Renew Your Sponsor Licence
Navigate the complexities of sponsor licence renewals with our expert guidance. Ensure your business remains compliant and competitive in attracting global talent. Discover bespoke solutions tailored to your organisation’s unique needs.
Our Clients:
Sponsor Licence Validity
Sponsor Licence Validity
A sponsor licence typically has a validity period of four years, offering organisations a relatively long window to engage in sponsoring employees. Renewal is an essential process to continue these activities seamlessly, making it crucial to keep track of the expiry date and start the renewal procedure well in advance.
If you want to continue to sponsor migrants, including existing sponsored employees, you need to apply for a renewal before your licence expires. Failure to renew in time can incur penalties, and any sponsored employees risk their visas being curtailed.
LICENCE RENEWAL
When Should You Renew Your Sponsor Licence?
When Should You Renew Your Sponsor Licence?
After 15 years working in immigration law for well-known London firms, Jay Moghal founded Rove Legal in 2020 with the explicit goal of providing quick, personalised services to clients, without the bureaucracy often experienced with larger firms. Since its inception, the firm has assisted an impressive host of individuals and corporate clients with everything from licensing obligations to settlement in the UK.
Adept, effective, and dynamic, Jay and his team of legal professionals are dedicated to helping you achieve your immigration goals in a stress-free and timely manner.
Seamless Renewal With Our Bespoke Services
Seamless Renewal With Our Bespoke Services
Secure a seamless sponsor licence renewal with Rove Legal. Renowned for our exceptional success rate in UK immigration cases, we’ve guided businesses of all sizes through this complex undertaking.
A dedicated senior partner will handle your renewal application details and compliance checks, all the while ensuring that each step aligns with UKVI’s rigorous standards. With our specialised focus on corporate clients and high-net-worth individuals, we know how to optimise the renewal process for both efficiency and effectiveness.
How Can We Help Renew Your Sponsor Licence?
What Makes Rove Legal Your Ideal Partner?
Get It Right First Time
Our team will assist you in assembling any supplementary documentation that UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) may require for your licence renewal.
Review of Your SMS Account
Prior to submitting your application, we will conduct a thorough review of your SMS account to confirm that all your licence information is accurate and up to date.
Preparing for UKVI Visits
To ensure a smooth renewal process, we’ll also prepare you for any potential UKVI visits. Our guidance will focus on ensuring you’ve met all your sponsorship obligations and have effective record-keeping systems in place.
TIME FRAME
Sponsor Licence Renewal Time Frame
Sponsor Licence Renewal Time Frame
The duration for the processing of sponsor licence renewals typically falls within a few weeks. If you’re keen on expediting this timeline, immediate responsiveness to any additional documentation or information requests from the Home Office can make a significant difference. Diligence in maintaining fully compliant SMS records and processes can also help smooth the way, especially if you are selected for a compliance review by Home Office personnel.
What Happens if You Don’t Renew on Time?
What Happens if You Don’t Renew on Time?
Failure to renew your sponsorship licence leads to immediate repercussions, affecting both your business and foreign employees.
If a sponsor does not apply for renewal, or if the renewal application is not approved, the sponsor licence will expire at the end of the 4-year period. If the licence expires, any sponsored employees may have their leave curtailed and may have to leave the UK if they cannot switch to another immigration category.
Automatic expiry of your sponsorship capabilities from the listed date
Loss of privileges to issue new and maintain current certificates of sponsorship
Potential curtailment of current employees' leave to remain
Possibility of a renewal application, although not guaranteed; otherwise, a new licence application is required
Home Office notification by the UK government's management information team if non-compliance is observed
Risk of legal penalties for unauthorised sponsorship
Our Process
The Steps for a Successful Sponsor Licence Renewal
The Steps for a Successful Sponsor Licence Renewal
To be able to retain your ability to employ international talent, you’ll need to renew your Sponsorship licence in a timely manner. The process involves several steps that hinge on the accuracy and completeness of your information in the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
Pay attention to renewal fees, which vary based on your organisation’s size. Verify the credentials for your ‘Authorising Officer’ and ‘Level 1/2 Users’, especially if there have been changes during your licence period.
It’s crucial to update your organisation’s new locations and maintain comprehensive employee records.
After paying the UKVI fee, you’ll receive a ‘submission sheet.’ Complete, sign, and send this sheet to the Sponsor Licensing Unit to finalise the renewal process.
To be able to retain your ability to employ international talent, you’ll need to renew your Sponsorship licence in a timely manner. The process involves several steps that hinge on the accuracy and completeness of your information in the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
Is there a streamlined application process available?
Certainly, if you have successfully renewed your licence at least twice before and have no previous issues with immigration compliance, you may be eligible for a streamlined application process. This could significantly expedite your renewal.
