FOR ALL YOUR IMMIGRATION MATTERS

Sponsor Licence Solicitors

Securing permission to recruit overseas workers requires more than completing an online form. Our sponsor licence solicitors help UK employers assess eligibility, prepare supporting evidence and strengthen the HR systems needed to meet Home Office expectations.

Garth Coates Solicitors provides clear, practical support from the earliest planning stage through to submission and ongoing compliance. We review your organisation, proposed roles, key personnel and record-keeping arrangements before the application is made. Whether you are applying for the first time or addressing a previous refusal, our business immigration team can help you present a well-prepared case, protect your recruitment plans and proceed with clarity and confidence.

  • Specialist Expertise
  • High Success Rate
  • Outstanding Client Care
  • Proactive and Diligent Approach
  • Extensive Experience and Reliability
Contact us for a Sponsor Licence Application consultation

(Typical response time 2 business hours)

6,500 +

Successful Applications and Still Counting

31

Years of Experience in the UK Immigration Law

18

British Lawyers and Supporting Staff

25k +

Consultancy Services Provided and Still Counting
Established in 2008, Garth Coates Solicitors is a leading Law Firm in Immigration who can provide professional legal advice to ensure that your Application satisfies the strict requirements of the Immigration Rules. Our team of legal professionals offer comprehensive and considered advice to enable our clients to make informed choices. We strongly believe that our clients deserve the best; we take our responsibilities very seriously to ensure that client satisfaction is achieved by providing a professional yet friendly legal service.

We aim to resolve all immigration matters brought to us by working diligently and together with the client, keeping them informed of the progress of their case at all stages. Our outstanding success rate is maintained thanks to the high standard of our work.

If you would like us to assist you with your Immigration Matter, kindly click here to leave us an Enquiry. Alternatively, we can be reached via telephone at (00 44) (0)20 7799 1600 from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (UTC+00.00 London) every Monday to Friday.
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FAQs

A sponsor licence is Home Office permission that allows a UK organisation to sponsor workers under immigration routes. It is required when a business wants to recruit someone who does not already have unrestricted permission to work in the UK. Once licensed, the organisation can assign a Certificate of Sponsorship to a worker, who then uses it for the visa application.

The licence does not mean that every role or worker will qualify. The vacancy must meet the rules for the chosen route, including skill, salary and genuineness requirements. Before applying, employers should identify the roles they expect to fill, confirm that sponsorship is appropriate and ensure they can meet the duties attached to the licence.

Sponsor licence solicitors can assess eligibility, identify the correct licence routes and help prepare the application and supporting evidence. They can also review key personnel, explain sponsorship duties and check whether HR systems are ready for Home Office scrutiny.

At Garth Coates Solicitors, our support is tailored to your organisation’s structure, sector and recruitment plans. We can identify weaknesses before submission, organise evidence and explain any complex business model or role. Legal assistance is not compulsory, but careful preparation can reduce errors, inconsistencies and delays. It can be particularly valuable for first-time sponsors, start-ups, regulated businesses and employers that have previously received a refusal or experienced compliance concerns.

Companies, partnerships, charities and organisations operating lawfully in the UK may be eligible to apply. The Home Office considers whether the organisation is genuine, dependable and capable of carrying out sponsorship responsibilities. It may assess trading activity, structure, registrations, proposed roles and the suitability of the people appointed to manage the licence.

An application may be refused where there are concerns about immigration breaches, criminal conduct, unreliable key personnel or inadequate systems. Eligibility therefore involves more than proving that the business exists. You must also show that the organisation understands the rules and can maintain records, complete right to work checks, monitor sponsored workers and report relevant changes. We can review these areas before submission.

The documents depend on your organisation’s legal structure, trading history, sector and chosen immigration routes. Evidence may include bank statements, employer’s liability insurance, HMRC registration, accounts, proof of business premises or sector-specific authorisations. Regulated organisations may need evidence from the relevant professional or statutory body.

