Sponsor licence application guide and document checklist
Most sponsor licence refusals come down to the evidence pack, not the business. This free guide sets out the Appendix A documents, what belongs in the cover letter, and how to be ready for a pre-licence compliance check.
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What the Home Office is assessing
A sponsor licence application is a test of two things: that your organisation is genuine and lawfully operating in the UK, and that you can be trusted to hold the duties that come with a licence. The first is evidenced through Appendix A, where you supply at least four documents from a prescribed list. The second is assessed through your cover letter, your named key personnel, and, in many cases, a pre-licence compliance visit.
Refusals tend to come from the evidence pack rather than the business itself: a document outside its validity window, an address that does not match Companies House, or key personnel who cannot answer for the duties they have been named against. The application fee is £611 for a small or charitable sponsor and £1,682 for a large one, and it is not refunded on refusal, so this guide is the pack assembled properly first time.
What's inside
- The Appendix A document list. What qualifies, how many you need, and the combinations that work for a new company, a charity, and an established employer.
- The cover letter. What to include, and the points assessors look for when the application is not self-explanatory.
- Key personnel. Who can be named as Authorising Officer, Key Contact, and Level 1 user, and what each of them is signing up to.
- Pre-licence compliance. How to prepare for a visit before the licence is granted, including HR systems and record-keeping.
- Sponsoring someone straight away. What changes if you have a candidate waiting.
Sponsor licence applications: your questions answered
How many documents do you need for a sponsor licence application?
At least four from Appendix A of the sponsor guidance, and some organisations have to supply specific mandatory documents depending on their sector and structure.
How long does a sponsor licence application take?
An application can take up to eight weeks to decide. A pre-licence compliance visit can extend that, and a priority service is available in limited numbers each day.
How much does a sponsor licence cost?
From 8 April 2026 the application fee is £611 for a small or charitable sponsor and £1,682 for a large sponsor. Assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship costs £525 on top, and the Immigration Skills Charge applies to most Skilled Worker sponsorships, including Health and Care Worker roles.
Do you need employer's liability insurance?
Yes, with a minimum of £5 million of cover from an authorised insurer. It is one of the documents most commonly accepted as Appendix A evidence.
What happens if a sponsor licence application is refused?
There is no right of appeal. Depending on the reason for refusal, a cooling-off period can apply before you are able to apply again, which is why the evidence pack is worth getting right first time.
Who has to be named on the licence?
An Authorising Officer, a Key Contact, and at least one Level 1 user. The Authorising Officer is the person the Home Office holds responsible for the licence.
Who this guide is for
Employers applying for their first sponsor licence, and the HR lead, finance lead, or founder assembling the evidence. If you already hold a licence and are preparing for a compliance visit rather than an application, the Home Office audit checklist is the better starting point.
About Borderless
Borderless is the UK platform for sponsor licence holders. We run Certificates of Sponsorship, visa applications, right to work checks, and ongoing compliance in one place, for over 500 employers and more than 13,000 sponsored workers across every sector that sponsors.
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