Guides for UK sponsors and employers.
Detailed walkthroughs of the topics that matter most when applying for a sponsor licence and managing compliance.
Start with the decision in front of you.
Choose the playbook if your business is preparing its first sponsor licence application. It explains the sequence of decisions, evidence and operational preparation an employer needs before an application is submitted.
Choose the compliance framework if you already hold a licence and want a clearer operating rhythm for reporting, record keeping and worker monitoring. The Skilled Worker guide is the better starting point when you are assessing a particular overseas hire.
Immigration rules and Home Office practice can change. These guides explain the employer-side framework in plain English, but they do not replace advice on your facts or a decision by the Home Office.
Reading a guide with your team
Start by identifying the decision owner: often a founder, HR lead or operations manager. Then use the guide to make a short list of what needs checking internally, such as recruitment plans, HR systems, payroll, reporting ownership and supporting evidence.
Where a guide points to a risk or deadline, check the current Home Office guidance before acting. Harveys Legal can help employers turn the general framework into an application or compliance plan that reflects their own workforce and operating model.
The Complete Sponsor Licence Playbook for UK Employers
End-to-end guide for UK employers planning to apply for a sponsor licence — eligibility, evidence, process, costs, and what to expect post-approval.
Sponsor Compliance: A Practical Duty Framework
How to operate sponsor duties day-to-day — record keeping, reporting, monitoring, key personnel responsibilities, and the systems that keep your licence safe.
The Skilled Worker Route: An Employer's Guide
Eligibility, salary thresholds, SOC codes, CoS process, and what employers need to know about hiring under the UK's main sponsored work route.