Appendix A of the Home Office sponsor guidance sets out mandatory and acceptable supporting documents. Evidence should be current, consistent and connected to the organisation named in the application. Differences in addresses, trading names or ownership should be explained. We help employers select the correct documents, identify gaps and prepare supporting representations where context is needed. The evidence should be ready before the online application is submitted.

A sponsor must be able to monitor sponsored workers and meet its reporting and record-keeping duties. The Home Office may examine how the organisation checks immigration status, stores employment documents, records contact details, monitors attendance and identifies reportable changes. Systems do not have to be expensive, but they must be reliable and consistently followed.

The right approach depends on the size and structure of the organisation. A smaller employer may use maintained spreadsheets and personnel files, while a larger business may use HR software and assigned compliance teams. Responsibilities must be clear, and evidence should be available when requested. We can review your processes, recommend proportionate improvements and help staff understand their duties before the application is made.

The Home Office aims to decide standard sponsor licence applications within several weeks, although times can vary. Processing may take longer if information is requested, the organisation has a complex structure or a pre-licence compliance visit is arranged. Employers should also allow time before submission to collect evidence, confirm proposed roles and improve HR processes.

A limited priority service may be available for a Home Office fee, subject to capacity and eligibility. Priority processing does not reduce evidential requirements or guarantee approval. Businesses should therefore avoid submitting an incomplete application simply to seek a faster decision. We can help plan the application around your recruitment timetable, prepare documents in advance and respond promptly to Home Office questions.

The Home Office application fee depends on the licence type and whether the organisation qualifies as a small or charitable sponsor or is treated as a medium or large sponsor. Fees can change, so the amount should be checked before submission. A further fee applies if an eligible employer obtains the pre-licence priority service.

The application fee is only one cost. After approval, an employer may need to pay for Certificates of Sponsorship, the Immigration Skills Charge and professional support. The worker will normally have separate visa costs and may need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. The cost depends on the route, circumstances and sponsorship period. We can explain likely charges before you proceed and help you budget accurately.

After approval, the organisation receives access to the Sponsorship Management System and can assign Certificates of Sponsorship where requirements are met. The employer must continue to comply with its duties throughout the life of the licence. These include keeping records, reporting changes, completing right to work checks and ensuring sponsored workers remain in genuine, compliant roles.

The Home Office can conduct compliance checks and take action where duties are breached. Depending on the circumstances, this may include an action plan, suspension or revocation. Compliance should therefore be part of HR and management procedures, not considered only when a worker is sponsored. Garth Coates Solicitors can provide advice, support licence management and help your team respond to rule changes or Home Office enquiries.

Garth Coates, Immigration Law Firm
Garth Coates

Principal Partner

A Message from Our Principal

At Garth Coates Solicitors, we provide expert legal advice and unwavering support across the full spectrum of UK immigration matters. Before qualifying as a solicitor, I worked within the UK Home Office (UKVI) as an Immigration Officer — a role that gave me valuable insight into the inner workings of the immigration system. Since then, I have gone on to represent clients at several of the UK’s most prominent immigration law firms, and later established this firm to deliver a more focused and client-centred approach.

Together with my senior legal team, we bring over 30 years of combined experience in the UK immigration sector. This depth of expertise enables us to successfully handle even the most complex and challenging cases — from visa refusals and judicial review proceedings to corporate sponsorships, family reunifications, and permanent settlement applications.

We are proud of our high success rate, earned through strategic thinking, meticulous preparation, and a commitment to delivering results. Our multilingual team of solicitors, caseworkers, and support professionals is well-equipped to serve a global clientele with care, professionalism, and cultural understanding.

At Garth Coates Solicitors, we fight for our clients’ rights and treat each case with the attention and seriousness it deserves. Whether you’re applying for the first time, facing an appeal, or unsure of your options, we are here to guide you with clarity and confidence.

Warm regards,

Contact us for a Sponsor Licence Application consultation

(Typical response time 2 business hours)