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The Register of Licensed Sponsors is the official Residence Workplace listing of accredited UK work visa sponsors. It exhibits which organisations maintain an energetic sponsor licence on the Employee and Momentary Employee routes. Due to this, the register issues to each employers and staff. It helps hiring plans, due diligence, and immigration danger management.
| Level | Abstract |
| Who maintains it | UK Visas and Immigration, a part of the Residence Workplace |
| Official title | Register of licensed sponsors: staff |
| What it lists | Organisations licensed to sponsor Employee and Momentary Employee routes |
| Information proven | Sponsor title, location, route varieties, ranking, and extra |
| Format | CSV file, up to date very incessantly, usually day by day |
| The place to seek out it | GOV.UK, below Visa sponsorship and Work within the UK |
Fast definition
The UK Register of Licensed Sponsors is the general public listing that confirms whether or not an organisation can sponsor staff for UK visas.
The Register of Licensed Sponsors lists each organisation that at the moment holds a Employee or Momentary Employee sponsor licence. It additionally exhibits which classes every sponsor can use, for instance Expert Employee or International Enterprise Mobility. As well as, the register exhibits whether or not the sponsor holds an A ranking or a downgraded ranking.
Subsequently, the register acts as a public affirmation that the Residence Workplace trusts that organisation to satisfy sponsor duties.
How the Register Hyperlinks to Sponsor Licences
A sponsor seems on the register solely after the Residence Workplace grants a licence.
Nevertheless, the register doesn’t cowl each visa route. It focuses on Employee and Momentary Employee sponsorship, reasonably than scholar or customer routes.
Consequently, the register works alongside, not as an alternative of, wider proper to work checks and firm checks.
For Employers
For UK employers, the Residence Workplace Register of Sponsors helps in a number of methods:
- It proves licence standing to shoppers, candidates, and regulators.
- It helps tender bids the place proof of worldwide hiring capability is required.
- It reassures banks and traders that immigration methods exist and performance.
As well as, look on the register can assist recruitment advertising and marketing. It exhibits that your organisation invests in international expertise and compliance.
For Sponsored Staff and Candidates
For staff, the Register of Licensed Sponsors UK acts as a fundamental fraud and danger test:
- You may verify {that a} potential employer really holds a licence.
- You may test the right authorized title and placement earlier than signing contracts.
- You may see which routes the employer can genuinely use.
Due to this, many candidates now test the register earlier than paying any charges or relocation prices.
Step 1: Go to the official GOV.UK web page
You may entry the Residence Workplace Register of Sponsors on GOV.UK below “Register of licensed sponsors: staff.” (GOV.UK)
The web page hyperlinks to a CSV file held on the federal government publishing platform.
Step 2: Obtain or View the CSV
You may both obtain the CSV or use the net viewer. (GOV.UK)
Nevertheless, most customers want to obtain and open the file in Excel or related instruments.
Step 3: Filter the Register Successfully
As soon as open, you possibly can filter by:
- Sponsor title
- City or area
- Route sort, for instance Expert Employee
- Licence ranking
For instance, a nurse can seek for NHS Trusts in a particular area. A tech employee can filter for Expert Employee sponsors in London.
Step 4: Cross Verify with Different Sources
The register confirms licence standing at a time limit. Nevertheless, it doesn’t exchange wider checks.
Subsequently, candidates must also:
- Overview Firms Home information the place out there.
- Verify the employer web site and speak to particulars.
- Search authorized recommendation if something feels unclear or inconsistent.
The Register of Licensed Sponsors UK covers organisations that:
- Maintain an energetic Employee or Momentary Employee sponsor licence.
- Meet Residence Workplace eligibility and suitability guidelines. (GOV.UK)
- Keep an applicable licence ranking below the sponsor ranking system. (GOV.UK)
Licence Rankings on the Register
Sponsors can maintain completely different scores:
Due to this, the ranking column issues virtually as a lot because the sponsor title itself.
Vital
If a sponsor loses its licence, it disappears from the register. That change has critical penalties for present sponsored staff.
To look on the register, an organisation should first safe a sponsor licence.
Core Eligibility Checks (GOV.UK)
The Residence Workplace will count on that an organisation:
- Operates lawfully within the UK with real buying and selling exercise.
- Has HR methods to observe sponsored staff and preserve information.
- Has no related unspent felony or civil penalties for immigration offences.
- Can supply real roles at appropriate ability and wage ranges.
As well as, UKVI might go to the enterprise to check methods earlier than granting a licence.
Utility Course of in Define(GOV.UK)
To safe a licence and later seem on the Register of Licensed Sponsors, an employer should:
- Verify the enterprise and position varieties match the sponsor system.
- Select the right licence sort, for instance Employee, Momentary Employee, or each.
- Nominate key personnel, such because the Authorising Officer and Degree 1 consumer.
- Full the net licence software and pay the payment.
- Electronic mail the submission sheet and supporting paperwork inside the required timeframe.
Subsequently, cautious preparation earlier than submission normally saves time and reduces danger.
Licence Utility Charges
Present Residence Workplace licence charges rely upon organisation measurement and licence sort.
| Licence sort | Small or charitable sponsor | Medium or giant sponsor |
| Employee | £574 | £1,579 |
| Momentary Employee | £574 | £574 |
| Employee and Momentary Employee | £574 | £1,579 |
You need to pay these charges from enterprise funds. Sponsors can not move these licence charges to sponsored staff.
