Appendix A: Supporting Documents for UK Sponsor Licence Application

Appendix A is an official document published by the Home Office that outlines the specific supporting documents organisations must provide when they apply for a sponsor licence UK. These documents prove that the organisation is genuine, trading lawfully, and capable of complying with its sponsorship licence requirements.

Appendix A sponsor licence requirements differ depending on the type of organisation. The document is split into four key tables that detail the categories of evidence required for different businesses, institutions, and sponsorship routes.

Whether you are applying for a sponsorship licence to sponsor Skilled Worker visa holders or another immigration route, your sponsor licence application form will not be processed unless you submit the correct sponsor licence application documents as required by sponsor licence appendix A.

To meet the sponsor licence requirements UK, you must refer to the right section of Appendix A sponsor licence and select documents that are relevant to your organisation.

Table 1: Listed or Government-Backed Bodies

This table applies to:

• Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange Main Market
• Public bodies (e.g. NHS trusts, local authorities)
• Government departments

These organisations benefit from relaxed documentation rules. They only need to submit one document with their sponsor licence application — usually a letter confirming their status. However, they still need to complete the sponsor licence application form and comply with all sponsorship licence requirements after being approved.

Table 2: Startups, Charities, and Regulated Businesses

Most private businesses fall into this category. If you are applying for a sponsor licence and your organisation is:

• A private limited company
• A registered charity
• A startup
• Regulated by Ofsted, FCA, or another UK regulator

— then you must usually submit four supporting documents when you apply sponsor licence.

These documents might include:

• HMRC registration (e.g. PAYE and VAT)
• Business bank account details
• Employer’s liability insurance
• Certificate of incorporation
• Proof of registration with a regulatory body

Each item listed under Appendix A sponsor licence must be up-to-date and must clearly show that your business is actively trading in the UK. Without this, your sponsorship license application may be refused.

Table 3: Route-Specific Sponsor Licence Requirements

This table in Appendix A relates to evidence for specific visa routes. For example, if you're applying for a Skilled Worker sponsor licence, you must explain:

• Why you need a UK sponsor licence
• Which roles you intend to sponsor
• How the roles meet the appropriate skill level and salary thresholds
• That you can comply with your sponsor duties

As part of the application for sponsor licence, you may also be asked for:

• Job descriptions
• Organisation charts
• Evidence of previous recruitment efforts

Table 4: Other Supporting Documents

If your organisation cannot provide documents from the earlier tables, Appendix A offers a list of alternative supporting documents. However, not all documents in Table 4 carry equal weight. The Home Office has discretion to assess the credibility of your business based on the quality of evidence provided.

The most common documents in Table 4 include:

• Business utility bills
• Lease agreements for business premises
• Business bank statements (must be recent)
• Signed contracts with clients

These are useful fallback options, but ideally, your application for sponsorship licence should rely on more direct and authoritative evidence.

Part 1: Mandatory Supporting Documents for a Sponsor Licence Application

When you apply for a sponsor licence, you must provide specific supporting documents as listed in Appendix A sponsor licence guidance. These documents are essential for your sponsor licence application to be accepted and are required whether you are submitting an application for sponsor licence as a business, charity, franchise, or overseas branch.

These sponsor licence documents are assessed by UKVI to confirm that:

• You are a genuine, lawfully operating organisation
• You are eligible to sponsor under the Worker or Temporary Worker routes
• You meet the route-specific sponsor licence requirements
• You will comply with your ongoing duties under the sponsorship licence

Failing to include these required documents can result in your sponsorship license application being rejected due to missing supporting documents.

A. Mandatory Documents for Most Organisations

Most organisations must submit at least four supporting documents with their sponsor licence application form, unless they qualify for exemption under section 5 of Appendix A sponsor licence.

Common documents required for sponsorship licence UK include:

• Certificate of Incorporation
• PAYE and VAT registration with HMRC
• Business bank account statement
• Lease or proof of business premises
• Employer’s liability insurance of at least £5 million
• Latest business accounts

These documents must be current, in the required format, and must match your information in the sponsor application. They apply whether you are applying for a sponsor licence as a limited company, partnership, or non-profit.

B. Public Bodies and Listed Companies

Certain organisations are treated differently under sponsor licence appendix A. This includes:

• Public bodies (e.g. local authorities, NHS Trusts)
• Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange Main Market

Such organisations are generally exempt from providing four documents when they apply for sponsor licence UK. However, if they are also involved in regulated or charitable activities, they must provide additional authorisation documents. These requirements apply regardless of which sponsorship application UK route they’re using.

C. Route-Specific Document Requirements

Appendix A outlines mandatory sponsor licence application documents for the following Worker and Temporary Worker routes:

• Skilled Worker / Senior or Specialist Worker (Global Business Mobility):
   
  • A clear explanation for the application for a sponsor licence
  • Evidence that proposed roles are eligible and genuine
  • Job descriptions and salary details
  • Explanation of the recruitment process
     
• UK Expansion Worker:
  • Evidence of a ‘UK footprint’ (e.g. registration or lease)
  • Evidence of overseas trading for at least 3 years
  • Organisational structure and ownership details
     
• Seasonal Worker, Charity Worker, Creative Worker, Religious Worker

Each route has specific documents listed in section 3 of Appendix A sponsor licence. If you’re applying for sponsorship licence UK under any of these, your sponsor licence application guidance must reflect the route-specific evidence.

