At First Law Solicitors, we deliver precise, strategic, and commercially focused legal support for businesses seeking to obtain or maintain a Sponsor Licence under the United Kingdom’s Points-Based Immigration System.
Our solicitors combine deep technical knowledge with practical business awareness, guiding employers through every stage of the process from eligibility assessment to digital compliance and inspection readiness. Based in Manchester and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA ID No 665823), we represent clients across the UK and globally, providing secure, data-driven immigration management aligned with the Immigation Rules.
A Sponsor Licence allows a UK business to lawfully employ overseas nationals under routes such as the Skilled Worker and Global Business Mobility categories.
To qualify, the Home Office must be satisfied that your business is genuine, financially stable, and capable of fulfilling its sponsor duties. This includes the ability to monitor sponsored workers, maintain accurate employment records, and comply with reporting obligations.
Our solicitors manage every aspect of the application process, ensuring full compliance with Appendix Sponsor and the latest digital verification standards introduced under the Data Use and Access Act 2025.
Sponsor licences are now granted on an indefinite basis with automatic 10-year rolling extensions, replacing the former four-year renewal cycle. However, the Home Office has strengthened its oversight powers through Digital Compliance Evidence Reviews (DCER) and unannounced audits.
These reviews verify that sponsors are maintaining real-time accuracy in their reporting, HR systems, and right-to-work checks. Our firm prepares clients for these assessments through internal audits, detailed documentation reviews, and ongoing Key Personnel training.
We also ensure compliance with the 2026 Digital Identity Verification (IDV) and Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) standards now used in all Sponsor Management System submissions.
As of January 2026, the Skilled Worker route operates under a dual-threshold model:
General Salary Threshold: £41,700 per year or the “going rate” for the occupation, whichever is higher.
Hourly Rate Floor: £17.13 per hour, which must be met regardless of the total annual salary figure.
If the hourly calculation falls below this minimum, the application will be refused even if the annual salary meets the general threshold.
Health and Care roles continue to operate under national pay scales with adjusted minimums of £25,000 or £31,300 depending on the specific role.
Our solicitors verify both salary compliance and occupational coding to ensure each Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) meets Appendix Skilled Occupations and the July 2025 reforms.
The Home Office’s July 2025 reforms raised the baseline skill level for most new Skilled Worker roles to RQF Level 6, equivalent to degree-level qualifications.
Roles at RQF Levels 3 to 5 can only be sponsored if they appear on either the Temporary Shortage List (TSL) or the Immigration Salary List (ISL).
Workers sponsored under these temporary provisions are now subject to tighter restrictions, including the prohibition on bringing dependants to the UK.
We guide employers through these complex eligibility criteria, helping them determine whether a role qualifies under the permitted occupation lists and structuring recruitment plans to remain compliant with 2026 immigration policy.
Since late 2024, the Home Office has applied a strict zero-tolerance rule regarding sponsorship cost recovery.
Sponsors may not deduct or recoup the Sponsor Licence fee or Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) fee from the worker under any circumstances. Attempting to reclaim these costs, whether through salary deductions or private agreements, is automatic grounds for licence suspension or revocation.
Employers may, however, continue to recover the Visa Application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) from sponsored workers if agreed in writing.
Our solicitors help draft compliant cost policies and employee contracts that protect your business while satisfying Home Office enforcement standards.
The Sponsor Management System is the online platform through which businesses manage sponsored workers, issue Certificates of Sponsorship, and report changes.
Following the 2025 upgrade, the SMS now integrates digital verification features including IDV and QES for authorising submissions. We ensure your system setup is secure, user permissions are accurate, and compliance records are correctly maintained to prevent data breaches or licence downgrades.
Holding a Sponsor Licence carries long-term responsibility. The Home Office expects continuous compliance, not just one-time accuracy.
We provide ongoing support through:
Our goal is to ensure your organisation remains fully protected, inspection-ready, and positioned for international recruitment success.
Our processes are fully compliant with the Data Use and Access Act 2025, which governs digital identity and data handling in immigration law.
All documents and communications are managed through encrypted client portals, ensuring complete confidentiality and legal integrity. This system eliminates manual handling risks and ensures that both business and employee data remain protected throughout the sponsorship lifecycle.
Strategic Expertise: Every case is overseen by a senior solicitor with over two decades of experience in business immigration and regulatory law.
Digital Precision: We use advanced digital verification and e-signature tools that meet 2026 Home Office standards for Sponsor Licence management.
Compliance Longevity: We build long-term frameworks that keep your business protected through continuous oversight and staff training.
Commercial Insight: We understand the balance between compliance and business efficiency, ensuring your recruitment strategy aligns with both immigration law and commercial objectives.
At First Law Solicitors, we do more than secure your Sponsor Licence. We protect the integrity, agility, and global reach of your workforce.
If your organisation is seeking to obtain, manage, or defend a Sponsor Licence, contact First Law Solicitors today for expert legal guidance.
Call 0044 161 224 4066
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