Sponsor Licence Advice in London

Initial consultation £75

A Sponsor Licence lets a UK employer hire eligible workers from overseas on routes such as Skilled Worker. PROVISAS in Putney, London. We help businesses and charities apply for and manage Sponsor Licences.

PROVISAS provides independent, regulated immigration advice and is not affiliated with the Home Office. Our fees cover professional advice and application support. Home Office fees and other disbursements are payable separately.

Our fee

From £2,000

Sponsor Licence application. Fixed fee for our work. Home Office fees and other costs are extra. Initial consultation £75. See all fees.

Who is this for?

  • UK companies and charities that want to hire overseas talent.
  • Employers renewing or restoring a licence.
  • Businesses that need help with Certificates of Sponsorship or compliance.

What do we do?

  • Assess readiness and key personnel roles for a Sponsor Licence application.
  • Prepare supporting documents and the online application.
  • Advise on sponsor responsibilities and help with Certificate of Sponsorship assignment.
  • Offer an optional annual compliance plan for ongoing guidance, including navigating the Sponsor Management System.

How does it work?

  1. Book your £75 consultation

    We discuss your hiring plans and whether a licence fits.

  2. Prepare the organisation

    Key personnel roles, supporting documents and advice on sponsor responsibilities.

  3. Submit the licence application

    We prepare and submit; the Home Office may visit.

  4. After approval

    We can help assign Certificates of Sponsorship and advise on ongoing sponsor responsibilities.

What are sponsors responsible for?

We advise on sponsor responsibilities. We do not create HR policies, record-keeping templates or a compliance handbook for you. In general, licensed sponsors are responsible for things such as:

  • Keeping the required records for each sponsored worker
  • Reporting certain changes and absences to UK Visas and Immigration within the set timescales
  • Carrying out right-to-work checks
  • Monitoring immigration status and attendance
  • Cooperating with Home Office compliance visits or digital checks

See the official guidance: UK visa sponsorship for employers: your responsibilities on GOV.UK.

How long does it take?

How long preparation takes depends mostly on how quickly you can gather your documents. We give you a clear checklist at the start and tell you what's still needed. The Home Office deals with most applications in less than 8 weeks and may visit your business first.

Common questions

How much do we charge for a Sponsor Licence?

We charge:

  • £75 for a single consultation
  • £2,000 for a Sponsor Licence package for small sponsors or charities
  • £3,500 for a Sponsor Licence package for large sponsors

The above fees are not inclusive of disbursements such as the Home Office's fees. Please refer to GOV.UK for up-to-date Home Office application fees.

If you choose to instruct PROVISAS following your initial consultation, the £75 consultation fee will be deducted from your agreed package fee.

Is my business small or large?

A business will be considered a small sponsor if at least 2 of the following apply:

  • Your annual turnover is £15 million or less
  • Your total assets are worth £7.5 million or less
  • You have 50 employees or fewer

You can apply as a charitable sponsor if you are:

  • A registered charity in England or Wales
  • A registered charity in Scotland
  • A registered charity in Northern Ireland
  • An exempt charity
  • An excepted charity
  • An ecclesiastical corporation established for charitable purposes

Any sponsor that is not small or charitable is a large sponsor.

How long does a Sponsor Licence take?

The Home Office deals with most applications in less than 8 weeks and may visit your business first. A paid priority service may be available for a faster decision when places exist.

What is a Certificate of Sponsorship?

A CoS is the electronic record your organisation assigns to a worker so they can apply for a sponsored visa. We can help you assign a CoS for £250.

Do you offer ongoing compliance help?

Yes. Our sponsor compliance plan is £1,000 a year and provides ongoing guidance on sponsor responsibilities and navigating the Sponsor Management System.

Official sources

Where we mention Home Office rules or timescales, check the latest guidance on GOV.UK: