Pre Licence Priority Service – Get A Sponsor Licence Fast

What is the Pre-Licence Priority Service?

The pre-licence priority service is an sponsor licence processing system that fast-tracks applications, significantly reducing your waiting time for a final decision.

Priority service enables you to apply for a priority license on the basis of high importance or urgency, thus reducing the standard processing time. The pre-licence priority service is also known as the sponsor licence priority service. It does not replace the application process for a Sponsor Licence, and does not guarantee approval, only earlier consideration.

Who Can Use the Pre Licence Priority Service?

To be eligible for the Home Office sponsor licence priority service:

1. You must have applied for a sponsor licence in an eligible route(s) by completing the online application form on the Home Office Website.
2. You must have paid both the application fee and the priority service fee.
3. You should have submitted your submission sheet and all mandatory and supplementary documents for the work routes you are applying for within 5 working days of paying the priority service fee if you are submitting your application. If you are adding the priority service to an already submitted application, you must have already submitted these documents.
4. If you want to add the priority service to an already submitted application, your application must not be in progress, or assigned to a case worker.

How Long Does Pre Licence Priority Take?

While standard sponsor licence processing takes about 8 weeks, the Pre-licence Priority Service usually ensures consideration within 10 working days. Consideration starts the working day after successful payment. If you made your payment on Friday, your ten working days consideration period starts on Monday.

Your priority request may extend beyond ten days if your submission sheet or required documents need thorough or extra review and may experience a delay in processing. Your request can also be elongated if your request is complex.

How Much Does the Pre Licence Priority Service Cost?

The priority service fee is available for £500. If you are making multiple requests, you will pay available for £500 for each individual request.

The Pre-Licence Priority Service fee is not inclusive of your Sponsor Licence application which is a different fee, paid before requesting prioritisation (when eligible). Sponsor licence fees depend on the size of employer and whether you are applying for a Temporary Worker licence or a Worker licence.

When Is the Priority Service Available?

You can access the Pre-Licence Priority Service at the time of making an eligible sponsor licence application. You can also use the service after submitting your application. You will need to login to your application account with the username and password to access. It is therefore important to retain access to your account, in case you wish to make changes to your application under the ‘Finish incomplete applications’ option.

Priority Service Hours

Eligible applications can be submitted for the priority service between 9am and 11.59pm Monday to Friday. 10 working days excludes the weekends and bank holidays.

What Happens If There Are No Priority Slots Available?

There are no caps currently indicated by UKVI on the number of priority allocations available each day for the priority service. However, the option for using the priority service could disappear once the internal daily limit is reached. It is first come first served so slots can still be competitive and it is recommended to process your request earlier in the day.

Applying early is sensible, but does not guarantee a slot. If the option is not offered, the daily limit may have been reached, or the application may be ineligible, outside service hours or already in progress.

When You May Not Be Able to Access the Priority Service

If you have submitted your application or at the time of submission, you may not be able to access the priority service. This could be for multiple reasons, including:

• Applying for an ineligible route
• The priority service reaching its daily limit on requests
• Submitting your application outside of the service hours
• Your application may have already been assigned to a case worker or is in progress

Ineligible Routes for Using the Pre-Licence Priority Service

The pre-licence priority service covers only certain UK visa route requests.

Current routes excluded from the pre-licence priority service include the following visa categories:

• GBM UK Expansion Worker
• GBM Service Supplier
• GBM Secondment Worker
• Scale-up Worker
• Government Authorised Exchange
• International Agreement
• Seasonal Worker

How to Apply for Pre-licence Priority Service

Access to pre-licence priority service requires submitting eligible requests.

Eligible requests are sponsor licence applications that satisfy the requirements and procedures of the sponsor guidance. Before applying for pre-licence priority service, you must have applied for a sponsor licence according to the sponsor guidance.

How to Apply for a Sponsor Licence

Before applying for a sponsor licence, it is important that you fully understand the conditions around sponsoring workers, your responsibilities, the type of licence that suits your business, and assigning Certificates of Sponsorship COS.

You can reach out to the IAS Immigration Lawyers for in-depth information on the full guidance for sponsor licence. We are available online and in person to assist in making your sponsor licence application a success.

The following are the steps to apply for a sponsor licence:

• Have all the documents required ready for submission during your application.
• Complete the online application form on the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.
• Submit the application form along with your supporting documents.
• Pay the appropriate fee.

How to Apply for Pre-licence Priority Service

If your sponsor licence application is approved, you will get an email notifying you of an enhanced service to fast-track your application.

To access a priority service, you will have to make a priority request through email. To make a request, fill out the priority service – email request form and send it to the Home office via email. Your priority request will not be granted outside of service hours.

What Happens After You Apply For a Pre-licence Priority Service

Upon successful priority request, you will receive two emails from the priority service team to:

• Notify you of your request acceptance. You will also get further instructions on what to do next.
• Provide you with a Worldpay link. Make sure to give a valid email address and check your inbox or junk mail regularly.

