The Home Office announced significant changes to the sponsor license renewal process. Effective next month, UK sponsor licenses will no longer require renewal every four years, streamlining procedures and eliminating unnecessary paperwork and fees for employers.

The New Rule:

Starting April 6, sponsor licenses will no longer need renewal every four years. Instead, expiring licenses will be automatically extended by ten years, sparing employers from the burden of renewal processes.

Employers with valid licenses within this period need not take any action, as their licenses will be automatically covered by the extension.

Previous Requirements:

Previously, businesses sponsoring licenses had to submit renewal applications 90 days before expiration, accompanied by hefty fees ranging from £536 to £1,476 based on size and charity status.

Renewal processing times could extend up to eight weeks, adding administrative burdens to employers.

The UK Home Office has initiated refunds for application fees to sponsors in the renewal process and advises them to verify license expiry through the online Sponsorship Management System (SMS). Sponsors who have already begun the renewal process have been contacted.

Immigration policies have been a point of contention in the UK, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government announcing plans to increase costs for hiring overseas personnel, including recent salary requirement hikes. These changes aim to streamline processes and facilitate a smoother hiring experience for employers in the UK.