Guide

Sponsor licence processing times

Processing times change. Build a hiring plan around ranges and buffers, not a single promised date from a blog post.

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

Plan in three stages

1
Licence decision: From submission to grant/refusal (plus time to gather documents beforehand).
2
CoS assignment: Defined vs undefined CoS availability can affect when you can assign.
3
Worker visa: Entry clearance or switching, plus biometrics and travel.

02

Guide section

Practical buffer

For first-time sponsors, many employers should assume multiple months end-to-end before an overseas candidate is at a desk — unless you already hold a licence and CoS capacity. Communicate this in offers and to hiring managers.

Use the Hiring Hub timeline view

The International Hiring Hub gives a planning-level timeline based on your chosen model.

Next step

Put this into action on Global Sponsor Hub

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What's next

Common questions

Is priority processing worth it?+

Sometimes, when a start date is commercially critical. Weigh the extra fee against the cost of an empty role. Confirm current priority options on GOV.UK.