On this page · 4 sectionsShowHide
What the licence actually gives you
It does not automatically grant visas. It lets your organisation act as a sponsor for eligible roles and routes you are licensed for. Each worker still needs a valid CoS assignment and a successful visa application.
| Item | Who holds it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsor licence | Employer organisation | Permission to sponsor on licensed routes |
| Certificate of Sponsorship | Assigned by employer to a worker | Lets the worker apply for a sponsored visa |
| Visa / permission | Worker | Legal right to enter/stay and work as approved |
Key roles inside your organisation
Authorising Officer: The most senior person responsible for recruiting sponsored workers and meeting your sponsor duties. They must be a paid member of staff or an office holder, and can't be an outside representative.
Key Contact: Main Home Office contact for the licence.
Level 1 users: Run the licence day to day in the sponsorship management system: assigning certificates and reporting changes. At least one must be an employee, director or partner who is a settled worker, such as a British or Irish citizen. Since 3 September 2026, Level 1 users sign in with a sign-in code (multi-factor authentication), so keep each one's email, mobile number and date of birth up to date. Level 2 users can no longer be added from 9 September 2026 and are removed after 8 March 2027.
Operating rhythm after grant
A licence without a cadence becomes a revocation risk.
Weekly: Level 1 reviews SMS tasks and upcoming worker changes.
Per hire: Open a compliance pack before CoS assignment; close it after day-1 RTW.
Quarterly: AO checks backups, headcount reconciliation, and training.
Licence health: Most Worker and Temporary Worker sponsor licences no longer expire or require four-year renewal. Keep key personnel, SMS access, sponsored-worker records and compliance controls current. UK Expansion Worker and Scale-up licences remain time-limited.
How it connects to hiring on Global Sponsor Hub
Once you can sponsor, label roles accurately on Global Sponsor Hub and keep salary, location, and sponsorship promises aligned with what your licence and route allow.
Next step
Start hiring
Create a free company profile. Connect your careers page for free international job imports, or post your first job free.
What's next
Related guides and links
More on this site: related guides, official government pages with the current rules and fees, and quick links to jobs and specialists.
Related guides
Guides that pair well with this page
Official sources
Official sources
The official government pages this guide is checked against.
| Source | Why open it |
|---|---|
| UK, sponsor a worker | Official government or regulator page with the current rules, fees and forms. |
| GOV.UK, Skilled Worker: your job | Official government or regulator page with the current rules, fees and forms. |
| GOV.UK, Immigration Salary List | Official government or regulator page with the current rules, fees and forms. |
| GOV.UK, Appendix Skilled Worker | Official government or regulator page with the current rules, fees and forms. |
Keep exploring
Everything in one place
Employer jobs stay on the hub. External roles open elsewhere but say so. Specialists are listed in the directory. Guides sit next to search.
Ready to act
Explore employer toolsCommon questions
Is a sponsor licence the same as a visa?+
No. The licence is the employer’s permission to sponsor. The visa is the worker’s permission to enter/stay and work.