Sponsor Licence application — what UK employers need to know.
This page is for general information only. PriorityCOS does not provide the sponsor licence application service or immigration advice. The same information — and the official application form — is published by UK Visas & Immigration on GOV.UK: Apply for your licence.
Who needs a sponsor licence?
Any UK business that wants to employ a non-UK national under the Skilled Worker, Senior or Specialist Worker, or Scale-up route needs a sponsor licence from UK Visas & Immigration. The full eligibility rules and application route are published on gov.uk/uk-visa-sponsorship-employers/apply-for-your-licence.
The summary below reflects the public GOV.UK guidance. It is provided for general information only and is not immigration advice. Whether your business qualifies, and which documents satisfy the rules in your specific case, must be determined by you or by a qualified OISC/IAA-registered adviser or SRA-regulated immigration solicitor.
Document checklist (per GOV.UK)
- Companies House registration & UTR
- Business bank statement
- Employer's liability insurance certificate
- VAT registration (if applicable)
- PAYE/Accounts Office references
- Lease or proof of trading premises
- Authorising Officer & Key Personnel CVs
Source: UK Visas & Immigration. The exact evidence required depends on your business type and is set out in the official guidance — always check GOV.UK for the current list before relying on this summary.
How we can support (non-advisory)
PriorityCOS provides administrative support only. Nothing below is regulated immigration advice within the meaning of the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA, formerly OISC) regime. Where regulated advice is needed, we refer you to a qualified adviser.
- 01
Initial information chat
A non-advisory conversation to understand your business and signpost the relevant Home Office guidance pages on GOV.UK. We do not assess eligibility or give an opinion on whether your application will succeed.
- 02
Document gathering support
We help you collate and organise the supporting documents you decide to submit, based on the published UKVI list. We do not advise on which documents satisfy the legal tests — that is for you or a regulated adviser to determine.
- 03
HR & process information
We share publicly available information about right-to-work checks, record-keeping and reporting duties so your internal team can set up systems. We do not interpret the rules for your specific circumstances.
- 04
Form-filling assistance
Administrative help completing the online sponsor licence application form using the answers you provide. You remain responsible for the accuracy of all information submitted.
- 05
Pre-licence visit preparation
General information about what a UKVI compliance visit involves, drawn from public guidance. Representation and legal preparation should be handled by a regulated adviser.
- 06
Referral to regulated advisers
Where your matter requires regulated immigration advice, we refer you to an OISC/IAA-registered adviser or SRA-regulated immigration solicitor. PriorityCOS acts only as a lead-generation introducer.
How our referral to a regulated adviser works
PriorityCOS is not registered with the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA, formerly OISC) or the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). For anything that counts as regulated immigration advice or representation, we act purely as a lead-generation introducer to a qualified third-party firm.
You are free to pick your own adviser from the public registers — you do not have to use anyone we suggest.
Our referral process — step by step
- 01
You enquire with PriorityCOS
We take basic, non-advisory information about your business and what you're trying to achieve. We do not assess the merits of your matter.
- 02
We identify a regulated firm
Where regulated advice is needed, we introduce you to an OISC/IAA-registered immigration adviser or an SRA-regulated immigration solicitor we work with.
- 03
Direct engagement with the adviser
The adviser contacts you directly, runs their own conflict and ID checks, and issues their own client-care/engagement letter and fee quote. The retainer is between you and them — not with PriorityCOS.
- 04
Transparent introducer fee
PriorityCOS may receive an introducer/referral fee from the regulated firm. This is disclosed to you in writing before you decide to instruct them, and it does not increase the fee you pay the adviser.
- 05
Optional administrative support
If you choose, PriorityCOS can continue with administrative tasks (document collation, form-filling assistance) alongside — but separate from — the regulated adviser's work.
Find a regulated adviser yourself
You can verify any immigration adviser or solicitor — including any firm we introduce you to — directly on the official public registers below.
- IAA (formerly OISC) registergov.uk/find-an-immigration-adviserSearch advisers
- SRA Solicitor Checksra.org.uk/consumers/solicitor-checkVerify a solicitor
- Law Society — Find a Solicitorsolicitors.lawsociety.org.ukFind by area of law
Providing immigration advice in the UK without IAA authorisation or an exempt regulator (such as the SRA) is a criminal offence under section 84 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Always check your adviser is on one of the registers above before instructing them.
Important: administrative support only — we are not immigration advisers
We are not immigration advisers. PriorityCOS does not provide immigration advice, legal advice, eligibility assessments, document review for compliance, recommendations or representation. We are not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA, formerly OISC), the SRA, or any other legal regulatory body.
Our services are strictly limited to: administrative support, document handling, booking assistance, and providing general, publicly available information (for example, links to GOV.UK guidance you have asked us to share).
We work only on the instructions you give us. You provide the information and documents, you make all decisions, and you submit your own application. We do not log in to your SMS account, communicate with the Home Office on your behalf, or act as your representative.
If you require immigration advice or legal guidance — for example eligibility opinions, which visa or licence to apply for, document review for compliance, refusals, appeals, judicial review, or contested compliance action — you must consult a regulated immigration adviser (IAA / formerly OISC) or an SRA-regulated immigration solicitor. You can find advisers on the public registers at gov.uk/find-an-immigration-adviser and sra.org.uk.
Want an informal information chat?
Non-advisory support only. For regulated advice we refer you to an OISC/IAA-registered adviser or SRA-regulated solicitor.