A Sponsor Licence is valid for 4 years after which it will expire. Sponsors can view their Sponsor Licence expiry date online via Sponsor Management System (SMS) and make an application to renew Sponsor Licence for a further 4 years.
UK Visas & Immigration tend to write to Sponsors at least 3 months before the expiration of a Sponsor Licence to remind them of the impending expiration date. However, it is ultimately the responsibility of the Sponsor to ensure that an application for renewal has been made correctly and in good time. Our expert business immigration lawyers are regularly instructed to act as Level 1 users which enables them to renew Sponsor Licences on behalf of business clients.
Requirements to Renew Sponsor Licence
If you are a business wishing to renew your Sponsor Licence, we would advise you to undertake proactive steps to ensure you are ready to submit an application. In some circumstances, the Home Office may visit business premises to ensure that sponsors are complying with their sponsorship duties and if their application for renewal is granted, they will continue to do so.
Before the submission of a renewal application, our business immigration solicitors can assist you with the following:
- Carry out a full mock Home Office audit to ensure that your HR systems and procedures are in order before a UKVI visit;
- Ensure you are aware of your sponsor duties and of any relevant changes in the Immigration Rules and Home Office Policy Guidance;
- Ensure you have the correct documentation in place to support any renewal application (should UKVI request the same); and
- Ensure that you are complying with your sponsor duties such as you are keeping accurate records of sponsored migrants and Right to Work Checks, you are reporting information to UKVI and you are complying with the law.
Our expert immigration lawyers are regularly instructed to assist in the preparation of Sponsor Licence renewal applications and can advise you of the options and services available to your business.
Failure to Renew Sponsor Licence
If the Sponsor Licence expires at the end of the period of its validity and it is not renewed, the organisation will no longer be a licensed Sponsor and its name will be removed from the Home Office’s public register.
The organisation will not be able to access their SMS online account, it will no longer be able to assign any more CoS and more importantly, if the organisation has any Tier 2 or Tier 5 workers, their leave in the UK will be reduced to 60 days.
Our expert immigration lawyers understand how vital migrant workers are to businesses in the UK and are on hand to advise on Sponsor Licence renewals to avoid any disruption to the organisation.
We are a government department for immigration and passports based in Middle Temple, London and our solicitors are fully authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Contact our professional business immigration team today and we can offer you a consultation in person or via telephone or WhatsApp so we can explore your options. You can leave us a message on our Contact Form or give us a call on 02032860857.