covering representations, and submits the case to the Home Office. Once granted, the team can also provide SMS Level 1 and 2 training, Certificate of Sponsorship assistance, and ongoing compliance management to help you meet your sponsor duties throughout the 10-year licence term.
From licence applications to compliance audits and Home Office suspension defence — speak to Immigration Consultants Ltd about the full sponsor licence lifecycle.