Sponsor Licence Application Lawyer in Bedford: Hire Overseas Workers With Confidence
Struggling to fill a skilled role and ready to recruit from abroad? Basharat Hussain, an IAA regulated Immigration Lawyer at 93 Ford End Road, Bedford, helps local employers apply for a Home Office sponsor licence and set up the HR systems that keep it safe.
Readiness checks, full applications and compliance support on fixed fees from £450, for restaurants, care providers, IT firms, retailers and other Bedfordshire businesses.
Quick answer: what is a sponsor licence?
A sponsor licence is Home Office permission for a UK employer to hire workers from overseas on visas such as the Skilled Worker visa. You apply online and send supporting documents about your business. The fee is £611 for small businesses and £1,682 for larger ones, and most decisions take up to 8 weeks. You must name key personnel, have proper HR systems, and offer genuine jobs that meet the skill and salary rules. Licences no longer need renewing, but you must keep to your sponsor duties.
Sponsor licence at a glance
| Licence fee | £611 small business or charity; £1,682 medium or large business |
|---|---|
| Decision time | Usually within 8 weeks; priority service £750 for 10 working days, where available |
| Validity | No expiry or renewal since 6 April 2024 |
| Key personnel | Authorising Officer, Key Contact and Level 1 User |
| Supporting documents | Usually at least 4 from the Home Office Appendix A list |
| Rating after grant | A-rated; can be downgraded to B-rated if duties are not met |
Written and reviewed by Basharat Hussain, IAA regulated Immigration Lawyer (Ref F201800051). Rules and fees checked October 2026 against GOV.UK sponsor guidance.
Can your business get a sponsor licence?
The Home Office wants to see a genuine, lawfully operating UK business that can be trusted to manage sponsored staff. Size does not matter: sole traders, partnerships, limited companies and charities can all apply.
- Your business is registered and trading in the UK, with the right licences for your sector
- Key personnel have no unspent relevant criminal convictions and no history of immigration breaches
- You have a real vacancy that meets the skill level and pay rules for sponsorship
- You have HR systems to monitor sponsored workers and report changes
Since July 2025, most sponsored jobs must be at degree level (RQF 6) and, since January 2026, new Skilled Worker applicants need B2 English. Many roles that businesses sponsored before, including lower-skilled care and hospitality jobs, no longer qualify, so check the role first.
Key personnel you must appoint
- Authorising Officer: a senior person, usually a director or owner, who is responsible for the licence and how it is used.
- Key Contact: the main point of contact with the Home Office.
- Level 1 User: manages the online Sponsor Management System day to day, including assigning certificates of sponsorship.
In a small business, one person can fill all three roles. They must normally be based in the UK, and they cannot be someone you plan to sponsor.
Documents the Home Office expects
You send supporting documents from the Appendix A list within 5 working days of submitting the online form. The exact list depends on your business type and sector, but common examples include:
- Employer’s liability insurance certificate
- Recent business bank statement
- Proof of HMRC registration as an employer (PAYE)
- VAT registration, a lease for your premises or audited accounts
- Sector licences, such as CQC registration for care providers or a premises licence for restaurants
Source: GOV.UK Appendix A supporting documents.
Why an accountant checks your sponsor application
Caseworkers look closely at whether a business can genuinely afford the role. Basharat, who is also an accountant, reviews:
- Payroll and PAYE records, to confirm the business can pay the salary offered
- Bank statements and accounts, to show active trading
- Budgets for licence fees, certificates and the Immigration Skills Charge
- Contracts and payslip set-up so sponsored pay matches the certificate
Total costs of sponsoring a worker
| Cost | Small sponsor | Medium or large sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsor licence (one-off) | £611 | £1,682 |
| Certificate of sponsorship, per worker | £525 | £525 |
| Immigration Skills Charge, per worker per year | £480 | £1,320 |
The Immigration Skills Charge rose by 32% on 16 December 2025 and is paid up front for the full length of the certificate. These employer costs cannot be passed on to the worker. Source: GOV.UK Immigration Skills Charge.
Your duties once you are licensed
Getting the licence is the start. The Home Office expects sponsors to act as a partner in immigration control, and it can visit at any time.
- Carry out and keep right to work checks for every employee, not just sponsored staff
- Keep copies of passports, contracts, payslips and contact details for sponsored workers
- Report certain changes, such as a worker leaving or a pay cut, within 10 working days
- Pay sponsored workers at least the salary on their certificate
- Tell the Home Office about major changes to your business, such as a sale or change of address
Mistakes can lead to a downgrade to a B rating, suspension or revocation of your licence, and penalties of up to £60,000 per illegal worker. Source: GOV.UK sponsor responsibilities.
