Intro
If your organisation holds a UK sponsor licence, you will know that keeping your licence details up to date is not optional – it is a legal requirement. But with standard processing times for sponsor change of circumstances requests running at up to 18 weeks, waiting for the Home Office to action an urgent update can seriously disrupt your recruitment plans and put your compliance standing at risk. The post-licence priority service exists to address exactly this problem. For a fee of Β£350 per request, eligible sponsors can apply for faster consideration of certain licence changes, with a target turnaround of just five working days. This guide explains everything you need to know about how the service works, who can use it, what changes are eligible, and how to submit a request that actually gets accepted.
What the post-licence priority service actually is
The post-licence priority service is a facility offered by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) that allows licensed sponsors to apply for expedited consideration of certain types of sponsor licence changes. It is available to sponsors on the Worker and Temporary Worker routes and is designed to reduce the delays that would otherwise result from standard processing timelines.
Without using the priority service, sponsors can expect change of circumstances requests to take up to 18 weeks to be processed. This can cause real operational problems – particularly where the change relates to key personnel, Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) allocations, or a new business address. The priority service offers a target decision within five working days, starting from the working day after payment is confirmed, or after UKVI receives the signed submission sheet where one is required.
It is important to be clear about what the service does and does not do. It speeds up consideration of the request, but it does not guarantee approval. If the underlying change does not meet UKVI’s requirements, or if the supporting documents are insufficient, the request will still be refused – it will simply be refused more quickly. Sponsors should approach the service as a tool for reducing waiting times, not for bypassing compliance standards.
How much the post-licence priority service costs
The fee for each priority request is Β£350. This is payable per request, not per licence, which means that if you need to submit multiple changes – for example, a change of address alongside an update to your Authorising Officer’s details – you will need to pay Β£350 for each separate action.
In most cases the fee is non-refundable. UKVI will only issue a refund in very limited circumstances, such as where a technical error on their part prevented processing, or where a duplicate payment was made. If your request is rejected because it was ineligible, incomplete, or submitted after the daily allocation had been reached, you will not get your money back. This makes it essential to verify eligibility and prepare your documents carefully before submitting.
Who is eligible to use the post-licence priority service
The post-licence priority service is only available to sponsors who hold an A-rated, fully active licence under the Worker and/or Temporary Worker immigration routes. It cannot be used for Student route cases, and UKVI has confirmed that it will not accept priority requests for the Global Business Mobility sub-routes, including the UK Expansion Worker route, Service Supplier route, and Secondment Worker route.
If your licence has been downgraded to a B-rating, you are not eligible to use the service. A B-rating is issued when UKVI has concerns about your compliance with sponsorship duties. Until you have restored your A-rating, you cannot issue new Certificates of Sponsorship or access the priority service.
To be eligible, you must also meet the following conditions before emailing the priority mailbox:
- You must have already submitted the change of circumstances request through your Sponsor Management System (SMS) account
- Where the change requires a submission sheet – for example, replacing your Authorising Officer or appointing a representative – the signed sheet must be available to attach
- The request must not already be in progress or assigned to a caseworker
- The type of change must fall within the list of permitted priority request categories
Which types of changes can be fast-tracked
Not all licence changes are eligible for the priority service. The following are the main categories that can be expedited:
Requesting additional or annual undefined CoS allocation
If your existing allocation of undefined Certificates of Sponsorship has run out, or if your annual allocation request has not yet been processed, you can use the priority service to have these considered more quickly. This can be especially important for organisations with time-sensitive recruitment needs. It is vital to note that only undefined CoS can be prioritised. Defined CoS – used for workers applying from overseas – are handled through a separate process in the SMS and cannot be fast-tracked through this route.
Adding or changing a Level 1 user
The Level 1 user is responsible for day-to-day management of the sponsor licence through the SMS. If a new Level 1 user needs to be added or an existing one replaced – due to staff changes or internal restructuring – the priority service can help ensure that access to the SMS is restored or updated without delay. Without an active Level 1 user, sponsors may struggle to fulfil their ongoing reporting and compliance duties.
Replacing your Authorising Officer or Key Contact
The Authorising Officer (AO) is the most senior person legally responsible for the sponsor licence. If this role becomes vacant and is not updated promptly, UKVI may treat the licence as non-compliant. The same applies to the Key Contact. Using the priority service for these changes is strongly advisable where there has been a sudden departure or organisational restructure. Note that a signed submission sheet generated through the SMS is required for these request types.
Amending details for your current AO or Key Contact
Even where the individual holding the AO or Key Contact role has not changed, their details – such as job title, email address, or place of work – must be kept accurate. Outdated information can cause problems during compliance checks and may result in UKVI communications failing to reach the right person. The priority service can be used to expedite these updates.
Appointing a representative
If you wish to appoint an immigration adviser or law firm to act on your behalf in dealings with UKVI, this appointment must be approved by the Home Office. Where urgent external support is needed, the priority service offers a faster route to having the representative formally recognised. A signed submission sheet is required for this type of request.
Updating your organisation’s address
Where your business has moved to new premises, you are required to notify UKVI promptly. An outdated address can create issues during site visits or inspections, and may call into question whether you are managing your licence in good faith. The priority service allows you to have address changes considered more quickly, which is particularly useful during periods of relocation or organisational change.
