Who’s Who Legal

If you already have a Sponsor Licence, the next step is making sure you keep it. Sponsor compliance is an ongoing obligation — the Home Office can suspend or revoke your licence if you don’t meet the rules.

We support sponsors by providing clear, practical advice so you understand your duties, avoid common pitfalls, and stay fully compliant. If you’re unsure what’s required, or just want peace of mind, we’re here to help.

A UK based business or organisation must hold a valid Sponsor Licence if it intends to:

• Hire non-UK nationals (including EU nationals without settled status)
• Assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to individuals applying under work visa routes
• Employ overseas staff on a temporary or permanent basis

You can apply for a licence covering one or more visa routes, depending on your hiring needs.

As a sponsor, you have four main duties you must meet to keep your licence in good standing:

1. Reporting duties: including notifying the Home Office of changes to a worker’s job title, duties, salary, absences, or end of employment.
2. Record-keeping duties: such as retaining documents listed in Appendix D, including job descriptions, payslips, contracts, and attendance records.
3. Complying with immigration laws: including sponsoring only genuine vacancies and ensuring all information submitted to the Home Office is accurate.
4. Complying with wider UK law: including employment law, right to work rules, and any sector-specific licensing or regulation.

We work with sponsors to review your HR systems, advise on what practical steps you need to take, and help ensure your processes are compliant from day one. We also provide ongoing support so you stay on top of your obligations.

Every employer must check that their staff have the right to work in the UK. For sponsors, the expectations are even higher. If you fail to carry out proper checks or keep records, you risk fines, civil penalties, or losing your Sponsor Licence.

We help businesses put the right systems in place, train key personnel on what evidence to keep, and deal with issues if you’ve received a warning or penalty.

You must appoint Key Personnel who will be responsible for managing the licence:

• Authorising Officer – senior person responsible for compliance
• Key Contact – point of contact with the Home Office
• Level 1 User – manages the Sponsorship Management System (SMS)

The Home Office can carry out compliance inspections before or after granting a Sponsor Licence — often without any prior notice. These visits assess whether your business is meeting its duties and has the right procedures in place.

We help you prepare for visits by reviewing your documents and processes, running mock audits or interviews, and ensuring you’re ready for any scrutiny.

If you’ve already had a visit and received a report or notice of concern, we can help you respond to the findings and take remedial steps quickly.

If the Home Office suspends or revokes your Sponsor Licence, it can have a serious impact on your business and employees. We provide strategic legal advice on how to respond and what options are available.

We can help you prepare detailed written representations, gather the right evidence, and explore your legal options — including requesting reconsideration or pursuing judicial review where appropriate.