Sponsorship Licence Assistance for SMEs
With Us, Stay Sharper!
If your business wants to employ skilled workers from outside the UK, you will usually need a Sponsor Licence from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). Small and medium-sized businesses can apply just as larger organisations can, but the process involves detailed guidance, ongoing compliance duties, and real risk if it is not managed properly.
Sharper Labs Legal manages the sponsor licence process for SMEs from the initial eligibility check through to submission and beyond, so you can access the skilled talent you need with confidence. We also support licensed sponsors with their ongoing reporting and record-keeping duties, helping you protect your A-rating.
We charge flexible fees with no hidden costs. Note that UKVI may charge an additional fee when you assign a certificate of sponsorship for a Skilled Worker or Intra-Company Transfer visa, we will always explain any government fees separately from our own.
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The steps involved in this procedure
- 1
A healthy discussion
We start with a focused initial discussion between you and our team to understand your business and hiring needs.
- 2
Check your eligibility
We review your business against UKVI's sponsor licence guidelines to confirm you meet the eligibility criteria before proceeding.
- 3
Check job suitability
We confirm the role you want to sponsor meets the required skill level and salary threshold for the relevant visa route.
- 4
Choose the right licence type
We help you select the correct licence, a Worker licence for skilled or long-term roles, or a Temporary Worker licence for defined, time-limited employment.
- 5
Manage the sponsorship process
We manage your application through the Sponsorship Management System, assigning trusted staff as Level 1 and Level 2 users.
- 6
Submit the online application
We help you prepare and submit all required supporting documents as part of your formal online licence application.
- 7
Join the register of sponsors
Once your licence is approved, your business is listed on the UK's public register of licensed sponsors.
- 8
Meet your sponsor duties
We help you understand and meet your ongoing sponsor responsibilities, so your business avoids being downgraded to a B-rating.
- 9
Check ATAS requirements
Where relevant, we check whether sponsored employees need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate before their visa can be granted.
- 10
Obtain the certificate of sponsorship
Once every step is complete, UKVI issues the certificate of sponsorship, the electronic document your employee needs to apply for their visa.
Sponsorship Licence Assistance for SMEs, frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about this topic.
Any UK employer wanting to employ workers from outside the UK (excluding Irish citizens) under most work visa routes needs a valid sponsor licence from UKVI, regardless of business size.
UKVI aims to decide most sponsor licence applications within eight weeks, though a priority service is sometimes available for a faster decision. We help you prepare a complete application to avoid delays caused by missing information.
Licensed sponsors must keep accurate records, report specified changes (such as an employee's absence or resignation) to UKVI, and comply with immigration and employment law. Failure to do so can lead to your licence being downgraded, suspended or revoked.
A downgrade to a B-rating means you cannot assign new certificates of sponsorship until you complete an action plan to address the compliance issues identified. We help businesses respond to and resolve a downgrade as quickly as possible.
Your licence will cover specific visa routes, most commonly the Skilled Worker route. We advise on which routes your business needs and structure your application accordingly.
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