Business immigration solicitors in St AlbansGet a sponsor licence, hire from overseas, and stay compliant.
Fixed fees, agreed upfront.
- Fixed fees, agreed upfront
- Solicitor-led, St Albans office
- Reply within 1 working day
Sponsor licence application
£3,500+ VAT
£4,200 including VAT
- Included
- Eligibility check and advice on licence type
- Supporting documents checklist
- Online application completed for you
- Preparing you for a possible Home Office visit
- Setting up your key personnel
- Not included
The Home Office sponsor licence fee, Certificate of Sponsorship fees, and the Immigration Skills Charge are paid directly to the Home Office.
- Typical timescale
- Usually ready to submit 2 to 3 weeks after we receive your documents, plus Home Office processing
- Award-winningBest Immigration Lawyer in St Albans, Quality Business Awards 2023 (opens in a new tab)
- 4.9 out of 5From 100+ Google reviews (opens in a new tab)
- Since 2009SRA-regulated, no. 635480 (opens in a new tab)
- Fixed feesAgreed in writing before we start
- 1 working dayTo reply to every message
- English, বাংলা, اردو, हिन्दीLanguages we speak
What it costs
Fixed fees, agreed before we start. Home Office fees are extra and paid to the Home Office.
| Service | Our fee | Including VAT |
|---|---|---|
Sponsor licence applicationWhat's included
Timescale: Usually ready to submit 2 to 3 weeks after we receive your documents, plus Home Office processing | £3,500+ VAT£4,200 incl. VAT | £4,200 |
Sponsor compliance auditWhat's included
Timescale: Written report within 10 working days of our review | £1,750+ VAT£2,100 incl. VAT | £2,100 |
Monthly compliance retainerWhat's included
Timescale: Ongoing, monthly. Cancel with 30 days' notice | £300+ VAT per month£360 incl. VAT | £360 per month |
| Immigration consultation (30 minutes)With a solicitor. Credited against our fees if you instruct us. | £150+ VAT£180 incl. VAT | £180 |
Our fees are + VAT at 20%. They don't include Home Office fees, which you pay directly to the Home Office.
Other costs you'll pay
- Sponsor licence (Worker)£611 or £1,682
£611 for small or charitable sponsors, £1,682 for medium or large sponsors. Check on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
- Priority sponsor licence decision (optional)£750
Decision within 10 working days, where places are available. Check on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
- Certificate of Sponsorship (Skilled Worker)£525
Per worker. Check on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
- Immigration Skills Charge£480 or £1,320 a year
Per worker: £480 a year for small or charitable sponsors, £1,320 a year for medium or large sponsors. Check on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
Official fees have no VAT and are paid directly, not to us. Correct at 27 October 2026; the Home Office usually changes its fees in April and October. Estimates are marked "about" or "usually".
The Home Office sponsor licence fee, Certificate of Sponsorship fees, and the Immigration Skills Charge are paid directly to the Home Office. You must pay these yourself and can't pass them on to your workers.
Key stages and timescales
- Free call and fixed-fee quote: Usually within 2 working days of your enquiry
- Preparing your licence application: Usually 2 to 3 weeks after we receive your documents
- Home Office decision: Most within 8 weeks, or 10 working days with the priority service GOV.UK processing times (opens in a new tab)
The Home Office publishes current processing times for sponsor licence applications on GOV.UK. You need a licence before you can assign a Certificate of Sponsorship, so start early.
Your fixed fee, in writing, before we start.
Tell us about your situation on a free call and we'll confirm the fee that applies to you.
Book a free call for your quoteHow we can help
Is this you?
Not sure? Answer 3 quick questions or book a free call and tell us what's happened.
- You want to hire someone from overseas, or keep employing someone whose visa needs sponsorship.
- You already hold a sponsor licence and want to be sure you're meeting your duties.
- You want your right to work checks done properly for every member of staff.
How we help
Step 1: Get a sponsor licence
We check you're eligible, prepare your application and supporting documents, and help you get ready for a possible Home Office visit.
Step 2: Assign Certificates of Sponsorship
We help you check each role qualifies and assign Certificates of Sponsorship correctly on the sponsor management system (SMS).
Step 3: Stay compliant
We audit your records and processes against your sponsor duties, and can support you each month with a retainer.
Step 4: Right to work checks
We explain how to check every employee's right to work, so you have a defence against a civil penalty for illegal working.
