Sponsor Licence Registration Process

In order to sponsor migrants under Tier 2 of the Points Based System, employers must be registered with the UKBA and hold a Sponsor Licence.

Before applying for a Licence, as the sponsoring employer, you must ensure you have an effective HR system in place which allows you to monitor the company's migrant workforce. You must also ensure that current employees have the right to work in the UK and that appropriate checks have been undertaken before any employee commences employment.

The application process involves:

• ensuring HR systems are compliant;
• an online application;
• submission of relevant documents to establish the employer organisation;
• obtaining the Licence; and
• preparing for a possible visit by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) Compliance Officers (this could be pre or post Licence submission.

If the Licence application is approved, employers are given either an A-rating or B-rating depending on their level of compliance or risk factor.  When the Licence is granted, the employer will be able to issue Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) for migrant workers.

A sponsoring company will also be required to undertake extra reporting duties under the Points Based System which includes keeping records on each sponsored migrant and reporting any change in a sponsored migrant's circumstance to the UKBA. Failure to do so may mean that your sponsorship Licence is downgraded from an A-rating to a B-rating or even withdrawn. If a Licence is withdrawn, you cannot continue to employ sponsored migrants.

It is also important to ensure that, as a sponsoring employer, you issue the Certificates of Sponsorship correctly. There could be serious repercussions for your organisation, including withdrawal of your Sponsor Licence, if this is not done.

What is said about us:

The business immigration team at Kingsley Napley is widely recognised as a leading immigration practice in the UK. 

• “absolutely superb” (Chambers UK, 2011),
• “top of the tree, with admirable depth and breadth” (Chambers UK, 2009)
• “genuinely ground-breaking work that requires this firm’s impressive brainpower” (Chambers UK, 2009)

Our clients

Our immigration team provides specialist immigration services to both business and individuals, with a breadth of expertise which is widely recognised. 

Our corporate clients include a range of major fund managers, banks, private equity firms, global energy providers, law firms, engineering and manufacturers. We also act for high net worth individuals including investors, entrepreneurs and celebrities.

Our Global Immigration Network enables us to provide our clients with immigration services in over 60 destination countries.

For more information please contact Nicolas Rollason at nrollason@kingsleynapley.co.uk.