Most employers apply for a sponsor licence to use the Skilled Worker route. The Home Office's main concern is that the roles are genuine, meet the skill and salary rules, and that the business can meet its duties. The application should be prepared with the first roles in mind.

What the Home Office checks

The organisation is genuine and trading, with the documents to prove it.
The roles you intend to sponsor are genuine vacancies at graduate level (RQF 6), or on the immigration salary list or temporary shortage list, paying at least £41,700 or the going rate (correct on 13 October 2026).
You have the HR systems and key personnel to meet the sponsor duties.
Nobody involved has a history that makes the business unsuitable.

Certificates of sponsorship

Defined certificates for workers applying from outside the UK, requested one at a time with job details.
Undefined certificates for workers already in the UK, from an annual allocation set when the licence is granted.

The immigration skills charge

Most sponsors pay a charge for each Skilled Worker sponsored, per year of sponsorship, with a lower rate for small businesses and charities and exemptions for some roles. The charge was increased in 2025; we confirm the current figures when you assign a certificate.

Fee and timing

Licence fee £611 for small businesses and charities, £1,682 for medium and large organisations. Decisions usually take around eight weeks.

After grant

The duties on sponsor licences apply from day one. Most revocations come from record-keeping and reporting failures rather than deliberate abuse.

What we do

We check the first roles against the rules before you apply, prepare the application and documents, set up the systems and act in any audit or compliance action.