Sponsor Licence News: Changes to the Sponsor Licence Renewal Process
If you hold a sponsor licence it has always been the case that every 4 years you have to apply to the Home Office to renew your licence and pay a fee.
In this blog, our Immigration Solicitors report on the changes being made to sponsor licence renewal. These changes come into force on 6 April 2024.
UK Online and London-Based Immigration Solicitors and Sponsorship Licence Lawyers
For sponsor licence and immigration advice call OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.
Sponsor licence renewal changes
Some positive news for sponsor licence holders. On 24 January 2024 the Home Office announced that from 6 April 2024, it is scrapping the need to apply to renew your sponsor licence every 4 years.
If your sponsor licence is due to expire on or after 6 April 2024 you no longer need to apply to the Home Office to renew it. Instead, if your licence is due to end on the 6 April or later date, the licence will be automatically extended by 10 years. This is automatic and you do not need to do anything to get the 10-year extension.
If a sponsor licence is automatically extended the licence will not end unless your business actively gives the licence up or the Home Office revokes it.
If your sponsor licence is due to expire before 6 April 2024
Sponsorship Licence lawyers say that if you are in the unfortunate position of having a sponsor licence that is due to end before 6 April 2024 you will need to apply to renew it and pay the Home Office renewal fee.
If you do not renew your sponsor licence it will lapse. That means:
- You would need to apply for a new sponsor licence
- You would not be able to continue to sponsor your existing sponsored workers. They would have their Skilled Worker Visas curtailed
- You would not be able to recruit additional sponsored workers
- You would be in breach of right-to-work legislation if you continued to employ your sponsored workers. Without a sponsor licence the workers do not have a right to work for your business and you cannot continue to employ them
- If you continued to employ your sponsored workers in breach of the rules this would impact your ability to secure a new sponsor licence
Sponsorship Licence lawyers recommend that you check your sponsor licence end date to see if you will fall within the new rules or not. If you do still need to apply for a sponsor licence renewal then our Sponsorship Licence lawyers can assist you with that. Call us on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.
If you have applied for a sponsor licence renewal and the renewal date is on or after 6 April 2024
If you submitted a sponsor licence renewal application 90 days in advance of your sponsor licence expiry date and the licence expiry date is on or after 6 April 2024 the Home Office has said you will receive a refund of your licence renewal fee. Your licence will automatically be extended for 10 years from the end date of the licence.
Sponsor licence management
If the Home Office is no longer focussed on sponsor licence renewal applications Sponsorship Licence lawyers anticipate the focus of the Home Office will turn to sponsor licence compliance with reporting and recording duties. They therefore emphasise the importance of investing in bespoke training for key personnel or in the use of a professional sponsor licence management service.
How OTS Solicitors can help with all your UK sponsor licence and immigration law needs
Our Business Immigration Solicitors can help your business with all your sponsor licence, immigration and employment law needs from sponsor licence applications to sponsor licence management services together with specialist advice on sponsor licence compliance and Work Visas.
UK Online and London-Based Immigration Solicitors and Sponsorship Licence Lawyers
For sponsor licence and immigration advice call OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.
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