What the processing time actually looks like
UKVI aims to issue a decision within five working days of accepting a priority request. The clock starts on the working day after payment is made. If a submission sheet is required, the five-day period begins the day after UKVI receives the signed document.
However, five working days is a target, not a guarantee. For more complex requests – such as corporate restructures, unusual CoS allocation requests, or cases where UKVI has compliance concerns – additional checks may be carried out. In these situations, the Authorising Officer may receive an email requesting further information, and the decision may take longer. It is essential that all key personnel monitor their inboxes, including junk and spam folders, and respond to any UKVI queries within the timeframe specified.
How to submit a post-licence priority service request correctly
Getting the submission right the first time matters enormously. A rejected request means a lost fee and potential delays to your licence compliance. Follow these steps carefully:
Submit the change through SMS first
Before doing anything else, log the change of circumstances through your SMS account. This is non-negotiable. UKVI will not consider a priority request unless the underlying action has already been recorded in the system. Emailing the priority mailbox before completing this step will result in automatic rejection and loss of the Β£350 fee.
Generate and sign the submission sheet where required
For certain request types – including replacing an Authorising Officer or appointing a representative – the SMS will generate a submission sheet. This must be downloaded, signed by the appropriate senior individual, and attached to your priority request email. Without it, the request will be refused.
Prepare your supporting documents
Gather all evidence required for the change in question. Documents must be in PDF, JPEG, PNG, or Word format. File names must be descriptive and no longer than 25 characters. Unreadable scans, incorrect file formats, or missing attachments are among the most common reasons for rejection.
Complete the priority request form
Fill in the Worker and Temporary Worker priority request form in full. Every detail β including your organisation name, licence number, and the type of change being requested β must match exactly what you submitted in the SMS. Inconsistencies between the form and the SMS record will lead to refusal.
Email the priority mailbox
Send your completed application by email to PostLicencePriorityService@homeoffice.gov.uk. The subject line must follow this exact format: “Priority service request: [organisation name] ([licence number]): [request type]”. The mailbox is open Monday to Friday, from 7am to 5pm UK time, excluding public holidays. Requests submitted outside these hours will not be processed.
UKVI accepts a minimum of 120 priority requests each working day. Demand is high and the daily allocation often fills quickly, so submit your request promptly after 7am to give it the best chance of being accepted. Only include requests for a single licence in each email – mixing requests for different licences in one email will result in rejection.
Watch for acceptance and payment emails
If your request is accepted, UKVI will send two emails: one confirming acceptance and one containing a payment link. Monitor all relevant inboxes carefully, including junk folders. If you do not receive confirmation, you should assume your request was not accepted and plan accordingly.
Pay the fee within 72 hours
Once you receive the payment link, you have 72 hours to pay – and weekends count. If you miss this window, the request expires and you will need to start the process again. Arrange internal sign-off in advance so that payment can be made without delay.
Respond promptly to any UKVI queries
If UKVI requires further information, they will contact the Authorising Officer by email. Any slow or incomplete response risks the request being refused. Keep your supporting documents to hand so that you can reply within the timeframe specified.
Common reasons why priority requests are rejected
Understanding where requests typically go wrong can help you avoid costly mistakes:
- Emailing the priority mailbox before submitting the change through the SMS
- Failing to attach the signed submission sheet where required
- Including a defined CoS request, which is not eligible for the priority service
- Submitting the request when the change is already in progress or assigned to a caseworker
- Sending the email after the daily allocation of 120 slots has been reached
- Attaching documents in the wrong format or with file names longer than 25 characters
- Using a B-rated or inactive licence, or submitting for an ineligible route
In all of these cases, the Β£350 fee will not be refunded.
What happens after the priority request is decided
Once UKVI has reviewed the request, the outcome will be sent by email to the key personnel named on the licence. This could be an approval, a request for additional information, or a refusal. Where the change is approved, update your internal records and retain all documents and correspondence as part of your compliance file.
If the request is refused, identify and resolve the underlying issue before resubmitting. Do not resubmit the same defective request – doing so can signal poor licence management to UKVI and may carry compliance consequences. Also check whether your 10 or 20 working day reporting duty is still outstanding, as this timeline continues to run regardless of the outcome of the priority request.
How Lawsentis can help you manage your sponsor licence
Managing a UK sponsor licence comes with significant compliance responsibilities, and the pressure to act quickly – particularly when key personnel change or your CoS allocation runs out – can lead to costly mistakes. At Lawsentis, we provide clear, expert guidance to help employers stay on top of their obligations and make the most of services like the post-licence priority route.
Lawsentis is regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) at Level 3, which means we are authorised to advise on complex immigration matters and assist with sponsor licence compliance. Whether you need help preparing a priority request, understanding your reporting duties, or responding to UKVI queries, our team is here to support you every step of the way.
We can help you to:
- Assess whether your request is eligible for the priority service before you commit the Β£350 fee
- Prepare and quality-check your priority request form and supporting documents
- Advise on your ongoing sponsor licence compliance duties
- Assist with SMS submissions and change of circumstances reporting
- Respond to UKVI queries or compliance concerns on your behalf
If you are unsure whether your licence changes qualify for priority processing, or if you have received correspondence from UKVI that requires a prompt response, do not delay in seeking advice. Contact Lawsentis today to speak with one of our IAA-regulated advisers.