You do not need to be actively trading in the UK to apply for a Sponsor Licence, and there is no requirement for the overseas business to be fully established in the UK.

As of April 2024, there is no longer a requirement for Sponsor Licence holders to apply for renewal, meaning licences are now valid indefinitely. However, the Home Office retains the authority to suspend or revoke your licence if you fail to comply with sponsorship duties, such as maintaining accurate records, monitoring sponsored workers, or reporting significant changes in a timely manner.

Yes, if you hold a Sponsor Licence in the UK (typically for sponsoring skilled workers), it is possible for your sponsored employees to bring their dependants to the UK. However, you as the licence holder are not automatically granted any right to bring your own family unless you yourself hold a UK visa that allows dependants.

You can apply for British citizenship after 5 years in the UK.

To apply for citizenship, you must have a good reputation, pass a Life in the UK test, and prove your English level (B1 or higher). Also, 5 years prior to applying, you cannot leave the UK for more than 90 days.

The Application process has two stages:

1. Preparing and submitting the Sponsor Licence application – This involves gathering documents and applying online. Once submitted, the Home Office typically makes a decision within 8 weeks. There is also a priority service available for an additional fee, which can reduce the processing time to 10 working days.
2. Assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) and visa application – Once the licence is granted, the employer can assign a CoS to a worker. The worker then applies for a visa, and the Home Office usually provides a decision within 3 weeks.

You must assign the Certificate of Sponsorship within the validity period and apply for the visa shortly after, typically within 3 months.

If your Sponsor Licence application has been refused, you may submit an Appeal or you can re-apply (submit a new application).

Tech Nomads offers comprehensive case management for UK Sponsor Licence applications, including document preparation, endorsement acquisition, and visa application submission, along with eligibility assessment and consultation for Permanent Residency and British passport applications.

Our team provides ongoing support throughout both the initial application and future settlement processes.