No sponsor licence, no overseas hire.
It really is that simple, and that important.

If your business wants to employ workers from outside the UK, you need a sponsor licence first. The application is detailed, the compliance duties are ongoing, and mistakes can cost you months and the hire itself. ZH Law helps you get approved and stay protected.

What is a sponsor licence, and why does it matter to your business?

A sponsor licence is Home Office permission for your business to employ overseas workers under sponsored routes such as Skilled Worker. To grant it, the Home Office needs to be satisfied that your business is genuine, operating lawfully, and able to meet strict sponsorship duties. Getting the licence is only the start. Holding it means ongoing record-keeping, reporting obligations and cooperation with Home Office inspections, and falling short can lead to enforcement action that puts your whole workforce at risk.

Expert Advice for Sponsor Licence Holders

The cost of a refusal isn’t just the fee. It’s the delay before you can reapply, and the hire you lose in the meantime.

How We Help

We also handle renewals and adding a route to an existing licence, pre-licence and compliance visit preparation, mock compliance audits, and ongoing SMS management and reporting duties. These are quoted after a short review.

Why ZH Law

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long does a sponsor licence application take?

The standard processing time is approximately 8 weeks from submission. A priority service of 10 working days is available for an additional fee. A complete and well-prepared application reduces the risk of delays or further information requests.

Sponsors must keep accurate records of sponsored workers, report specific changes to the Home Office within required timeframes, cooperate with compliance visits, and renew the licence before it expires. Failure to meet these duties can lead to suspension or revocation.

Client testimonials

We are committed to delivering clear, practical advice and robust representation, with a focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for our clients.

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Ibrahim Yussif profile picture
Ibrahim Yussif
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I am incredibly grateful to Mary Rizk and Mr Jafferji for their outstanding work on my unlawful detention claim. From the very beginning, Mary provided unwavering support and guided me through an incredibly difficult time. Her legal expertise, dedication, and genuine compassion made all the difference. Mr Jafferji fought tirelessly for my rights, handled every detail of my case with great care, and successfully secured the compensation I deserved. Together, Mary and Mr Jafferji worked tirelessly to ensure that my case was handled with professionalism, care, and the attention it deserved. If you need legal professionals who genuinely care about their clients and will fight for you, I highly recommend Mr Jafferji and Mary. They are truly amazing at what they do!
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Harun Patel profile picture
Harun Patel
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I am extremely grateful for the help and support I received from Mufadhar throughout my case . He is extremely professional, knowledgeable and supportive .He explained everything clearly, kept me informed and made me feel reassured and confident. I really appreciate their dedication, patience and attention to detail. I would highly recommend their services to anyone looking for a professional, reliable and supportive barrister . Thank you for all your hard work and help.
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Shakil Ahmad profile picture
Shakil Ahmad
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I would like to sincerely thank Mariya, Muhammad, Mufaddal and Mr Jafferji for their professional support and assistance with Abdul Ahad’s visit visa, Pre-Action Protocol and Judicial Review matters. They were all very helpful, professional and responsive throughout the process. I particularly appreciated the time they took to explain the matters clearly and guide me through each stage. I am very grateful for their hard work, dedication and support. I would highly recommend Mariya, Muhammad, Mufaddal and Mr Jafferji to anyone looking for professional and reliable immigration legal assistance. Thank you once again for all your help and support.
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Hema Tandel profile picture
Hema Tandel
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I am very very thankful to Team CPC for all the hardwork they have done for my case. After very long and difficult time finally my EUSS appeal is allowed and me and my family are very happy with this result. Special thank you to Mufaddal, Mariya and Zainul Jafferji for helping me so much in my appeal. They worked very hard on my case and checked all my documents and evidence properly. My case was not easy and there was many problems before regarding my marriage and evidence but they never give up and always helped me. Mufaddal and Mariya was always helping me for documents and whatever was needed for my case. They worked very hard and always supported me when I was worried about my appeal. Mr Zainul Jafferji has very good knowledge and experience and he guided my case very well and presented everything properly for my appeal. There was lot of work needed to prove my marriage is genuine and Team CPC did everything possible for my case. They was always patient with me and explained me whenever I did not understand something. Finally my appeal is allowed and this means alot for me and my family. After waiting for so long now we can finally have hope to stay together and continue our married life. I will definitely recommend Team CPC to anyone who need help in immigration matter. They work very hard for their clients and dont give up easily. Thank you so much Mufaddal, Mariya, Mr Zainul Jafferji and whole Team CPC for all your hardwork and helping us get this result. Me and my family will always be thankful to you all.
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Dharmesh Chhipka profile picture
Dharmesh Chhipka
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I am very happy my wife Hemaxiben EUSS appeal finally allowed. We wait for very long time for this and we was separate also for long time. It was very difficult time for us but now finally we got good news. Thank you so much Team CPC and specially Mufaddal, Mariya and Mr Zainul Jafferji. They help us alot in our case and work very hard. Whenever they need documents they tell us and help us for everything. Our case had many problems but they did not give up. Mufaddal and Mariya help us alot from starting and always support us. Mr Zainul Jafferji also work very hard for our appeal and because of his good knowledge and experience our case was presented very well. Finally my wife appeal is allowed and we are very very happy. This is very big thing for me and my family after waiting so many years. I recommend Team CPC for anyone having immigration problem. They are very helpful and work hard for there client. Thank you Mufaddal, Mariya and Mr Zainul Jafferji for everything you did for us. We will always thankful to you.
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Shailesh Rana profile picture
Shailesh Rana
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Great service - Simran was very helpful at answering queries.
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Salim K profile picture
Salim K
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We Used Mr. Jaffaji recently for some legal work and I'd recommend him to anyone. From the first conversation he was straight with me about what could and couldn't be done, Every time I got in touch I had a response back quickly, and he took the time to explain things properly. His assistant Mufaddal deserves a mention too. He kept me updated at every stage, made the whole process a lot easier than I expected it to be. The work was done exactly as I asked and delivered on time. Honestly couldn't have wished for a better firm to deal with, and I won't hesitate to go back to them next time I need something.
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Jamila Johnson profile picture
Jamila Johnson
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I just want to say a big THANK YOU to Mr Zainul Jaffeji and his team for doing an exceptional job on fighting my husband's deportation, even going to the court of appeal on a very short notice. The fought against the first decision to deny my husband's stay to continue to pursue his case. Stay up late hours until a decision was made to inform me of the good news that his flight was cancelled. I want to say a special thank you to Nina, Mufaddal, Zain and Sheraaz for preparing paperwork and always keeping in touch to guide us and inform us of what is going on. These guys are extremely good at what they do. I will recommend them any day.
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amatullah jamaluddin profile picture
amatullah jamaluddin
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I recently had my spouse visa renewal application, which was successful. Simran went above and beyond in helping me with my visa extension application. She was very helpful every step of the way and extremely prompt with her response. She was patient and thorough in attending to every minute detail. She was available to help even after my extension was granted.
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Saifudeen moiz profile picture
Saifudeen moiz
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ZH Law provided a highly professional and supportive immigration service, making what could have been a stressful process feel smooth and straightforward. Special thanks to Mary Rizk for her excellent guidance, care, and reassurance throughout the entire process. She was also extremely helpful with the documentation, making the overall experience smooth and stress-free. Her support and guidance were greatly appreciated. Highly recommended!

This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, please contact ZH Law.

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Planning to hire from overseas, or worried your current licence isn’t compliant? Book a consultation and we’ll map out what your business needs.