Register of Licensed Sponsors UK

The Register of Licensed Sponsors is the official list published by the Home Office of organisations in the UK that are approved to sponsor migrant workers and students. It serves as a critical tool both for individuals seeking to come to the UK under a visa that requires sponsorship and for employers or education providers wishing to demonstrate their legitimacy as approved sponsors.

What this article is about: This guide explains what the Register of Licensed Sponsors is, how it works, and why it is important. It covers the categories of sponsorship available, how individuals can use the register to find employers or education providers, and the compliance responsibilities for sponsors. It also sets out the potential risks when dealing with organisations that are not on the register and the consequences of changes to a sponsor’s licence status.

Section A: What is the Register of Licensed Sponsors?

The Register of Licensed Sponsors is maintained by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), a division of the Home Office. It lists all organisations that hold a valid sponsor licence under the UK’s immigration system. Without being on this register, an employer cannot lawfully sponsor a migrant worker, and an education provider cannot lawfully sponsor an international student.

The register forms part of the UK’s Points-Based Immigration System (PBS). Under this system, many visa categories require sponsorship by an approved organisation. The Home Office only grants licences to organisations that meet strict criteria, including demonstrating they are genuine, solvent, and capable of carrying out the ongoing compliance duties required of sponsors.

The register provides transparency for applicants. Before applying for a visa that requires sponsorship, a migrant must ensure their intended employer or education provider is listed. Similarly, employers and institutions can point prospective hires or students to the register as evidence of their approved status.

The register covers two broad categories of sponsorship: work and study. Within these, there are sub-categories covering different visa routes, such as Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, Temporary Worker routes, and Student sponsorship.

The importance of the register cannot be overstated. For employers, it acts as proof of compliance with the immigration system. For migrants, it provides reassurance that their visa application is valid and based on a lawful sponsorship arrangement. For the Home Office, it is a tool to monitor and enforce the integrity of the immigration system.

Section Summary
The Register of Licensed Sponsors is the official Home Office list of organisations permitted to sponsor migrant workers and students under the UK immigration system. It underpins the Points-Based System, ensuring only approved organisations can issue sponsorship, and provides transparency and assurance to migrants, employers, and regulators alike.

Section B: Categories of Sponsorship on the Register

The Register of Licensed Sponsors is divided into categories that reflect the different types of immigration routes requiring sponsorship. This structure allows applicants to identify whether an organisation is licensed for the specific visa route they need. For employers and education providers, it confirms the scope of their licence and the obligations that follow from it.

1. Worker Sponsor Licences

Worker sponsor licences cover the employment-based visa categories. The most widely used is the Skilled Worker visa, which allows UK employers to recruit overseas nationals into eligible roles. The register specifies which employers are licensed and the categories of jobs they can sponsor.

Within this category sits the Health and Care Worker visa, designed for employers in the NHS, adult social care, and certain health sectors. Given acute workforce shortages in these areas, many employers on the register are approved specifically for this route.

The register also includes organisations licensed under the Global Business Mobility (GBM) routes, such as the Senior or Specialist Worker visa, UK Expansion Worker visa, and Service Supplier visa. These categories support international businesses transferring staff or expanding into the UK.

Other routes requiring worker sponsorship include roles under the Minister of Religion visa and International Sportsperson visa. Employers seeking to recruit through these channels must also appear on the register with the appropriate licence.

2. Temporary Worker Sponsor Licences

Temporary Worker licences cover short-term or specialist categories. One example is the Government Authorised Exchange route, which supports temporary placements for work experience, research, or training. Another is the Seasonal Worker route, allowing sponsors in the agricultural sector to recruit overseas workers for specific harvest periods.

The Creative Worker visa also falls within this category, designed for arts, entertainment, and sporting organisations engaging overseas talent on short contracts.

These routes are more limited in duration than worker visas and often subject to additional monitoring by the Home Office. The register makes clear which organisations hold the relevant licence, helping migrants avoid unlawful employment.

