Complete UK Post Licence Priority Service Guide for Sponsors in 2026

Key Takeaways

• Priority speeds up decisions but does not remove checks.
• Only A-rated sponsors can apply, and eligibility is limited.
• Requests must be submitted in the Sponsorship Management System first.
• Priority slots are limited and fill quickly each day.
• The £350 fee applies per request and is usually non-refundable.
• The service helps manage urgent staffing and compliance needs.

Introduction

UK sponsor licenses come with continuing obligations. Once a licence has been issued, sponsors must maintain their information up to date and respond fast when business requirements change. In reality, this generally includes emailing amendments to the Home Office through the Sponsorship Management System and waiting for them to be reviewed.

Waiting periods for post-licence modifications will still be unknown in 2026. Some requests are completed immediately. While others may remain in the system for weeks. Delays can pose a significant operational risk to firms coping with urgent workforce demands, compliance deadlines or Certificate of Sponsorship obligations.

The Post Licence Priority Service exists to address this issue. It allows eligible sponsors to request faster consideration of certain licence changes, including CoS priority allocation requests.

This guide explains how the service works, who can use it, and how sponsors can improve their chances of success.

Understanding the Post Licence Priority Service

The Post Licence Priority Service is a Home Office option that allows sponsors to pay for faster processing of specific changes submitted after a sponsor licence has already been granted. These are known as post-licence changes.

After getting a license, requests go into a regular queue for processing normally. But with the priority service, your request jumps into a quicker review, so you should get a decision much faster.

People usually use this service when delays could affect:

• hiring schedules
• visa dates
• compliance obligations
• keeping the business running

While the service can speed up decisions, it does not change the rules that apply to the underlying request. All applications are still assessed against the sponsor guidance.

What Types of Requests Can Use the Priority Service

Not all sponsor licence changes qualify for priority handling. The Home Office limits the service to specific post-licence actions.

Common requests that may be eligible include:

• Requests for additional undefined CoS allocation
• Annual CoS priority allocation requests
• Changes to Level 1 or Level 2 users
• Replacement of the Authorising Officer or Key Contact
• Updates to organisational details such as address changes
• Appointment of a legal representative

For many sponsors, the most critical use of the service is securing a CoS priority slot when additional certificates are needed urgently.

Defined Certificates of Sponsorship, used for overseas hires, are not covered by the post-licence priority service.

Who Can Use the Post Licence Priority Service

Eligibility is tightly controlled.

To access the priority service, the sponsor must:

• Hold an active A-rated sponsor licence
• Be licensed under an eligible Worker or Temporary Worker route
• Have already submitted the relevant change through the Sponsor Management System
• Ensure the request has not yet been allocated to a Home Office caseworker

Sponsors with a B-rating cannot use the priority service until their licence rating is restored. Organisations that have a dedicated Home Office account manager under premium services also use a different process and do not normally access this route.

How the Daily Priority Slot System Works

One of the most important practical points is the daily limit.

The Home Office releases a restricted number of priority service slots each working day. Once these slots are filled, no further requests are accepted until the next working day.

This applies to all types of post-licence priority requests, including:

• cos priority slot requests
• key personnel changes
• licence detail updates

Because of this limit, time becomes essential. Sponsors that prepare documents ahead of time and submit it early in the day are more likely to get a space.

Costs and Processing Time

Disclaimer: Sponsors should treat the fee as non-refundable in most situations.