Q&As

Can Key Personnel roles be filled by an employee, a director or a partner within either the main organisation applying for the licence or a linked entity that is being included in the licence application as a branch? The guidance refers to the key personnel being from 'your organisation' but doesn't define the term but paragraph L4.69 of your Sponsor Guidance Part 1 states ‘[t]he contact address given for each of your Key Personnel must be either your main business address or that of any branch or head office you are including in, or have subsequently added to, your licence’

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Produced in partnership with Tom Marsom of Vialto Partners

Published on: 17 February 2025

Key Personnel roles must normally be a paid staff holder or office holder from within the sponsor 'organisation'. At least one Level 1 User must be an employee, a director or a partner within the organisation. There are some exceptions, as listed in the Home Office's Sponsor Guidance. The 'organisation' is a term not defined by the Home Office Guidance.

Workers and Temporary Workers - guidance for sponsors part 1: apply for a licence (accessible)—at section L5

Tom Marsom

Director (Solicitor), Vialto Partners

Tom provides specialist UK immigration and nationality advice to corporate clients and high-net-worth individuals.

Tom has significant experience providing immigration advice to UK businesses in a variety of sectors and supports them through the sponsor licence application process and subsequent applications of sponsor skilled workers and senior executives. He also helps UK businesses ensure that they are compliant with their sponsor licence duties and responsibilities and the law in relation to the prevention of illegal working.

Tom has particular expertise advising on corporate due diligence in relation to immigration law and maintaining statutory protections under the right to work regime following mergers and acquisitions.

For individuals, Tom has extensive experience advising on all aspects of the UK immigration system including the Investor, Innovator and Global Talent categories. He advises on complex family and personal situations involving permanent residence, naturalisation and passport applications.