When applying for the sponsor licence, you are required to supply the correct number of documents. ICS Legal is able to assist you in determining the type of documents is required to be supplied.

If you want to withdraw your application for a sponsor licence at any time, you should use the sponsor change of circumstances form.

Mandatory documents

Certain documents are always required. Home Office call these mandatory documents. These are shown in list A of Appendix A of the full policy guidance. Home Office will refuse your application if you do not provide the appropriate mandatory documents.

If you are an education provider, in most cases you will need to supply only one piece of documentary evidence: the proof that you are subject to a system of reviews or hold valid accreditation. However, sometimes Home Office may need to see additional documents. You must send The Home Office your last full inspection report from your inspection or accreditation body, especially if you are applying to be a Tier 4 (Child) sponsor - Home Office will expect the report to state specifically that you have been inspected on the basis that you teach children under the age of 18.

If an educational provider is including any 'branches' or partner institutions in its licence application, it must submit all relevant evidence for each individual branch or partner institution. For example, if a private college has branches which it wants to include in its licence, it must send The Home Office evidence of valid accreditation for each branch. Or if a university wants to include a partner institution on its licence, it must send evidence of that partner institution's valid accreditation.

Primary documents with exceptions

The documents in list B of Appendix A of the full policy guidance are required (mandatory) for certain types of organisation in certain sectors. Home Office will refuse your application if you do not provide the appropriate mandatory documents. 

Secondary documents

The documents in list C of Appendix A of the full policy guidance can be provided in addition to the mandatory documents but cannot replace the mandatory documents.

For example, if you are a registered charity, you must send proof of your charitable status which is a mandatory document in list A of Appendix A. You will then need to send three more pieces of evidence which you can choose from list C.

Sending original documents

You must send the original documents or certified copies. A certified copy is one that includes a signed statement, either by the issuing authority or by a solicitor or notary, confirming that it is an accurate copy of the original document. Any documents that Home Office request to see that are not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a certified translation. The translator's credentials should be provided, along with their official confirmation that the translation is accurate.

Home Office reserve the right to ask for original documents.

Missing documents

If you do not provide The Home Office with all the documents needed when you apply, Home Office will write to you to ask for  the necessary documents. If the missing documents are not sent within the time allowed, Home Office will refuse your application.

How Home Office return your documents

Home Office return the documents to you by recorded delivery to the address given on the application. If you want the documents to be returned by special delivery, you should enclose a prepaid special delivery envelope.

Additional documents

Home Office may ask for further documents if they doubt whether your organisation meets the requirements for the category in which you have applied.

How to reapply after Home Office have refused your application

This page explains how to reapply after Home Office have refused your application to join the register of sponsors under the points-based system.

There is no right of appeal against refusal of an application for a licence, but you can reapply at any time. However, you must make sure that the reasons for your earlier refusal have been corrected. If you do not, you are likely to be refused again. If you have previously been refused a licence, a member of The Home Office staff known, as a visiting officer, may want to come to see you to make sure that you can meet your duties as a sponsor.

If Home Office have refused your application because you, or another relevant person, have been issued with a maximum civil penalty (currently £10,000) under Section 15 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 for employing one or more illegal workers, you should not reapply until six months after the relevant penalty was issued. Home Office will refuse you again if you reapply before this date.