The second email is to pay the appropriate fee for the enhanced service. Once you get a Worldpay link, you must make your payment within 72 hours, weekends inclusive.

Your priority request will expire if you delay paying the required fee beyond the payment timeframe. To access the service after expiration, you will need to apply again for request consideration.

Making your payment before expiration does not guarantee a successful request. Only eligible requests with successful payment are eligible for priority service.

The following are the reasons for unsuccessful priority requests:

• Your request does not fulfil the eligibility requirement for the service.
• They (Home Office) have reached their daily allocation limit.
• You did not submit your priority request within the service operating times.

If you do not get a response, it means your request is unsuccessful.

Required Documents For The Pre-licence Priority Service Application

The following are the required documents for pre licence priority service application:

• An electronically signed submission sheet.
• All the relevant documentation you submitted during your application for a sponsor.

What happens if your priority request is complex or requires extra review?

The Home office will reach out to the Authorising Officer listed on your licence. The Authorising Officer is responsible for ensuring your compliance with your duties or responsibilities as an employer under the sponsor licence.

You may need to provide further information during your consideration period. Ensure to stay reachable to provide the information in due course. Late submission or response can result in priority request rejection.

You will not get a fee refund if your request is rejected unless the reason for the delay in consideration does not relate to the normal case working processes, such as a technical error.

To avoid rejection, stay in contact with the Authorising officer to ensure they check their email and junk mail regularly.

The Home office will send an email to your Authorising officer confirming priority request approval or rejection.

Benefits Of Obtaining Pre-licence Priority Sponsor Licence Service

The pre-licence priority service lets organisations speed up their sponsor licence application by paying an extra fee during online submission.

A sponsor licence shortens the process of hiring people with specific skills and expertise, especially when there’s a lack of such workers available locally, and the priority service enables employers to hire workers quickly.

What Can Delay a Priority Sponsor Licence Application and Priority Request?

Delays normally occur when your application is incomplete, and when you are asked for further information. This includes:

• Missing or late supporting documents
• Failure to respond to Home Office requests
• Complex cases

It is essential to have evidence well prepared and ready for submission before an application and priority request. Check the Appendix A for a checklist of documentation you may need for a sponsor licence.

Can Pre-licence Priority Service Application Be Rejected?

If you can’t get a pre-licence priority service slot when applying for a sponsor licence, it could be due to these reasons:

• Your chosen route is not eligible for priority service, such as GBM Expansion worker, GBM service supplier, or Scale-up
• The Home Office has reached its daily limit for requests
• You submitted a request outside of the service operating times
• A caseworker is already reviewing your sponsor licence application

Pre-Licence Priority Service Considerations for UK Employers

When an overseas hire depends on a sponsor licence, a delay can disrupt recruitment plans and start dates. The Pre-Licence Priority Service is UK-wide, not a separate regional or sector-specific fast track.

To avoid preventable delays, choose the relevant work route carefully, complete the sponsor application accurately and send the submission sheet and required evidence within five working days of paying the priority fee. 

If adding priority after applying, the documents must already have been sent and the application must not be in progress. 

Employers in sectors such as health and social care, hospitality, construction or technology may face urgent hiring needs, but sector and start date alone do not make an application eligible. Missing documents, unanswered requests or further checks can delay consideration and may mean the priority fee is not refunded.

Is the Pre-Licence Priority Service Fee Refundable?

The fee is refundable in limited cases. The Home Office’s refund policy provides for a refund if you withdraw before consideration begins, withdraw a duplicate application, or UKVI misses the priority timescale because of a Home Office error.

If UKVI does not offer the priority option, for example, because the daily limit has been reached, the fee will not be charged; therefore, a refund is not necessary. 

There is no refund if you withdraw after consideration has started, fail to provide the required documents within the specified time, or do not respond to a request for further information. 

The fee is not refunded if the delay is because the case is complex. Only consideration can be fast-tracked and not a final decision. If you pay for priority with your application, UKVI requires the documents promptly within five working days.

How Can IAS Help?

We understand the complex procedures of getting a priority service for sponsor licences. We are aware of the time and energy that goes into getting a sponsor licence to sponsor migrant workers.

We have experience and capable immigration solicitors to make sponsor licence application and pre-licence priority service an easier process for you.

IAS is a team of immigration specialists. Our years of experience and successful immigration outcomes make us the go-to reliable immigration specialists for UK employers or UK businesses.

We offer various services to aid your immigration needs. We provide legal advice on your immigration and Application Package for immigration, nationality and asylum applications. You can trust our Fast Track Application to submit applications and required documents before their deadline. You can use our Appeal Package if you are not satisfied with the Home Office’s decision on your application for a sponsor licence.

Call us on +44 (0)333 414 9244 for immediate help and assistance with your situation. We’re here to help you in person, via the phone, or online.