Choosing the correct sponsor licence category is a strategic decision for UK employers. The right route depends on whether the business needs long-term skilled recruitment, temporary project-based workers, or both.
Reviewed by the Morgan Smith Immigration team — IAA-regulated UK immigration specialists. Last reviewed 2026-07-07.
TL;DR
Types of Sponsor Licences cover Worker routes for skilled or longer-term employment and Temporary Worker routes for specific temporary roles. Fees start at £611; there is no single maximum stay because it depends on the worker route, and standard licence decisions are usually up to 8 weeks.
£611+
Starting licence fee
Route-specific
Worker stay period
Up to 8 weeks
Typical decision
What Are the Types of Sponsor Licence?
The Home Office separates sponsor licences into Worker and Temporary Worker categories. A Worker licence covers skilled or longer-term employment routes such as Skilled Worker, Senior or Specialist Worker, Minister of Religion and International Sportsperson.
A Temporary Worker licence covers specific temporary routes such as Creative Worker, Charity Worker, Religious Worker, Government Authorised Exchange, International Agreement, Global Business Mobility sub-routes, Scale-up and Seasonal Worker.
Employers can apply for one category or both, depending on recruitment plans. Getting the category wrong can delay recruitment, restrict CoS access or create compliance risk if the role does not match the licence route.
The Licence Categories
Worker, Temporary Worker — or both combined.
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Worker Licence
A Worker licence supports skilled or longer-term employment, including Skilled Worker and certain Global Business Mobility needs. The sponsored role must meet the route-specific suitability requirements.
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Temporary Worker Licence
A Temporary Worker licence is for specific short-term categories, such as Creative Worker, Charity Worker or Seasonal Worker. The maximum stay depends on the individual route.
£
Combined Licence
A combined licence may be appropriate where the organisation needs both long-term skilled recruitment and temporary worker routes. Fee treatment depends on the licence combination and sponsor size.
What You Can and Cannot Do
What each licence category covers — and what it does not.
✓ You Can
- Sponsor long-term skilled hires under a Worker licence — Skilled Worker, Senior or Specialist Worker, Minister of Religion, International Sportsperson.
- Sponsor temporary roles under a Temporary Worker licence — Creative Worker, Charity Worker, Religious Worker, Seasonal Worker, GAE and more.
- Apply for both categories at once with a combined licence where recruitment plans need it.
- Add a category later if plans change — free or £1,071 depending on sponsor size and the route added.
- Assign the right CoS type for each route once the licence covering it is granted.
✗ You Cannot
- Sponsor a role your category doesn’t cover — a Temporary Worker licence cannot sponsor a Skilled Worker hire, and vice versa.
- Assume one category fits all plans — getting the category wrong delays recruitment and restricts CoS access.
- Mix up stay periods — each route sets its own maximum stay; the licence category itself doesn’t grant time in the UK.
- Skip route-specific rules — every route carries its own skill, salary or endorsement requirements the role must meet.
- Recover prohibited sponsor fees from sponsored workers under any category.
Costs & Fees
Current fees as of 2026. Set by the Home Office — subject to change.
Fees set by the Home Office and subject to change. Last reviewed: July 2026.
| Item | Cost (2026) |
|---|---|
| Worker licence – small | £611 |
| Worker licence – large | £1,682 |
| Temporary Worker licence | £611 |
| Add Worker route | £1,071 large sponsor |
| CoS – Skilled Worker | £525 |
| Priority licence service | £750 |
How to Choose and Apply
Five steps from category choice to decision.
Assess Licence Need
Confirm whether the organisation needs a Worker, Temporary Worker, Student or combined licence, and whether the roles are eligible for sponsorship.
Prepare Evidence
Select key personnel, check HR systems and gather documents listed in Appendix A or requested during the online application.
Submit Online
Complete the sponsor application online, pay the relevant government fee and produce the submission sheet.
Send Documents
Email the submission sheet and supporting evidence in the required format and timeframe; UKVI may request more information or visit.
Receive Your Decision
Standard applications are typically decided in up to 8 weeks; eligible priority applications are considered in 10 working days.
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Sources
Legal information on this page is based on guidance from GOV.UK, the UK Home Office / UK Visas and Immigration, legislation.gov.uk, and Free Movement. Rules change frequently — speak to our team to confirm current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about choosing the right sponsor licence.
What types of sponsor licence are there?
The Home Office splits sponsor licences into two categories: a Worker licence for skilled or longer-term employment, and a Temporary Worker licence for specific short-term routes. Employers can hold one category or both.
What does a Worker licence cover?
Skilled or longer-term employment routes, including Skilled Worker, Senior or Specialist Worker (Global Business Mobility), Minister of Religion and International Sportsperson. This is the category most businesses need for permanent skilled hiring.
What does a Temporary Worker licence cover?
Specific temporary routes such as Creative Worker, Charity Worker, Religious Worker, Government Authorised Exchange, International Agreement, the Global Business Mobility sub-routes, Scale-up and Seasonal Worker.
How much does each type of sponsor licence cost?
A Worker licence is £611 for small or charitable sponsors and £1,682 for medium or large sponsors. A Temporary Worker licence is £611 for all sponsor sizes.
Can a business hold both licence types?
Yes. A combined licence covers both categories in one application, and fee treatment depends on the combination and sponsor size. Businesses that need long-term skilled hires plus seasonal or project workers commonly hold both.
What happens if we choose the wrong licence type?
The licence only lets you sponsor roles its category covers — the wrong choice delays recruitment, restricts CoS access and can create compliance risk if a role doesn’t match the licence route. Categories can be added later (free, or £1,071 for large sponsors adding Worker).
What counts as a small sponsor for fee purposes?
Small or charitable sponsors pay the lower fee scale. Sponsor size follows the Companies Act definition of a small company; if in doubt, check the criteria on gov.uk before applying, as the fee difference is over £1,000.
How long does a sponsor licence application take?
Standard applications for either category are usually decided in up to 8 weeks. The pre-licence priority service, where available, considers eligible applications within 10 working days for £750.
Does the licence type decide how long workers can stay?
No — each visa route sets its own maximum stay. The licence category determines which routes you can sponsor under, not how long any individual worker can remain.
Can Morgan Smith Immigration help us choose the right licence?
Yes. Our IAA-regulated immigration advisers map your recruitment plans against the route tables, recommend the right category or combination, and prepare the application. We cannot guarantee Home Office approval, but we make sure you apply for the licence your hiring actually needs.
Not Sure Which Licence You Need?
Our immigration specialists handle everything from sponsor licence checks to visa approval — for employers and applicants alike.