What Is a Level 1 User on Your Sponsor Licence?

Sponsor Management System SMS Dashboard: Level 1 User Overview

When your organisation holds a UK sponsor licence, you must appoint key personnel to manage it. One of the most critical roles is the Level 1 User. In this blog, we explain who a Level 1 User is, why you need one (or more), the rules around appointments, the Home Office checks involved, and the everyday tasks they handle via the Sponsor Management System (SMS).

Defining the Level 1 User

A Level 1 User is a designated point-person responsible for the day-to-day administration of your sponsor licence through the Home Office’s online portal (the SMS). Alongside the Authorising Officer and Key Contact, they ensure migrant workers’ visa processes run smoothly and that your compliance obligations are met.

Minimum and Additional Appointments

At least one: Every sponsor licence must name a Level 1 User before grant.
Multiple users: You can add more Level 1 Users once your licence is live. This helps cover holidays, sick leave or spikes in reporting workload, especially if you sponsor many Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visas.

Solicitors as Level 1 Users

Initial nomination: The first Level 1 User must be a paid employee or office-holder (e.g., director, company secretary) of your organisation.
Post-grant additions: Once your licence is approved, you may appoint UK-based immigration solicitors or third-party HR providers as extra Level 1 Users to share the load.

Who Can (and Cannot) Be a Level 1 User?

To qualify, a person must:

Be based predominantly in the UK
Hold paid staff status or be an office-holder of the licence-holding entity

They must not be:

Freelance or contract workers
Temporary agency staff or consultants on specific projects
Subject to bankruptcy/debt relief restrictions
Disqualified company directors

Home Office Vetting and Ongoing Checks

When you nominate a Level 1 User, the Home Office will vet them for:

Unspent criminal convictions
Past immigration non-compliance
Appropriate immigration status (British citizen, settled status or ILR)

After approval, you must monitor continued eligibility. If your Level 1 User spends significant time overseas or no longer meets the criteria, appoint a replacement promptly to avoid licence suspension.