UK visa sponsorship for employers
Apply for your licence
You need to apply online for your licence.
Once you’ve finished the online application, you need to send in:
- the submission sheet at the end of the application
- your supporting documents, if you’re asked to
Any affidavits or statutory declarations you send must be witnessed by a qualified, independent person - for example, a solicitor, Notary Public, Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Oaths, or (in Scotland only) a Councillor.
How to send the documents
You can scan or take pictures of your submission sheet and supporting documents. Send them to the email address given on the submission sheet. Make sure your files:
- are in PDF, JPEG or PNG format
- have descriptive titles, with 25 or fewer characters
- are high enough quality to be read
If your documents are not in English or Welsh, you must include a certified translation - there’s more information in the supporting evidence guidance for sponsors.
If you cannot scan and send the documents by email, contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) using the contact details on the submission sheet.
Licence fees
You need to pay a fee when you apply. The fee depends on the type of licence you’re applying for and what type of organisation you are.
| Type of licence | Fee for small or charitable sponsors | Fee for medium or large sponsors |
|---|---|---|
| Worker | £536 | £1,476 |
| Temporary Worker | £536 | £536 |
| Worker and Temporary Worker | £536 | £ 1,476 |
| Add a Worker licence to an existing Temporary Worker licence | No fee | £940 |
| Add a Temporary Worker licence to an existing Worker licence | No fee | No fee |
How to tell if you’re a small or charitable sponsor
You’re usually a small sponsor if at least 2 of the following apply:
- your annual turnover is £10.2 million or less
- your total assets are worth £5.1 million or less
- you have 50 employees or fewer
You’re a charitable sponsor if you’re:
- a registered charity in England or Wales
- a registered charity in Scotland
- a registered charity in Northern Ireland - if you’re not on the register, you must provide proof of your charitable status for tax purposes from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
- an excepted charity
- an exempt charity
- an ecclesiastical corporation established for charitable purposes
If you’re not sure which category your business fits into, contact the Business Helpdesk:
Business Helpdesk
[email protected]
How long it takes to get a decision
Most applications are dealt with in less than 8 weeks. UKVI may need to visit your business.
You may be able to pay an extra £500 to get a decision within 10 working days. This service is limited to a small number of applications every working day. Faster decisions are allocated in the order that requests arrive (first come, first served).
You’ll be told how to ask for a faster decision after you apply.
Applications refused because of a mistake
You can apply to request a review of your application if you think it was refused because:
- the caseworker processing your application made a mistake
- your supporting documents were not considered
You cannot apply just because you disagree with the decision.
Help and advice
Sponsors can get advice from the sponsorship, employer and education helpline:
Sponsorship, employer and education helpline
Telephone: 0300 123 4699
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm
Find out about call charges
You can also join the premium customer service scheme to get extra support from a licence manager - this costs at least £8,000 a year.
UK businesses and Tier 1 (Investors) can get help from the Business Helpdesk:
Business Helpdesk
[email protected]