Immigration Abilities Cost
Most Expert Employee and a few International Enterprise Mobility roles set off the Immigration Abilities Cost.
Present annual charges are:
- £364 per yr for small or charitable sponsors.
- £1,000 per yr for medium or giant sponsors.
From 16 December 2025, these annual charges will rise to £480 and £1,320. Due to this enhance, employers ought to assessment budgets and supply letters effectively prematurely of latest assignments.
Different Typical Prices
As well as, sponsors ought to finances for:
- Authorized and compliance assist
- Inside resourcing for HR and monitoring
- Prices linked to proper to work checks and document maintaining.
Normal Processing Instances
Most sponsor licence functions obtain a choice in below eight weeks. Nevertheless, precise occasions can range with:
- Residence Workplace workload.
- Enterprise complexity.
- High quality and completeness of paperwork.
As soon as granted, the licence particulars feed into the register as a part of common updates.
Precedence Processing
A paid precedence service can shorten determination occasions. At the moment, eligible sponsors will pay £750 for a quicker determination, normally inside 10 working days.
This service runs on a primary come, first served foundation every working day. Due to restricted slots, many employers put together functions absolutely earlier than chasing precedence entry.
For Employers
Sensible methods employers can use the UK Register of Licensed Sponsors embrace:
- Demonstrating licence standing to candidates and companions.
- Benchmarking towards rivals in the identical sector or area.
- Checking how your itemizing seems after any change of title or construction.
As well as, sponsors can assessment route protection and contemplate whether or not additional licence varieties would assist development.
For Staff and HR Candidates
Staff and HR professionals can use the Register of Licensed Sponsors UK to:
- Verify whether or not a job supply pertains to a real sponsor.
- Evaluate completely different employers that maintain Expert Employee capability.
- Confirm {that a} sponsor nonetheless seems on the listing earlier than relocation.
As a result of licence standing can change, it helps to test close to key milestones, corresponding to visa software dates.
For Employers
Employers typically deal with licence approval because the end line. Nevertheless, the true danger lies in ongoing compliance.
If UKVI finds critical breaches, it could:
Consequently, the organisation might vanish from the Residence Workplace Register of Sponsors. Sponsored staff then face pressing immigration choices.
For Staff
Staff typically assume that an look on the register ensures visa approval. Nevertheless, that assumption is unsafe.
The register confirms solely that:
- The employer holds a licence.
- The licence covers particular routes.
Visa choices nonetheless rely upon:
- Position sort and ability degree.
- Wage and allowances.
- Private immigration and safety historical past.
Subsequently, candidates ought to deal with the register as a beginning test, not the complete image.
You may take into consideration sponsor compliance below three headings:
- Programs
Be sure HR methods observe attendance, position adjustments, and visa dates.
- Reporting
Report required adjustments inside Residence Workplace deadlines, together with terminations and vital position adjustments.
- Proof
Preserve clear information of recruitment, salaries, and proper to work checks.
If you happen to keep these three pillars, you cut back the danger of downgrades and removing from the Register of Licensed Sponsors.
Instance 1: Tech scale up hiring engineers
A development stage tech firm needs to rent software program engineers from India.
It secures a Employee sponsor licence, seems on the register, and assigns Certificates of Sponsorship for Expert Employee roles.
As a result of the corporate holds an A ranking, it will probably preserve sponsoring new hires so long as it meets its duties.
Instance 2: Healthcare supplier with compliance points
A regional care supplier receives a compliance go to.
UKVI finds poor document maintaining and unreported adjustments. The licence is downgraded to B and later revoked.
Consequently, the supplier disappears from the Register of Licensed Sponsors UK. Present employees then want pressing immigration recommendation on choices.
What’s the Register of Licensed Sponsors in Easy Phrases?
It’s the official Residence Workplace listing of employers allowed to sponsor many UK work visas.
How Usually Does the UK Register of Licensed Sponsors Replace?
The register updates very incessantly, usually on most working days. Subsequently, it’s best to all the time obtain the newest model earlier than making choices.
Does Showing on the Register Assure a Visa?
No.The register confirms sponsor standing solely. Visa choices nonetheless rely upon position suitability and private eligibility.
Can a Sponsor Disappear From the Register?
Sure. Suspension or revocation of a licence results in removing from the register. Subsequently, staff ought to test the register once more earlier than submitting functions.
How Can I Verify if My UK Job Provide is Real?
It is best to:
- Seek for the employer on the Register of Licensed Sponsors UK.
- Verify that the authorized title matches your supply.
- Search recommendation if any particulars look inconsistent.
How Lengthy Does it Take for a New Sponsor to Seem on the Register?
As soon as the Residence Workplace grants the licence, the sponsor seems on the register as a part of routine updates. Most functions end inside eight weeks, or quicker with precedence service the place out there.
Correct use of the Register of Licensed Sponsors helps protected hiring and profession choices. Nevertheless, the principles and updates transfer rapidly.
Our staff can:
- Overview your present or deliberate sponsor licence technique.
- Assist put together or refine licence functions and supporting paperwork.
- Audit HR methods earlier than or after a Residence Workplace go to.
- Advise sponsored staff the place a licence is downgraded, suspended, or revoked.
If you happen to want tailor-made recommendation on the register, sponsor licences, or work visa technique, contact our enterprise immigration staff for a centered session.
Vital discover:
This steerage displays public data and observe in November 2025. At all times test the newest Residence Workplace publications or receive authorized recommendation earlier than making choices.
