Sponsor Licence Expiry
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Disclaimer: On 24 January 2024, the Home Office announced via the Sponsor Management System that, from 6 April 2024, sponsor licence renewals would no longer be required for licences expiring on or after that date.
In practice, this means: All licences with an expiry date on or after 6 April 2024 were automatically extended by 10 years beyond their original expiry
If you have any queries or require assistance in relation to your sponsor licence, contact us.
What is Sponsor Licence Expiry?
A Sponsor Licence is a legal permission granted by the UK Home Office to employers who want to hire skilled workers from outside the UK. However, this licence does not last forever. It typically lasts for four years. When that time is up, the licence will expire, and your company will no longer be able to sponsor foreign workers unless it is renewed in advance.
Who is it for? UK Employers Holding a Sponsor Licence
This information is for any UK-based employer or organisation that holds a Sponsor Licence under the points-based immigration system.
It affects:
If your sponsor licence expires, you must stop all sponsorship activities immediately.
What Is the Application Process Like? Expiry Process of Sponsor Licence
There is no special application when your licence expires — instead, it simply becomes invalid on the expiry date unless you have renewed it in advance.
Here's what happens when it expires:
The licence is deactivated in the Sponsor Management System (SMS)
Your organisation is removed from the official list of licensed sponsors
Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) that were not assigned become invalid
Any assigned CoS that haven’t yet led to visa approvals become unusable
Your current sponsored workers may lose their visa status, unless they switch visa categories
What Are the Requirements? Sponsor Licence Compliance Before Expiry
Before the licence expires, the employer is still required to maintain full compliance with the rules, including:
If the licence expires, and you continue to sponsor workers or fail to report changes, you may be in breach of immigration rules.
Key Implications of Sponsor Licence Expiry
When your sponsor licence expires, it has serious consequences for your business and your employees:
You can no longer:
Your business risks:
Why Choose Bekenbey?
At Bekenbey, we help businesses:
Track licence expiry dates
Stay compliant with sponsorship duties
Understand the impact of expiry on operations and staff
Prepare a strategy to avoid HR disruptions
Whether you're an SME or a multinational, our legal team ensures you don't get caught by surprise.
What To Do If Your Sponsor Licence Expires
If your licence has already expired, here’s what you need to know:
You cannot sponsor any new workers
Your current sponsored staff may need to switch visas
You must apply for a brand-new licence if you wish to resume sponsorship
This will be treated as a fresh application, and it may take weeks or months, depending on the Home Office backlog and your compliance history.
Documents Needed
If your licence has expired and you plan to reapply, you may need to gather:
These help show your business is still eligible and compliant.
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Questions, Answered
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