Sponsor Licence Compliance Solicitors
Is your business truly audit-ready?
The Home Office is conducting more compliance visits than ever. If your sponsor systems aren’t up to standard, your licence could be downgraded, suspended, or revoked — and each sponsored worker placed at risk.
At Immigration Solicitors UK, we protect employers from costly mistakes and enforcement action. Whether you’ve already received a Home Office warning or simply want assurance that your systems meet 2026 standards, our solicitors can help.
Call +44 7561 699 666 or contact us online for immediate expert advice.
Book your FREE consultation today!
Why Sponsor Licence Compliance Matters
A Sponsor Licence allows you to hire international talent legally, but it also makes you responsible for preventing illegal working. The Home Office expects every licence holder to maintain accurate records, monitor sponsored staff, and report all relevant changes promptly through the Sponsorship Management System (SMS).
Civil penalties for non-compliance are now severe. From 2025, fines for illegal working increased to £60,000 per worker for repeat breaches, reflecting how seriously the government treats sponsorship failures.
Our role is to ensure that your HR and immigration systems not only meet these obligations but also stand up to inspection.
The eVisa and Digital Right-to-Work Transition
All physical Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) cards are now obsolete. Employers must check each worker’s digital immigration status through the official UKVI online share-code system. Paper copies or screenshots are no longer valid evidence of permission to work.
Failure to verify digital status correctly is one of the leading causes of Home Office civil penalties. We help businesses update their right-to-work procedures and train HR staff to perform compliant digital checks for every new starter.
Hybrid and Remote Working Duties
The Home Office has begun active enforcement against so-called “ghost offices” businesses that list office locations but allow sponsored staff to work permanently from home or elsewhere.
If a sponsored worker performs their duties remotely, this must be reported as a work location on the SMS. Unreported hybrid or remote arrangements are now treated as a major breach during compliance inspections.
Our solicitors review each employee’s work pattern and ensure that your licence accurately reflects all physical and remote sites to avoid penalties.
What Compliance Requires in Practice
Once your licence is granted, you must keep proper employment and immigration records for each sponsored worker, including contracts, pay, contact details, and evidence of qualifications. Any significant change, such as a new job title, salary adjustment, or relocation and must be reported within ten working days.
You also have an ongoing duty to maintain accurate organisational information. Changes to company name, address, ownership, or structure must be updated on the SMS and supported with evidence.
We can manage these obligations on your behalf through our Managed SMS & Compliance Shield Service, which keeps your systems fully up to date and audit-ready.
If the Home Office identifies compliance failures, your licence may be downgraded from an A-rating to a B-rating. You’ll then have to complete a formal Action Plan before the licence can be restored.
From 2025, the Home Office extended the maximum duration of these plans from three months to twelve months. This means a downgraded sponsor can face a full year of restricted hiring rights, a major disruption for any organisation relying on international recruitment.
Our solicitors can prepare and oversee your Action Plan, liaising with UKVI to confirm progress and ensure your rating is restored as quickly as possible.
The Solicitor’s Verification Statement
For sponsors facing suspension or enhanced review, we offer a Solicitor’s Verification Statement, an independent certification confirming that your HR systems, record-keeping, and reporting processes meet Home Office standards.
This verified statement can help mitigate penalties, support representations during a suspension, and demonstrate good-faith compliance to the Home Office. It is a service available only through qualified solicitors and can be decisive in restoring a licence swiftly.
The Legal Advantage: SRA-Regulated Representation
As a fully regulated law firm, our advice carries Legal Professional Privilege. Communications with us remain confidential and protected — an assurance not available from OISC-regulated consultants.
We represent sponsors formally before the Home Office, handle all correspondence on your behalf, and prepare detailed compliance submissions supported by legal analysis. This level of representation gives you both strategic protection and peace of mind.
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We provide ongoing compliance services tailored to your business size and sector, including:
- Pre-licence and mid-term compliance audits
- Digital right-to-work training and eVisa policy updates
- Managed SMS reporting and licence maintenance
- Response and representation for downgrades, suspensions, or revocations
- Strategic compliance planning under our Compliance Shield Retainer
Our goal is simple: to keep your Sponsor Licence secure, your HR systems compliant, and your workforce uninterrupted.
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What We Offer
Our Services
we understand that immigrating to a new country is a significant
decision that comes with its own set of challenges.
Family Visas
Partner Visas
Settlement in the UK
Settlement of EEA Nationals
British Citizenship and The Right of Abode
Challenge a Refusal
Removals/Deportations
Asylum/Human Rights
Sponsor License for a UK Business
UK Business Visas
Student Visas
Popular Work Visas
Other work visas and permits
Visas without a job offer
Work for an overseas employer
Temporary work visas
UK Visit Visas
Contact Our Sponsor Licence Solicitors
If you’ve received a compliance letter, need to prepare for an audit, or simply want reassurance that your records meet 2026 standards, we can help immediately.
Call +44 7561 699 666 or contact us online to book a confidential compliance consultation. We’ll review your current systems, identify risks, and give you a clear action plan to protect your business and your sponsored workers.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still need to check physical BRP cards?
No. All status checks must now be done digitally using a worker’s share code on the UKVI portal.
What if my sponsored staff work from home?
You must report each home or hybrid work location on the SMS. Unreported remote work can count as a major compliance breach.
How long can a Home Office Action Plan last?
Up to twelve months under the 2025 rules, during which you cannot sponsor new workers.
What is a Solicitor’s Verification Statement?
It’s a formal certification issued by a qualified solicitor confirming that your systems meet Home Office standards, often used to reduce penalties or end a suspension more quickly.
Next Step:
Call +44 7561 699 666 or book your compliance consultation online.
Stay compliant, protect your Sponsor Licence, and safeguard your workforce with the support of experienced, SRA-regulated immigration solicitors.
