The Highly Trusted sponsor licence is a new category awarded to Tier 4 sponsors which have a track record of recruiting genuine students who comply with the UK’s immigration rules.
All sponsors under the Tier 4 of the points-based system will receive an ‘A’ or ‘B’ rating when completing a successful sponsorship licence application. The Highly Trusted sponsor category is a further segmentation of the sponsor rating system. It is designed to identify sponsors who have the highest levels of compliance with their sponsor obligations, and those students show the greatest compliance with the terms of their visa or permission to stay.
Highly Trusted sponsors must meet the UK Border Agency criteria when holding a Highly Trusted sponsor licence. When sponsors have successful achieved Highly Trusted Sponsor status there will be greater flexibility, more privileges, and new services available to them.
A Highly Trusted sponsor licence is valid for a period of 1 year, which must be renewed to continue holding the Highly Trusted sponsor status.