Sponsor Licence Duties and Guidance for authorising officers
Download our Sponsor Licence Duties and Guidance for Authorising Officers. How To Stay Compliant, Protect Your Sponsor Licence, And Support Ethical International Hiring.

Who This Guide Is For?
- You've been named the Authorising Officer on your organisation's sponsor licence. That's a big deal - and it comes with important responsibilities.
- This guide is your starting point: clear, practical steps to understand your role, reduce risk, and stay in control of your licence.
Why It Matters
- As the Authorising Officer (AO), you're the named person legally responsible for your organisation's sponsor licence. That means:
- You're accountable to the Home Office.
- You're responsible for ensuring your organisation meets all sponsorship duties.
- If things go wrong, your licence - and your sponsored workers - are at risk. Staying compliant is really important - penalties run to £10K per offense, and your licence could even be suspended or revoked.
That's why your role is about more than just admin - it's about governance, oversight, and compliance.