3. Student Sponsor Licences

Student sponsor licences apply to universities, colleges, and independent schools approved to enrol international students. Under the UK immigration system, only institutions on the register can issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), which is a mandatory requirement for a Student visa application.

Higher education providers must meet strict requirements, including educational oversight, compliance with academic quality standards, and adherence to reporting duties for student attendance and progression. Independent schools seeking to sponsor children under the Child Student visa are also included in this section of the register.

Institutions are assessed on their compliance history and may face sanctions if they fall short, including being downgraded to a B-rating or removed from the register entirely. For students, checking the register ensures that they are applying to a recognised institution and reduces the risk of visa refusal.

Section Summary
The Register of Licensed Sponsors is divided into worker, temporary worker, and student categories. Each reflects different visa routes under the UK immigration system, from long-term employment opportunities under the Skilled Worker route to short-term schemes like Seasonal Worker, and education-based sponsorship for international students. Understanding these categories helps migrants identify legitimate sponsors and ensures employers and institutions remain compliant with their specific licence duties.

Section C: How to Use the Register

The Register of Licensed Sponsors is not simply a list of names. It is a practical tool that enables migrants, employers, and education providers to confirm sponsorship status, check licence details, and understand the scope of an organisation’s approval. Knowing how to navigate the register ensures applicants avoid unlawful sponsorship and helps employers demonstrate their compliance credentials.

1. Finding a Licensed Sponsor

The register can be accessed on the GOV.UK website and is available as a downloadable document. Users can search by the name of the organisation, its location, or by the type of licence it holds.

For migrants, this means being able to check whether a prospective employer or educational institution is authorised to sponsor them under the specific visa route they intend to apply for. For example, a Skilled Worker applicant must ensure the employer is listed as a worker sponsor, not just a student sponsor.

The register can also be searched geographically. This allows prospective applicants to target employers in specific areas of the UK, or for students to identify education providers in their chosen region.

2. Understanding Register Information

The register contains a number of data points about each licensed sponsor. These include the organisation’s name, its town or city, and the type of licence it holds. For employers, the register may also specify the sub-categories of work they are licensed for, such as Skilled Worker or Temporary Worker.

Each sponsor is assigned a licence rating. An A-rating indicates full compliance with sponsorship requirements. A B-rating shows that the organisation has fallen below compliance standards and is subject to an action plan to improve. While B-rated sponsors can continue to sponsor existing migrants, they cannot assign new Certificates of Sponsorship until they regain an A-rating. Applicants should be aware that a B-rating signals risk for future sponsorship.

It is also important to understand what the register does not show. It does not confirm whether an employer is actively recruiting, nor does it guarantee the availability of sponsorship in practice. The register confirms only that the organisation is approved in principle.

3. Checking Employer Legitimacy

While the register provides the official record of approved sponsors, applicants should also take additional steps to verify legitimacy. Cross-checking with Companies House can confirm whether an employer is an active, registered business. For students, reviewing an institution’s accreditation and reputation offers additional assurance.

Applicants must be cautious of scams. Unlicensed employers may claim they can offer sponsorship, often in exchange for payment, but working for a non-licensed employer puts migrants at risk of visa refusal or cancellation. Using the register as the starting point, and cross-referencing with other official sources, ensures applications are grounded in lawful sponsorship opportunities.

Section Summary
The Register of Licensed Sponsors is an essential reference tool. By learning how to search, interpret licence ratings, and cross-check employer legitimacy, migrants can protect themselves from unlawful offers and improve the strength of their visa applications. For employers and education providers, appearing on the register offers a public mark of approval and trust, demonstrating compliance with UK immigration law.

Section D: Compliance and Risks

The Register of Licensed Sponsors is more than an administrative list; it is a compliance tool used by the Home Office to regulate the sponsorship system. Both employers and migrants must understand the risks and responsibilities associated with sponsorship, as failure to comply can have serious consequences.

