Check Any UK Employer's Sponsor Licence Status
Need to know if a UK employer is a licensed sponsor? Our free tool searches the live UKVI Register of Licensed Sponsors in real time. Whether you hold a sponsor licence yourself and want to check your status, you are a worker verifying a prospective employer, or you are a business that has just been suspended - you will have your answer in seconds.
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Check Sponsor Licence Status
I need to check if a company holds a sponsor licence
Instantly verify any UK employer against the live UKVI Register of Licensed Sponsors. See licence status, understand what it means, and get your next steps.
Who it's for
Who Uses the Sponsor Licence Status Checker?
- 01
Employers checking their own licence
Quickly confirm your licence is active and rated A before issuing Certificates of Sponsorship. UKVI can change licence status without prior notice - it is worth checking regularly.
- 02
Workers and job candidates
Before accepting a job offer that requires visa sponsorship, verify that the employer is genuinely on the UKVI register. A company that claims to offer sponsorship but is not listed cannot legally issue a Certificate of Sponsorship.
- 03
Businesses facing suspension or revocation
If you have received a Home Office notice, use this tool to confirm your current status and then contact WPC Lawyers immediately. You have as little as 20 working days to respond.
- 04
Accountants, HR teams, and compliance officers
Run a quick check as part of your onboarding process or annual compliance review to confirm your licence remains active.
The register
What Is the UKVI Register of Licensed Sponsors?
The official Home Office publication of every UK employer currently licensed to sponsor Skilled Workers.
The Register of Licensed Sponsors: Workers is an official Home Office publication listing every UK employer that currently holds a valid sponsor licence. It is updated regularly by UKVI and is the authoritative source for verifying whether an employer can legally sponsor Skilled Workers, Senior or Specialist Workers, and other worker visa categories.
The register shows the employer's name, location, and current licence rating. It does not show all historical changes - which is why understanding your current status and what it means is critical.
Each licensed sponsor is assigned a rating by UKVI. To understand what your rating means for your ability to issue sponsorship, read the linked guide below.
Understand the rating system before interpreting any result:
Understanding your result
3 possible outcomes
Our tool returns one of three results when you search a company name. Here is exactly what each result means and what to do next.
Licence Active
Company appears on UKVI Register with an active licence.
- Can legally assign Certificates of Sponsorship to eligible workers.
- Ongoing HR compliance obligations are in force.
- UKVI can still suspend licences without prior warning.
An active licence is the start, not the finish. The Home Office now conducts remote compliance monitoring using HMRC payroll data - without visiting your premises.
Immediate action required
Cannot issue new CoS. Existing workers at risk.
- No new Certificates of Sponsorship can be assigned.
- Existing sponsored workers risk visa curtailment - typically 60 days.
- Formal UKVI response required within - 20 working days.
- Every day without action narrows your options.
Time is critical. There is no right of appeal against revocation - but there may be grounds for Judicial Review. WPC Lawyers reachable same day.
Not on the register
Company does not appear on the UKVI Register.
- The business may not hold a sponsor licence.
- Company name searched may differ from Companies House name.
- Licence may have been recently revoked and removed.
For workers: Do not accept a job offer dependent on sponsorship from a company not found. Any visa application using their details will be refused.
If your business is not yet on the register and wants to apply,
Start with our free eligibility check
Active licence
Your Ongoing Compliance Obligations
Holding an active sponsor licence is not a one-time achievement - it carries ongoing duties under Home Office Sponsor Guidance Part 3. Failure to meet them can result in downgrade, suspension, or revocation without warning.
Right to Work (RTW) checks
Conduct and record compliant RTW checks for all employees - not just sponsored workers - before their first day.
Sponsor Management System (SMS) reporting
Report changes in sponsored workers’ circumstances - absence, salary changes, role changes - within set timeframes via the SMS.
Record keeping
Maintain all documentation required under Appendix D of the Immigration Rules for the duration of each sponsored worker’s employment.
Licence renewal
Monitor your licence rating and renewal obligations. A B-rated licence restricts your ability to issue new CoS.
Salary threshold compliance
Ensure sponsored workers are paid at or above the required salary threshold for their role throughout their employment. UKVI cross-checks this against HMRC RTI payroll data.
