NAM
NAM Solicitors
Your Legal Partner
We assist businesses applying for and managing Home Office sponsor licences. We advise on eligibility, key personnel, compliance duties and Home Office requirements — from the initial application through to ongoing licence management.
A sponsor licence is required by all UK employers who wish to hire workers from outside the UK (and for most work routes, the EU and EEA). Once licensed, sponsors have significant ongoing reporting and record-keeping duties. Failure to comply can result in licence suspension, downgrade or revocation — with serious consequences for sponsored workers and the business.
We do not guarantee the outcome of any sponsor licence application or compliance review.
Applying for a sponsor licence requires the Home Office to be satisfied that your organisation is genuinely trading, lawfully operating and capable of meeting its sponsorship duties. A pre-licence compliance visit may be carried out. We advise on eligibility, help you appoint the correct key personnel, and prepare the supporting documents for submission.
Required to sponsor workers under the Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker and most other work routes. We advise on eligibility and prepare your application end-to-end.
Required for educational institutions wishing to sponsor international students under the Student or Child Student visa route.
Required to sponsor workers under the GBM routes, including Senior or Specialist Worker and UK Expansion Worker routes.
Sponsor licences must be renewed. We advise on the renewal process, ensure your compliance position is sound and manage the submission.
Once licensed, sponsors must actively manage their Sponsor Management System (SMS), report changes in circumstances, carry out right-to-work checks, monitor sponsored workers' attendance and right-to-work status, and keep accurate HR records. The Home Office can conduct unannounced compliance visits at any time.
We review your HR records, SMS entries and compliance processes against the current Home Office Sponsor Guidance to identify gaps and reduce risk before a visit occurs.
We simulate a Home Office compliance visit — testing your records, staff knowledge and processes so you know what to expect and where to improve.
Practical guidance on using the Sponsor Management System, assigning Certificates of Sponsorship correctly and meeting reporting deadlines.
Advice on the records you are required to keep for each sponsored worker and the circumstances in which you must report changes to the Home Office.
If your licence has been suspended, downgraded or you have received a notice of intention to revoke, you must act promptly. The Home Office may curtail the leave of your sponsored workers if your licence is revoked. We advise on your options, assist with representations to the Home Office and support you through the process.
We advise on the basis for the Home Office action and your realistic options, including making representations to avoid revocation.
We draft and submit representations on your behalf where there are grounds to challenge a decision to downgrade, suspend or revoke your licence.
Immigration Skills Charge and CoS fees are payable to the Home Office separately and are not included.
If you have received a visit, a notice of downgrading or a notice of intention to revoke, time limits apply. Contact us as soon as possible.
Contact us to discuss your sponsor licence requirements.
From new applications to compliance audits and suspension advice, we can assist.