Guide

Sponsor licence application process

Treat the application as a compliance project, not a form. Most pain is in preparation, not the click path.

This is general information for employers, not legal or immigration advice. Rules, fees, and thresholds change — confirm the current position on official government sites before you act.

Last reviewed: 2026-07-28

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01

Guide section

High-level steps

1
Decide routes and roles: Confirm which worker routes and occupations you need.
2
Appoint key personnel: AO, Key Contact, Level 1 users with clear ownership.
3
Gather supporting documents: Follow the current GOV.UK list for your organisation type.
4
Apply and pay: Submit the online application and licence fee.
5
Respond to requests: Provide extra evidence quickly if asked.
6
Set up SMS: After grant, configure users and prepare for CoS requests.

Parallel track on GSH

You can source candidates while the licence is pending — but do not promise start dates that assume a granted licence and visa.

02

Guide section

Parallel hiring track

You can source candidates on GSH while the licence is in progress, but do not promise start dates that assume a granted licence and visa. Be transparent in the job ad and offer process.

Next step

Put this into action on Global Sponsor Hub

Start free with a company profile, connect roles you already advertise, or review Growth / Scale when you want on-platform applications and hiring tools.

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What's next

Common questions

Should we use a lawyer?+

For first licences, many employers do. A refused or delayed application costs more than advice in lost hiring time.