1. For Employers

Employers holding a sponsor licence must meet strict compliance obligations. These include record-keeping, reporting changes in sponsored workers’ circumstances (such as non-attendance, resignation, changes in job role or salary), and notifying the Home Office of any organisational changes. They must also conduct ongoing right to work checks and maintain HR systems capable of withstanding Home Office audits. The Home Office has powers to carry out unannounced compliance visits at any time.

Failure to comply can lead to enforcement action. A sponsor licence can be suspended or revoked if the Home Office finds evidence of breaches such as employing workers in non-eligible roles, failing to keep proper records, or not reporting relevant changes. If a licence is revoked, the organisation is immediately removed from the register. This affects not only the business’s ability to sponsor future workers but also the visa status of any migrants currently employed under sponsorship.

2. For Migrants

Migrants sponsored by an organisation depend on that organisation’s compliance for the validity of their visa. If a sponsor’s licence is revoked, all existing sponsorship is cancelled. Sponsored migrants will normally have their visa curtailed, usually to 60 days (or less if their visa would expire sooner), to either find a new sponsor or leave the UK.

Working for an employer that is not on the register is unlawful and constitutes a breach of visa conditions. This can result in visa refusal, cancellation, or even difficulties with future immigration applications. For students, enrolling at an institution not licensed to sponsor will result in a visa refusal and the loss of tuition fees.

As such, migrants should regularly check the register to ensure their sponsor remains listed, particularly if they hear of compliance issues within the organisation.

3. Updates and Changes

The register is updated on a daily basis by the Home Office to reflect new approvals, suspensions, downgrades, and revocations. Employers and institutions may appear or disappear from the list at short notice.

Applicants should always consult the latest version of the register before making a visa application. Relying on outdated copies risks basing an application on a sponsor who is no longer licensed. Employers should also monitor their own status and be prepared to respond quickly to any changes in their rating or licence conditions.

Section Summary
Compliance is central to the sponsorship system. Employers face suspension or revocation if they fail to meet Home Office standards, while migrants risk losing their visa if their sponsor loses its licence or if they work unlawfully for a non-licensed organisation. Regular monitoring of the register ensures that both employers and migrants remain aligned with the current state of the sponsorship system.

FAQs

What is the UK Register of Licensed Sponsors?
The Register of Licensed Sponsors is the official Home Office list of organisations in the UK approved to sponsor migrant workers and students under the Points-Based Immigration System.

How can I find a company in the UK to sponsor my visa?
You can search the register by organisation name, location, or licence type on the GOV.UK website. Only employers and institutions listed on the register are authorised to issue sponsorship.

How often is the register updated?
The Home Office updates the register on a daily basis to reflect new approvals, downgrades, suspensions, and revocations. Applicants should always check the most recent version before applying for a visa.

What happens if my employer is removed from the register?
If your employer loses its licence, your visa may be curtailed. You will usually be given 60 days, or less if your visa expires sooner, to find a new sponsor or make arrangements to leave the UK.

Can I switch to another sponsor if my current sponsor loses their licence?
Yes, provided you can find another employer or institution on the register that is licensed for your visa route. You will need to apply for a new visa with a new Certificate of Sponsorship (or CAS for students).

Conclusion

The Register of Licensed Sponsors is a cornerstone of the UK’s immigration system. It ensures that only approved organisations can sponsor overseas workers and students, providing transparency and protection for applicants while helping the Home Office monitor compliance.

For employers and education providers, being listed on the register is not only a legal requirement but also a mark of credibility, showing they meet the standards expected of sponsors. For migrants, checking the register before applying for a visa is essential to avoid unlawful sponsorship and the risks of refusal or curtailment.

By understanding the categories of sponsorship, how to navigate the register, and the compliance obligations tied to it, both employers and migrants can protect their positions and make informed decisions. Staying up to date with changes on the register is crucial, as licence suspensions, downgrades, or removals can happen at short notice.

In summary, the register is not just a list — it is a live record of the organisations that form the backbone of the UK’s sponsored visa system.

Glossary

Useful Links