Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Sponsor Licence definition

What does Sponsor Licence mean? In practice, a sponsor licence is Home Office authorisation that allows a UK employer or education provider to sponsor eligible non‑UK/non‑Irish nationals under the points‑based immigration system. Employers hold “Worker” and/or “Temporary Worker” sponsor licences; education providers hold a “Student” sponsor licence. The concept is grounded in the UK Immigration Rules (including the Skilled Worker, Temporary Worker and Student Appendices) and detailed Home Office Sponsor Guidance. A licence permits assignment of Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) for workers and Confirmations of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) for students via the Sponsor Management System (SMS). Key features include ongoing compliance duties: right to work checks,...

Judicial review of Home Office Workers and Temporary Workers sponsor licence decisions: refusals, suspensions, downgrades, revocations; merits, urgent interim relief, procedural fairness, investigation, negotiation and pre-action

Published by a LexisNexis Immigration expert

Practice notes

STOP PRESS:

This Practice Note is currently in the process of being revised to reflect amendments to the Sponsor Guidance that took effect on 6 March 2026. See the News Analysis: Detailed list of the Home Office’s Sponsor Guidance changes of 6 March 2026. A refusal by the secretary of state for the home department (SSHD), acting through the Home Office, to grant a Workers and Temporary Workers sponsor licence carries no right of appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), although a ‘pre‑licence error correction’ process has been available since 6 April 2016. Decisions to suspend, downgrade or revoke sponsor licences attract no right of appeal or review. Operating a sponsor licensing regime without an appeal to an independent tribunal has been held to comply with Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights 1950 (right to a fair trial). The Court of Appeal in R (New London College Ltd) v SSHD confirmed that judicial review was an appropriate and sufficient remedy in these circumstances. The criteria governing the grant, suspension or withdrawal of a sponsor licence are, at present, set out exclusively within the Home Office Sponsor Guidance...

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Shahjahan Ali

Merali Beedle

Shahjahan was recognised as a leading immigration solicitor by Legal500 from 2022 through to 2025. He has also been on the Lexis Nexis panel of immigration experts for over a decade. Formerly, Shahjahan chaired the London First Immigration Working Group.He has over 17 years’ experience advising clients on a range of immigration matters, particularly businesses, entrepreneurs, highly skilled individuals, investors, HNWI, executives and professional sportspersons.Shahjahan has an exceptional track record of success. He has helped international businesses establish branches in the UK and supported international recruitment in a range of sectors including finance, IT, healthcare, manufacturing and retail. He has also supported clients with investment, work and family based visas.Examples of Shahjahan’s work include:Advising HNWIs in relation to entry clearance, extension and indefinite leave to remain under the investor category.Supporting tech entrepreneurs with Global Talent visa...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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