UK Visa Sponsor — Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the UK sponsor licence check, the register of licensed sponsors, Skilled Worker visas, and how to verify if a company can sponsor your visa.
What is a UK sponsor licence?
A UK sponsor licence is official permission granted by UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) that allows a company to employ workers from overseas on certain visa routes. Without a sponsor licence, a UK employer cannot legally sponsor international workers for work visas.
What does an A-rated sponsor mean?
An A-rated sponsor licence means the company has a clean compliance record with UKVI and is fully approved to sponsor workers. A-rating is the standard rating for fully compliant sponsors. If a company receives a B-rating, it means UKVI has found compliance concerns and the sponsor must follow a corrective action plan. Always prefer A-rated sponsors when evaluating job offers.
Can a company sponsor a visa without a licence?
No. A company cannot legally sponsor a worker for a Skilled Worker or other work visa routes without a valid sponsor licence issued by UKVI. Any job offer claiming visa sponsorship from an unlicensed company is invalid. You can verify a company's licence status using our search tool or on the official GOV.UK register.
What is the difference between Skilled Worker and Tier 2 visa?
The Skilled Worker visa replaced the old Tier 2 (General) visa in December 2020. They are essentially the same route under a new name following the post-Brexit points-based immigration system. Employers who previously held Tier 2 sponsorship licences had their licences automatically converted. The terms 'Tier 2 sponsor list' and 'Skilled Worker sponsor list' refer to the same register.
How do I check if a company can sponsor a UK visa?
You can check if a company is a licensed UK visa sponsor in two ways: (1) Use our search tool on the homepage — we update our database regularly from the GOV.UK register; or (2) Check directly on the GOV.UK Register of Licensed Sponsors. Look for the company name and confirm the status shows 'Active' and the relevant route (e.g. Skilled Worker).
What is the register of licensed sponsors?
The Register of Licensed Sponsors is an official list published by the UK Home Office containing all organisations approved to sponsor workers on UK work visas. The register is updated regularly and includes company name, licence type, rating (A or B), and the visa routes they are approved for. It is the authoritative source and is available on GOV.UK.
What happens if a sponsor licence is revoked?
If a company's sponsor licence is revoked by UKVI, they are removed from the register and can no longer sponsor new workers. Existing sponsored employees may be given 60 days to find a new licensed employer or leave the UK. Revocation can happen due to non-compliance, illegal working, or failure to maintain HR records. Always verify a sponsor's current status before accepting a job offer.
What is a Health and Care Worker visa?
The Health and Care Worker visa is a sub-route of the Skilled Worker visa specifically for medical professionals joining the NHS, NHS-funded social care, or health and care sector employers. Sponsors on this route must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) or be NHS bodies. It has lower salary thresholds and is exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge.
How UK Sponsor Licences Work
Any UK employer wanting to hire workers from overseas (outside the UK and Ireland) must first apply for a sponsor licence from UKVI. The licence is granted per visa route — for example, a company may hold a licence for the Skilled Worker route but not for Intra-Company Transfer.
Once licensed, employers can issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to overseas workers, which the worker uses to apply for their visa. The employer is then legally responsible for the worker's compliance with visa conditions.
UKVI publishes the register of licensed sponsors regularly. VisaSponsorUK downloads and tracks changes to this register automatically so you can see when companies gained, lost, or had their licences reinstated.