Part 2: Additional Supporting Documents for a Sponsor Licence Application

If you cannot provide four of the core documents listed in section 2 of Appendix A, UKVI allows you to submit additional sponsor licence documents listed in section 4. These can be used to complete your sponsorship licence application or to strengthen your evidence as part of an application for sponsorship licence.

A. Documents You Can Send Instead

You can use documents from section 4 of Appendix A when:

• You are newly established or a startup
• Some documents are unavailable due to business structure
• You need to prove trading activity, ownership, or business presence

Acceptable additional supporting documents include:

• Recent utility bills in the business name
• Signed contracts with clients or suppliers
• Lease agreements for business premises
• Bank statements showing active business transactions
• Certificates for professional indemnity or public liability insurance
• Invoices or letters from suppliers

All documents must be up to date, relevant to your organisation, and in the required format. When you apply sponsor licence, include a clear explanation of why these documents are being used and how they meet the requirements for sponsorship licence.

B. Regulated Activities and Required Proof

If your organisation carries out regulated activities (e.g. education, healthcare, financial services), your sponsor licence application documents must include:

• Ofsted registration (for education providers)
• CQC registration (for healthcare providers)
• FCA authorisation (for financial firms)

Failure to submit this evidence as part of your application for a sponsor licence will result in rejection. Appendix A sponsor licence explicitly states that authorisation must be shown for regulated sectors.

C. When Using Additional Documents

When relying on section 4 documents, you must still submit a minimum of four documents unless exempt. These alternatives can be mixed with standard documents to satisfy the sponsorship licence requirements.

Documents must:

• Be in English or Welsh, or have an official translation
• Be originals or certified copies
• Match the organisation details in your sponsor licence application form

Your application for sponsor licence may be refused if any required or substitute supporting documents are missing, unclear, or invalid.

Documents submitted as part of your sponsorship licence application must be:

• Originals or certified copies
• In English or Welsh (official translations must be included otherwise)

If you submit scanned or digital documents, they must be certified by a solicitor or a notary. Uncertified PDFs or poor scans may cause your sponsor application to be refused.

When you apply for a sponsorship licence, you must also upload your documents within five working days of submitting the sponsor licence application form. The online system does not allow for extensions, and missing supporting documents after this deadline result in the application being invalid.

Many sponsor licence applications are refused due to avoidable errors. Below are some of the most frequent issues:

• Submitting fewer than four required documents
• Failing to submit mandatory documents within 5 working days after sending your sponsor licence application
• Uploading expired documents (e.g. outdated insurance certificates)
• Failing to explain why a sponsor licence UK is needed
• Forgetting to include a job description or evidence of genuine vacancy
• Using incorrect business names or mismatched details across documents
• Not showing evidence of PAYE registration or UK trading activity

These mistakes can delay your ability to sponsor international workers, especially if you’re trying to apply for a Skilled Worker sponsor licence during a talent shortage.

When you apply for sponsor licence, your documentation must not only prove that you're eligible, but also that you understand and will meet your sponsorship licence requirements after approval.

The Home Office may:

• Conduct a pre-licence compliance visit
• Review your HR systems
• Check whether your sponsor licence documents match your application claims
• Assess your ability to monitor sponsored workers and report changes

If your evidence is inconsistent or incomplete, even if the application for sponsorship licence is initially accepted, your licence may be downgraded or revoked during follow-up audits.

Learn more about sponsorship compliance responsibilities and Home Office audits. 

Thorough preparation of your sponsor licence application documents is essential. Whether you’re applying for sponsorship licence UK for the first time or looking to expand your existing licence to new routes, you need to demonstrate compliance with the sponsor licence requirements UK outlined in Appendix A sponsor licence.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply for Sponsor Licence with Appendix A
 

1. Decide which route you need
   
   For most UK employers, the Skilled Worker route is the most common. When you apply for skilled worker sponsor licence, you must prove that your vacancy is genuine, meets salary thresholds, and that your business is established and active.
   
    
2. Check which documents apply to your organisation
   
   Use Appendix A sponsor licence to identify whether you fall under Table 1, 2, 3, or 4. The most common scenario is a business needing four supporting documents from Table 2.
   
    
3. Gather certified, up-to-date documents
   
   Prepare documents such as:

• Certificate of Incorporation
• HMRC registration for PAYE and VAT
• Business bank statements
• Proof of premises
• Employer's liability insurance
• Organisation chart or employee list
  
   ... and others, depending on your specific case. 
   

4. Complete your online sponsor licence application form

Use the official portal on the UKVI website to fill out your sponsor licence application form and pay the applicable fee. 

5. Upload your supporting documents

You must upload your supporting documents via the UKVI portal within five working days of submitting your sponsor license application. Do not delay, as missing supporting documents will lead to a rejection.

6. Await a decision or compliance check

If your documents are accepted and you pass the credibility check, you will be granted a UK sponsor licence. If UKVI requires further clarification, they may visit your premises or request more information.

Failure to provide the correct sponsor licence application documents and/or comply with the Home Office sponsorship regulations can result in:

• Immediate rejection of your sponsorship license application
• Loss of application fee (non-refundable)
• A 6-month cooling-off period before you can apply for sponsor licence again

Even worse, submitting incomplete sponsor licence documents can damage your organisation’s credibility with UKVI. If the Home Office suspects the vacancy is not genuine or the business is not capable of meeting its duties, they may conduct further checks or deny future sponsorship applications UK.