Help at every stage
From the first overseas hire to growing a sponsored team, the support you need changes over time.
Skilled Worker
The main route for graduate-level roles. Our work visa page covers what your new hire needs.
Work visaExpanding into the UK
Overseas companies opening a UK branch use the UK Expansion Worker route before they hire locally.
Business visaCompliance health check
A mock Home Office audit of your right to work checks, records and reporting.
Sponsor dutiesHiring more staff
Request extra certificates of sponsorship and plan costs as your team grows.
Employer costsFixed-fee sponsor licence packages
Three levels of help for employers, all handled by Basharat Hussain. From £450, agreed in writing before any work starts.
Expert Check
Best for you if… Your case is simple and you are happy to prepare and submit the application yourself. You just want an expert to check it first.
- One-to-one consultation (office, phone or video)
- Your case and documents reviewed by an IAA-regulated immigration lawyer
- Sponsor duties, right-to-work and HR records reviewed
- Every weak point identified, with clear advice on how to fix it
- Personal document checklist for your route
- Email support throughout your review
You prepare and submit the application yourself. Re-check after corrections is included in Gold.
Select SilverFull Review & Re-check
Best for you if… You want it right first time. You make the corrections and we re-check everything before you submit.
- Everything in Silver
- Line-by-line review of your form and every document
- We re-check your application after you make corrections
- Email support plus phone support when you need it
Submit with confidence, knowing an expert has checked it twice.
Select GoldComplete Peace of Mind
Best for you if… You have a previous refusal or a complex history, or you simply want us to handle everything for you.
- Everything in Gold
- We prepare every part of your application for you
- We upload your documents and submit on your behalf
- Unlimited support by phone, WhatsApp and email until the decision
Smooth, stress-free and fully managed. Our most popular choice.
Select PlatinumGet started for just £50
A £50 working fee gets your case moving today. We study your case, review your documents and recommend the right package for you. Your package fee is then confirmed in writing, with no surprises and no obligation to continue.
- ✓ Just £50 to get started
- ✓ Expert case study first
- ✓ Clear fee in writing
Note: Package prices are starting fees. Every case is different, so your final fee is confirmed in writing once we have assessed your case. Home Office fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge are paid separately.
Silver suits…
Employers still deciding whether sponsorship is worth it for a particular role.
Gold suits…
Businesses with an HR team who have prepared the application and want an expert check.
Platinum suits…
Small and family businesses applying for the first time, or after a previous refusal.
After the licence: assigning a certificate of sponsorship and supporting the worker’s visa is £300 per worker. A compliance health check for existing sponsors is £450.
Not included: the Home Office licence fee, certificate of sponsorship fees, the Immigration Skills Charge, priority service fees and the worker’s own visa fee and health surcharge. If a licence is suspended or revoked and needs a legal challenge, we will refer you to a solicitor or barrister.
From vacancy to licence
We look at the immigration rules and your business records together, so nothing is missed when the Home Office checks.
Check the role
We confirm that the job you want to fill meets the skill level and salary rules before you spend anything on fees.
Audit your HR
We review right to work checks, contracts and record keeping so your business is ready for a Home Office visit.
Prepare the application
We gather the supporting documents, set up key personnel and complete the online application with you.
Stay compliant
After the licence is granted, we help you assign certificates and understand your reporting duties.
Local, regulated and numbers-literate
Regulated by the IAA
Immigration Inn is on the official adviser register, so your business gets regulated advice, not guesswork.
Accountant on hand
Payroll, PAYE and affordability questions are answered in the same meeting as the immigration ones.
Based in Bedford
We can meet at our office on Ford End Road or at your premises in Bedfordshire.
Rated 4.9 by clients
58 Google reviews from people and families we have helped with their visas.
Already found your candidate?
Once your licence is in place, your new hire applies for their visa. Our work visa page explains what they need.
Work visa BedfordSponsor licence questions
Thinking about sponsoring a worker? Call 01234 962804, Monday to Friday, or on Saturdays by appointment.
Answers reviewed by Basharat Hussain, IAA regulated Immigration Lawyer. Last reviewed: October 2026. Check the current Home Office fees and sponsor guidance on GOV.UK.
Speak to a sponsor licence lawyer in Bedford
Tell us about your business, the role you want to fill and when you need the person to start. We will tell you whether sponsorship is possible and what it will cost in total.
- 93 Ford End Road, Bedford MK40 4JT
- 01234 962804
- info@lightcyan-chinchilla-545260.hostingersite.com
- Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 18:00, and on Saturdays by appointment
We work with employers in Bedford, Kempston, Luton, Dunstable, Milton Keynes and Northampton.