Find out how WPC’s HR software automates all of the above:
HR Compliance SoftwareWhy check regularly
UKVI can change your status without warning
Many employers only discover their licence has been downgraded, suspended, or revoked when a Certificate of Sponsorship is refused - by which point they may already be in breach of their duties to existing sponsored workers.
UKVI can change your licence status at any time - including downgrading from A-rating to B-rating.
Suspended licences are not always preceded by a warning visit. The Home Office now conducts remote compliance checks using HMRC payroll data.
Workers whose employer's licence is revoked enter a 60-day curtailment window to find a new sponsor or leave the UK.
A regular status check takes seconds and can flag issues before they become crises.
Read more: Avoid Sponsor Licence Revocation - How the Home Office Remotely Monitors Compliance
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From initial licence application through to ongoing HR compliance software.
Whether your licence is active, suspended, revoked, or you do not yet have one - WPC has a specialist team for every situation.
Book Free ConsultationNeed help?
Need Help With Your Sponsor Licence Status?
Whether your licence is active, suspended, revoked, or you do not yet have one - WorkPermitCloud has a specialist team for every situation.
FAQ
Common questions
How do I check if a UK employer has a sponsor licence?
You can check by searching the Register of Licensed Sponsors: Workers on GOV.UK, which is the official Home Office list updated regularly. Alternatively, use WorkPermitCloud's free Sponsor Licence Status Check tool above - it searches the same live UKVI register instantly and tells you whether the employer's licence is active, suspended, or revoked.
What does it mean if a company is not on the UKVI register?
If a company does not appear on the Register of Licensed Sponsors, they do not currently hold a valid UK sponsor licence. They cannot legally issue a Certificate of Sponsorship, and any Skilled Worker visa application naming them as sponsor will be refused. The company name you searched may also differ from their official Companies House name - try searching their exact registered business name.
What happens to workers if their employer’s sponsor licence is revoked?
If your employer’s sponsor licence is revoked, the Home Office will typically curtail your visa - giving you 60 days to find a new licensed sponsor or leave the UK. You can continue working for your current employer during that 60-day period unless the Home Office explicitly restricts this.
What is the difference between a sponsor licence suspension and revocation?
A suspension is a temporary measure where the Home Office restricts your licence while investigating a potential breach. You cannot issue new Certificates of Sponsorship during suspension, but the licence has not been permanently removed. A revocation is permanent - your licence is cancelled and all sponsored workers enter a curtailment period. There is no right of appeal against revocation, though Judicial Review may be possible.
How long do I have to respond to a sponsor licence suspension notice?
The Home Office typically requires a formal response within 20 working days of the suspension notice. Missing this deadline almost always results in revocation. WorkPermitCloud's legal team specialises in drafting UKVI suspension responses and can be engaged the same day - call WPC Lawyers on 020 3633 0909 immediately.
What is an A-rating vs B-rating on a sponsor licence?
An A-rating is the standard licence rating - it allows you to issue new Certificates of Sponsorship freely. A B-rating is a downgrade applied when UKVI identifies compliance concerns. While B-rated, you cannot issue new CoS until you complete an action plan and are upgraded back to A. Persistent B-rating issues can lead to suspension.
Can I check a competitor’s or partner’s sponsor licence status?
Yes. The UKVI Register of Licensed Sponsors is a publicly available document - anyone can search it. WorkPermitCloud's status checker searches the same public register. Employers commonly use it to verify business partners, check whether a candidate's previous employer was genuinely licenced, or benchmark their own compliance status.
How often is the UKVI Register of Licensed Sponsors updated?
The Home Office updates the register regularly - typically weekly. However, changes to a licence status (e.g., suspension or revocation) can be applied immediately and may not appear on the next scheduled update. WorkPermitCloud's status tool queries the most recently published version of the register.
My company name is on the register but I cannot assign a CoS - why?
Being listed on the register does not always mean you can issue new Certificates of Sponsorship. Your licence may have been downgraded to a B-rating, which restricts new CoS issuance until an action plan is completed. Alternatively, you may have used your full CoS allocation for the current period, or your specific role may require a Defined CoS rather than an Undefined one.
Still have questions?
Have a specific compliance concern? Talk to an Adviser