The Home Office offers a pre-licence priority service as a way to expedite the processing of a sponsor licence application, for an additional fee. If a request for the pre-licence priority service is successful, the sponsor licence application will normally be processed within ten working days following the submission of the relevant supporting documents.
Applying for a sponsor licence
When an organisation wishes to employ migrant workers, they need to have a sponsor licence in place. The organisation will need to meet the requirements for the relevant licence route and submit the licence application online. Sponsor licence applications are normally processed within six to eight weeks from submission of supporting documentation, however if the licence is required urgently, it may be possible to expedite processing.
Before applying for the pre-licence priority service, the organisation will need to prepare their licence application and their supporting documents. Depending on the type and size of the organisation, different supporting documents will be required. More information on making a Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence application can be found here.
The organisation will also have to consider who will be taking the key personnel roles on the licence and be able to understand and take on compliance duties in order to maintain their licence, once granted.
The Home Office application fee for the sponsor licence will depend on the type and size of the organisation applying for the licence. For small and charitable sponsors, the application fee is currently £536, and for medium or large sponsors, it is £1,476.
The pre-licence priority service
Should the organisation need their sponsor licence sooner, they have an option to apply and pay for the pre-licence priority service. The fee for the pre-licence priority service is £500 and a decision is normally made within ten working days following the submission of relevant supporting documents, and sometimes faster.
The priority slots have traditionally not been easy to obtain, with sponsor licence applicants having to log in each weekday morning at 08:59am in the hope of obtaining one of the 30 daily slots available.
As part of the changes implemented in November 2024, the reference in the guidance to a daily limit of 30 available slots has been removed, which could suggest that there is no longer a specified limit to the number of pre-licence priority slots available. We have since found the slots much easier to obtain.
Eligibility
In line with the Home Office guidance, to be eligible for this service the organisation must meet the following requirements:
- they must have applied for a sponsor licence in an eligible route(s) by registering and completing the online application form on the Home Office website;
- they must have paid the application fee and the priority service fee;
- they must have sent to the Home Office the submission sheet and all mandatory and supplementary documents for the work routes they are applying for as explained in Appendix A. This must be sent to the relevant email provided within five working days of paying the priority service fee for the application, or, if adding the priority service to an already submitted application, they must already have submitted their supporting documents; and
- if they want to add the priority service to an already submitted application, their application must not already be in the processing stage.
The Home Office guidance indicates several reasons why the organisation may not have the option to request the pre-licence priority service, such as:
- they are applying for an ineligible route;
- the Home Office has reached their daily limit of requests;
- they have submitted their application outside of the service operating times; or
- their application is already in progress.
It is worth noting that the Home Office processing times are never guaranteed, so if the application is slightly more complex and the Home Office requires further information or more time to consider the application, then the priority ten working days may not be met.
When and how to purchase
Priority processing of the sponsor licence application is normally available to be selected and paid for when submitting the licence application.
Should the priority service option not be available when submitting the application, the organisation has an option to log back onto their sponsor licence application account the next day and check whether the priority service is available. Once logged into the account, they should select ‘Finish incomplete applications’ and if the priority service is available, it can be selected and paid for.
The submission sheet will be generated, showing confirmation of the priority service, and that should be sent to the Home Office with the supporting documentation, if that has not already been submitted.
Pre licence priority processing times
The normal processing time for the pre-licence priority service is ten working days, and this processing period starts from the next working day after the request has been accepted and the organisation has paid the priority fee.
In some circumstances, the Home Office may not be able to meet the ten-working day timeline, either because they need further information or the application is considered complex and requires more time to be considered.
Should they not be able to meet the ten-working day deadline, the Home Office will inform the Authorising Officer by email. Depending on the circumstances and reason for the delay, the priority service fee may not be refunded. For instance, if the delay is a result of the organisation not providing the relevant supporting documents for the application, or failing to respond to a request for further information, they will not be eligible for a refund.
Sponsor licences: How our Immigration Solicitors can help
If your organisation requires legal assistance in relation to obtaining or maintaining a sponsor licence, resolving any existing compliance action, or assistance with Skilled Worker applications, we would be more than happy to assist you.
To speak with one of our immigration solicitors, please contact us or complete our enquiry form below.
