How to Apply for UK Sponsor Licence for Restaurants and Hotels in 2025

A sponsor licence UK is official permission granted by the UK Home Office that allows a UK-based employer to hire and sponsor foreign workers under work visa routes, such as the Skilled Worker visa. To obtain a sponsor licence UK, a business must prove it is a genuine and lawfully operating organisation, meet the outlined requirements, and show that it's capable of meeting strict compliance and reporting duties. Once licensed, the employer can assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to eligible workers who then can apply for the Skilled Worker visa.

Hospitality businesses, such as restaurants, pubs, or hotels, are among the companies that can apply for a sponsor licence, provided they meet the eligibility criteria and offer qualifying roles.

To qualify for a sponsor licence, your hospitality business must:

• Operate Lawfully in the UK: Your establishment must be a genuine entity, compliant with UK laws, and registered with the appropriate authorities.​
   
• Demonstrate Genuine Employment Needs: There should be a legitimate need to hire foreign workers for roles that cannot be filled by the local workforce.​
   
• Have Robust HR Systems: Implement effective human resource practices to monitor sponsored employees and adhere to sponsorship duties.​
   
• Appoint Key Personnel: Designate individuals for specific roles in the Sponsorship Management System (SMS), including:​
   
  • Authorising Officer: A senior person responsible for the licence and ensuring compliance with sponsor duties.​
  • Key Contact: The main liaison with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).​
  • Level 1 User: Responsible for daily management of the SMS.​

These roles are critical for maintaining sponsor licence compliance and ensuring adherence to all sponsorship duties. 

Learn the details about sponsor licence requirements and eligibility criteria in our blog.

1. Online Application: Complete the application form on the Home Office website, providing detailed information about your business and the roles you intend to sponsor. ​
   
    
2. Submit Supporting Documents: Provide necessary documentation, such as:​

• Proof of business registration
• Evidence of appropriate planning permissions for your premises
• Details of your HR systems
• Recent financial statements.​

Refer to our sponsor licence guidance for a comprehensive list of required documents.
 

 3. Pay Application Fee: As of April 2025, the fee is £574 for small businesses and charities, and £1,579 for larger organisations. ​

Are you a small or a large UK sponsoring organisation? Learn the criteria in our guide. 
 

 4. Await Decision: Processing typically takes up to 8 weeks. A priority service may be available for an additional fee, expediting the decision to within 10 working days. 

In the hospitality industry, certain roles are eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa. The table below outlines some of the relevant Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes, job titles, and associated salary thresholds as of April 2025:

See the full list of Skilled Worker visa eligible occupations here. 

Holding a sponsor licence entails ongoing responsibilities to maintain compliance with Home Office regulations:​

• Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of sponsored employees, including contact details and right-to-work documentation.​
   
• Reporting Duties: Report significant changes via the Sponsorship Management System (SMS), including:
   
  • If a sponsored worker does not begin employment as expected.
  • Changes to the sponsored employee’s role, salary, or location.
  • Any organisational changes, such as mergers, acquisitions, or change of address.
  • Early termination of employment.
     

More information about sponsor duties and compliance – in our comprehensive guide. 
 

• Right to Work Checks: You must correctly check an employee’s right to work using the right to work share code, especially for visa holders and those with settled status. Use the Home Office’s share code check service to view a job applicant’s right to work details and avoid issues tied to illegal working.
   
• Sponsor Licence Audits: The Home Office may conduct both scheduled and unannounced compliance visits to assess whether your hospitality business is meeting its sponsorship duties. Non-compliance can lead to your sponsor licence being suspended or added to the revoked sponsor licence list.
   
• Home Office Interview Questions: During inspections, the authorising officer and key staff may be interviewed about your HR systems, record-keeping, and understanding of your obligations.
   
• Digital Home Office Audits: With increased digital monitoring, sponsors must now maintain even more precise logs, including SMS log in records, employee work schedules, and internal audits.

A sponsor licence for restaurants or hotels may be suspended if you fail to meet sponsor licence compliance requirements. 

Maintaining compliance with UK sponsorship duties is a critical yet complex task for businesses employing international talent. The consequences of failing to meet these responsibilities can be severe, from penalties to the loss of your sponsor licence.

If your licence is revoked, all Skilled Worker visa holders under your sponsorship may lose their immigration status. This is why robust preparation, training, and continuous internal review of your sponsor duties and compliance are critical — especially in the fast-paced hospitality sector.

With Nation.better’s sponsorship compliance services, our team of immigration specialists ensures you meet all your obligations seamlessly. From record-keeping to audits, we handle the details, so you can focus on growing your business.

If you need support with compliance, fill in this form , and our team will provide a tailored solution on how we can help safeguard your sponsorship status.

Applying for a sponsor licence hospitality business-wide gives UK employers access to a global talent pool. For many, especially those operating in areas with ongoing shortages of trained staff, such as chefs and restaurant managers, securing a UK sponsor licence is an operational necessity.

When done correctly, sponsorship offers several benefits:

• Legal access to skilled international workers
• The ability to fill roles that are difficult to recruit for locally
• A pathway to long-term employment and retention