Skip to content
Global Sponsor Hub
Search jobs
All jobsOn-platform direct and external/source-site roles.External rolesAgency-submitted and source-site roles — apply on the source website.
Candidates
Candidates homeCreate a profile and find sponsored / relocation roles.Candidate Resource HubChecklists, templates, and practical actions.
Resources
Plan and compare
Guides & country hubsVisa, relocation, and job-search explainers.DestinationsDestination hubs, visa context, and side-by-side country comparison.Free toolsPlanning tools that use your inputs.
Browse
Company directoryLiveSearch employers, filter careers pages linked, and open company profiles.Mobility partner directoryImmigration, relocation, payroll, and settling-in services.Grow Your NetworkComing soonCurated community threads and networks are not yet available.
Articles
BlogArticles from Global Sponsor Hub.Expert InsightsNamed contributor articles.Global newsExternal mobility headlines.
Employers & agencies
Employers
Hire with applicationsPost roles and review people who apply on Global Sponsor Hub.Add careers websiteAppear in the company directory with a Careers page linked badge. Optional reviewed ATS click-outs.Employer Success CentreGuides, Hiring Hub, cost planner, and destination playbooks.International Hiring HubI need to hire for a role in another country — what do I do next?Employer plansOne-off posts, Growth / Scale plans, and talent search.
Recruitment agencies
Agency centreSubmit labelled external client roles on Global Sponsor Hub.Agency Resource CentreHow Global Sponsor Hub works, submit roles well, win clients & compliance.Agency pricingAgency Starter, Growth, and Scale (talk to us).
Partners
Be found by mobile talentList immigration, relocation, payroll, and coaching services.Partner Success CentreImprove profiles, trust, visibility, metrics, and lead response.Partner directoryBrowse live partner listings.Partner plansFree listing vs enhanced / featured visibility.
Pricing
Sign upSign in
Back to Employer Success Centre
  1. Home
  2. /Employers
  3. /Employer Success Centre
  4. /What is a sponsor licence?

Guide

What is a sponsor licence?

A UK sponsor licence is permission from the Home Office for an organisation to sponsor migrant workers on specific visa routes. With a licence, you use the Sponsorship Management System (SMS) to manage workers and assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

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

Explore employer tools→

What this guide covers

  • What the licence actually gives you
  • Key roles inside your organisation
  • Operating rhythm after grant
  • How it connects to hiring on Global Sponsor Hub
01What the licence actually gives you02Key roles inside your organisation03Operating rhythm after grant04How it connects to hiring on Global Sponsor Hub
On this page · 4 sectionsShowHide
  1. 01What the licence actually gives you
  2. 02Key roles inside your organisation
  3. 03Operating rhythm after grant
  4. 04How it connects to hiring on Global Sponsor Hub

In this guide

4 sections

What the licence actually gives youKey roles inside your organisationOperating rhythm after grantHow it connects to hiring on Global Sponsor Hub
01

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.

Licence vs visa vs CoS
ItemWho holds itWhat it does
Sponsor licenceEmployer organisationPermission to sponsor on licensed routes
Certificate of SponsorshipAssigned by employer to a workerLets the worker apply for a sponsored visa
Visa / permissionWorkerLegal right to enter/stay and work as approved
02

Key roles inside your organisation

  • Authorising Officer: Overall responsibility for the licence.

  • Key Contact: Main Home Office contact for the licence.

  • Level 1 / Level 2 users: Day-to-day SMS users who assign CoS and report changes.

Assign ownership early

Most compliance failures start with unclear ownership — not bad intent. Name the AO and Level 1 users before you hire internationally at volume.

03

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.

  • Pre-renewal: Start months ahead — do not discover expiry in a hiring freeze.

04

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

Put this into action on Global Sponsor Hub

Start free with a company profile, add your careers website for the company directory, or review Growth / Scale when you want on-platform applications and hiring tools.

Create free employer profileClaim existing profileAdd careers websiteView employer pricing

Need immigration or relocation support? Browse mobility partners or list your firm.

What's next

Related guides and links

More on this site: related guides, official government pages to double-check rules and fees, and quick links to jobs and partners.

Related guides

Guides that pair well with this page

  • Certificates of SponsorshipEmployer Success Centre guidance for sponsorship and international hiring.Open guide
  • Do I need a sponsor licence?Employer Success Centre guidance for sponsorship and international hiring.Open guide
  • Sponsor Licence CentreUK sponsor licence hub: eligibility, costs, CoS, duties, and renewals.Open guide

Official sources

Always verify with official sources

Visa rules and salary thresholds change. Confirm current requirements directly on government immigration portals before making any decisions.

Always verify with official sources
SourceWhy open it
UK — sponsor a workerOfficial government or regulator page—verify eligibility, fees, and forms there.

Official government or regulator page—verify eligibility, fees, and forms there.

Keep exploring

Everything in one place

Employer jobs stay on the hub. External roles open elsewhere but say so. Partners list in the directory. Guides sit next to search.

  • About Global Sponsor Hub
  • Search employer-posted jobs
  • External roles
  • Mobility partner directory

Ready to act

Explore employer tools

Common 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.

Create candidate profileClaim employer profile

Start with your task

CandidatesCreate a profile and find sponsored or relocation-supported roles.Post a direct roleReceive and manage applications on Global Sponsor Hub.Add careers websiteAppear in the company directory with a Careers page linked badge. Optional reviewed ATS click-outs.Recruitment agenciesSubmit clearly labelled agency roles for client employers.Mobility partnersList immigration, relocation, payroll, or settling-in services.PricingChoose employer, agency, or partner plans.

Get in touch

Use our contact page — we do not list email publicly to reduce spam.

Contact page

Where we are featured

Global Sponsor Hub - Find global jobs with visa sponsorship or relocation support | Product Hunt
Indie Hackers - Global Sponsor Hub
Selected Peachscorestartup
Global Sponsor Hub badge

Stay updated

Visa and mobility news, hiring updates, and product tips, roughly weekly. We never sell your address; unsubscribe any time.

Spam protection (Turnstile)

© 2026 Global Sponsor Hub, All Rights Reserved

Global Mobility JourneysProud member of Global Mobility Journeys