In case of streamlined licence renewal, the Home Office may not carry out the following checks. However, as a rule of thumb, you should be well-prepared in case they do wish to conduct further investigations.
- Review of Corporate and Insolvency Records
- Evaluation of Certificate of Sponsorship Utilisation
- Assessment of Licence Framework
- Examination of Visit History
- Review of Pending Change Requests
- Analysis of Risk Profiles
- Verification of Accreditation and Registration Details
- Assessment of Additional Trading Activities
- Referrals for Compliance Inspections
What to expect during a compliance inspection?
During the renewal of your sponsorship licence, you might be visited on-site by a Home Office Compliance Officer. The objective of this inspection is multi-fold:
- Verification of your adherence to sponsorship duties and responsibilities
- Evaluation of systems and processes ensuring sponsorship compliance
- Confirmation that details submitted in your sponsorship application are factual
- Assurance of your compliance in preventing unlawful employment
Additionally, the Compliance Officer may request interviews with the employees you sponsor. These discussions aim to authenticate personal details and confirm the proper execution of work conditions and sponsorship protocols.
To mitigate the risk of licence renewal denial, it’s imperative to prepare meticulously for this compliance inspection. Ensure your documents, procedures, and information are impeccably organised and readily accessible.
Fees and renewal costs
Fees by licence type:
- Worker Licence: £536 for small or charitable sponsors, £1,476 for medium or large sponsors.
- Temporary Worker Licence: £536, regardless of business size.
Criteria for Small Sponsor:
- Annual turnover is £10.2 million or less.
- Total assets are worth £5.1 million or less.
- Staff of 50 employees or fewer.
Facilitating Global Talent Acquisition for an American EV Automotive Company
Immigration Guidance for a US Law Firm’s UK Expansion
Sponsor Licence Application for UK CEO and Specialists in Renewable Energy Project
Global Recruitment Support For One of the Largest Vertical Farming Units in The World
European Private Equity Firm Expands in UK with Sponsor Licence & Global Mobility
FCA Regulated Bank Secures Sponsor Licences for Senior Leadership and Key Workers
Our Testimonials
Our Testimonials
This firm can only be described as excellent. Their knowledge of immigration law is second to none. The fast efficient way that they deal with situations is first-class professionalism at its very best. Once you have used Jay and his team you will never use anyone else.
Jay Moghal of Rove Legal is extremely professional and has deep and impressive knowledge of all aspects of immigration law and procedure. He is creative and a great communicator, fierce and energising, encouraging the pursuit of his clients’ cases with impeccable judgement. I would not hesitate to recommend Jay. His knowledge and professionalism shines through in every event.
Jay and his team assisted with switching over from a student BRP to a spousal one. All I had to do was show up to my appointment and take my fingerprints/photos. They handled the rest! What a dream.
Rove Legal were an absolute dream to deal with. Jay Moghal was our appointed lawyer and he was excellent to deal with. He ensured we submitted all of the required documents and when our application was delayed with COVID challenges he chased the UK Government to expedite the issue and ensure a successful outcome. Highly recommend Rove Legal and Jay to anyone who needs immigration to support.
Highly recommended. Jay is a thorough professional, who reviewed the case in depth, looked after all the aspects and his suggestions on what I should submit with the case were spot on. I don’t think my case would have been accepted without his help.
I had a very good experience with Mr Jay Moghal. I faced a couple of problems and appreciate his professionalism and transparency to deal with my issues and solve the problem. I highly recommend him.
YOU MAY WONDER...
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Sponsor Licence System (SMS)?
Sponsor Licence costs £536 for a small company or charity, and £1,476 for a medium/large company. Note You may qualify as a small sponsor if two or more of the following apply:
- Your annual turnover is £10.2 million or less
- Your total assets are worth £5.1 million or less
- You have 50 employees or fewer
How much does it cost to renew a sponsor licence?
Renewal applications cost the same as first-time licence applications; £536 for a small company or charity, and £1,476 a medium/large company.
When should I renew my licence?
You can apply to renew up to 90 days before your licence is due to expire, but we recommend you begin preparing for your application well in advance. Renewal applications are open for submission up to the expiry date of your licence; you do not need to have received the renewal decision before the licence expires, but you must have submitted your application on the SMS before this date.
Will my existing sponsored workers be affected if I don’t renew?
Yes, if you currently employ sponsored migrants, you will need to renew your licence, even if you don’t plan to hire any further overseas workers. If you do not renew your licence in time, your existing sponsored workers face their UK visas being curtailed.
How do I renew my licence?
Renewal applications must be submitted online through the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
Will the Home Office visit my business before renewing my licence?
We can’t say for sure whether UKVI will conduct a compliance visit or not. However, you should prepare under the assumption that they will, particularly if you have not received a compliance visit in the previous four years. We can help you to prepare for a visit from the Home Office, including a mock audit if required.