Getting a sponsor licence
To sponsor someone on a Skilled Worker visa, your organisation needs a sponsor licence from the Home Office. Once you have an A-rated licence, you can assign a Certificate of Sponsorship to each worker. The worker then uses it to apply for their visa. Read more about sponsor licence applications.
Staying compliant
A licence comes with duties: keeping records, reporting changes on the sponsor management system (SMS), and checking sponsored workers are paid and employed as you said they would be. Our free sponsor compliance checklist shows where you stand, and a compliance audit looks at your records in detail.
Right to work checks
Every employer must check that each employee has the right to work in the UK before they start, not just sponsored workers. Most people who aren't British or Irish citizens now prove their status digitally, through an eVisa and a share code checked on the Home Office online service. A correct check, done and recorded before work starts, gives you a defence against a civil penalty if someone turns out to be working illegally.
Who will handle your case
Every matter is supervised by
Sony Sadaf Haroon
Principal solicitor, SRA ID 482574
Your matter is run by one of our SRA-regulated solicitors, with a caseworker preparing documents under their supervision. We'll tell you who your contact is when you instruct us.
Sony supervises our solicitors and caseworkers, and is the firm's Compliance Officer for Legal Practice and for Finance and Administration. She studied at SOAS University of London, was called to the Bar by Lincoln's Inn in 1997, and qualified as a solicitor in 2008.
Check us on the SRA register (opens in a new tab)In our clients' words
I would really recommend Sony Law for their professionalism, efficiency, understanding, and help…
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I contacted Sony to get advice after my settlement application was refused. Her professional advice helped us to decide what would be the best option for the next step. The whole process was very quick and smooth, the correspondence was fantastic, and I received a positive decision from the HO literally a couple of hours after all necessary documentation was sent off. I would really recommend Sony Law for their professionalism, efficiency, understanding, and help, and I will definitely go back in the future if needed. Many thanks, Sony!
Thanks to their expertise and support, I successfully obtained my visa without any issues.
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I am incredibly grateful for the exceptional service provided by this solicitor firm during my UK visa application process. From the very beginning, they demonstrated a thorough understanding of immigration law and offered clear guidance tailored to my specific situation. Their professionalism and attention to detail made the complex application process much smoother. They were always available to answer my questions, providing timely updates and reassurance along the way. Thanks to their expertise and support, I successfully obtained my visa without any issues. I highly recommend their services to anyone seeking assistance with UK immigration matters. Their dedication truly made a difference!
They explained everything clearly and kept me updated throughout the process.
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I used Sony Law after a recommendation from a friend, and they didn't let me down. They explained everything clearly and kept me updated throughout the process. There were no hidden charges, and they worked very hard throughout the case. I really recommend them, and the service was highly professional.
Would my business pass a Home Office visit?
15 quick questions to see whether your business would pass a Home Office visit. Free, with no sign-up.
Use the free sponsor compliance checklistNot sure which service you need?
Answer three questions and we'll point you to the right page, or just call and tell us what's happened.
Frequently asked questions
Do we need a sponsor licence to hire someone from overseas?
Usually, if they need a work visa such as Skilled Worker. You don't need one to employ people who already have permission to work, such as those with Indefinite Leave to Remain or a Graduate visa, but you must still check their right to work.
Which roles can we sponsor?
For Skilled Worker, the role must be at the required skill level and meet the salary rules. These change from time to time, so check the current rules on GOV.UK before you recruit.
What does sponsorship cost?
There's a Home Office licence fee, a fee for each Certificate of Sponsorship, and, for most Skilled Worker roles, the Immigration Skills Charge. Check current amounts on GOV.UK. Our fee is separate and agreed upfront.
Can we pass sponsorship costs on to the worker?
No. You must not recover costs such as the licence fee, Certificate of Sponsorship fee, or Immigration Skills Charge from your sponsored workers.
What is a right to work check?
It's a check you must do before anyone starts working for you, to confirm they're allowed to work in the UK. Done correctly, it gives you a defence against a civil penalty if someone turns out to be working illegally.
What happens if we don't meet our sponsor duties?
The Home Office can downgrade, suspend, or revoke your licence. If it's revoked, your sponsored workers' permission to stay is usually cut short.
Book a free 15-minute call
Tell us a little about your situation and pick a time. Our team will call you, explain how we can help and what it will cost.
It takes about two minutes. If you'd like us to help after the call, we send you a fixed quote in writing. There's no obligation.
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Booking does not create a solicitor-client relationship until we confirm we can act for you (including a conflict check).