Sponsor licence solicitors in St AlbansHire skilled workers from overseas.
We prepare your sponsor licence application for a fixed fee.
- 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
A fixed fee, 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 |
Monthly compliance retainer (once you're licensed)What'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. If you use a Home Office priority service where one is offered, that fee is extra too.
Key stages and timescales
- Free call and fixed-fee quote: Usually within 2 working days of your enquiry
- Preparing your 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)
- Assigning Certificates of Sponsorship: Once your licence is granted
The Home Office publishes current processing times for sponsor licence applications on GOV.UK. A pre-licence visit can add time, so apply well before you need your worker to start.
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 quoteIs this you?
Not sure? Answer 3 quick questions or book a free call and tell us what's happened.
- You've found someone overseas you want to hire, or a current employee needs sponsorship to stay.
- You're not sure whether your business, or the role, is eligible.
- You want your application and supporting documents right before they go to the Home Office.
What's included
Step 1: Check eligibility
We check your organisation, your key personnel, and the roles you want to fill against the Home Office requirements.
Step 2: Choose your key personnel
We explain the roles of Authorising Officer, Key Contact, and Level 1 User, and who in your business can fill them.
Step 3: Gather supporting documents
We give you a checklist of the documents your organisation needs to send, and check them before they're submitted.
Step 4: Submit the application
We complete the online application and help you send your supporting documents to the Home Office within its deadline.
Step 5: Prepare for a possible visit
The Home Office may visit before it decides. We help you get your HR systems and records ready.
Step 6: Licence granted
Once you have an A-rated licence, we can help you assign Certificates of Sponsorship to the workers you want to hire.
What makes a vacancy genuine
The Home Office must be satisfied that each role you sponsor is a real job your business needs, and that the duties match the occupation code you choose. It can refuse a role that looks created to help someone get a visa, or that doesn't match the skill level or pay you've described. Keep evidence of how you recruited and why the role exists.
Your key personnel
Your application names the people who will manage the licence. The Authorising Officer is the senior person responsible for how the licence is used. The Key Contact is the Home Office's main point of contact. The Level 1 User manages the licence day to day on the sponsor management system (SMS). One person can hold more than one of these roles.
The Home Office checks your key personnel, so tell us early about any unspent convictions or past immigration problems.
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
Who is eligible for a sponsor licence?
Your organisation must be genuine and operating lawfully in the UK, and the people running it must not have relevant unspent convictions or a history of immigration breaches. You also need HR systems that let you meet your sponsor duties.
Who should be our Authorising Officer?
A senior person in your organisation who is responsible for how you use the licence. They must normally be a paid member of staff or an office holder, and based in the UK.
Will the Home Office visit us?
It may. The Home Office can visit before granting a licence to check your organisation is genuine and your HR systems work. Visits can be announced or unannounced.
Does the role need to meet a salary level?
Yes. For Skilled Worker, the role must be at the required skill level and the pay must meet the salary rules. These change from time to time, so check the current figures on GOV.UK.
What is an A-rating?
A new licence is usually granted with an A-rating, which lets you assign Certificates of Sponsorship. If you fall short of your duties later, you can be downgraded to a B-rating.
What is a Certificate of Sponsorship?
It's an electronic record you assign on the sponsor management system (SMS) to each worker you sponsor. The worker uses its reference number to apply for their visa.
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).