Sponsor Licence After Brexit

Sponsor Licence After Brexit

Introduction

Since Brexit officially took effect, the UK immigration system has undergone a complete transformation. One of the biggest impacts has been on the Sponsor Licence regime a critical requirement for UK businesses looking to hire talent from abroad.

Whether you're an SME, startup, or large enterprise, understanding how the Sponsor Licence process has changed after Brexit is essential for legal compliance and workforce planning.

This post breaks it all down in plain English and gives you the latest insights as of 2025.

What Is a Sponsor Licence?

A Sponsor Licence allows UK employers to legally hire non-UK workers, including EU nationals, under routes such as the Skilled Worker visa.

Once granted by the UK Home Office, the licence permits a business to issue Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to eligible overseas employees.

🔗 Home Office: UK Visa Sponsorship for Employers

Brexit and UK Immigration: The Key Changes

Before Brexit, EU nationals could work in the UK without a visa. Since 1 January 2021, freedom of movement has ended, and EU nationals now need sponsorship, just like non-EU workers.

This shift means:

• All overseas workers (EU and non-EU) now fall under the points-based immigration system

• Employers must have a valid Sponsor Licence to hire any non-UK worker (except those with settled/pre-settled status)

How Brexit Has Impacted Sponsor Licence Requirements

Here’s what’s changed since Brexit:

EU Nationals & Sponsorship After Brexit

If you're hiring EU workers who arrived after 1 January 2021 and don't have settled/pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you must sponsor them under a Skilled Worker or other qualifying visa route.

Even bilingual roles or niche EU-specific roles now require visa sponsorship.

Updated Sponsor Licence Rules in 2025

Here’s what businesses need to know:

1. New Salary Thresholds (2025 Update)

• General threshold: £26,200 or £10.75/hour

• New entrant threshold: £20,960

• Shortage Occupation roles: 20% lower than standard

📌 Check full salary rates:

🔗 Skilled Worker Visa: Going Rates

2. Increased Focus on Compliance

The Home Office is increasing random audits to ensure sponsor compliance. You must:

• Keep records of sponsored workers’ attendance, address, visa details

• Report job changes via the Sponsor Management System (SMS)

• Avoid any false CoS assignments

3. More Routes Under One Licence

A 2025 enhancement allows a single licence to sponsor workers under:

• Skilled Worker route

• Global Business Mobility

• Scale-up Worker route

• Graduate Trainee route

4. Priority Processing Returns (Limited Quotas)

The Home Office has reintroduced Priority Processing:

• Decision in 10 working days

• Additional fee: £500

• Subject to daily quota (apply early!)

Key Long-Tail Keywords to Help You Rank

These are naturally embedded throughout the blog and align with high-search-intent user queries:

• “sponsor licence after Brexit changes 2025”

• “EU workers sponsorship UK after Brexit”

• “how to get UK skilled worker sponsor licence 2025”

• “UK visa sponsorship process for small businesses”

Home Office Resources

• 🔗 UK Visa Sponsorship for Employers

• 🔗 Apply for a Sponsor Licence

• 🔗 Sponsor Duties & Responsibilities

• 🔗 Points-Based Immigration System