Sponsorship Visa UK: Eligibility & Process Guide 2026
Section A: What is a UK Sponsorship Visa? There is no UK immigration route officially called a “Sponsorship Visa”. The term is commonly used to describe a work visa where you need an employer to sponsor you for a job in the UK. For most people looking for long-term sponsored employment, the main […]
Sponsor Licence Revoked? Next Steps for Sponsors
Section A: Has Your Sponsor Licence Been Revoked? If UKVI has suspended your sponsor licence and stated that revocation is being considered, you will usually have 20 working days to submit written representations on behalf of the organisation. If UKVI has already issued a final revocation decision, the licence has been withdrawn and […]
SMS Level 1 & 2 User Training for Sponsors
Section A: Interactive SMS Level 1 & 2 User Training Sponsor licence holders have to comply with the Immigration Rules and the duties set out in the sponsor guidance, or face enforcement action. A substantial part of the compliance burden falls on the company’s Level 1 and Level 2 SMS users, who have […]
Sponsored Worker on Long Term Sick Leave
Section A: Employer Sick Leave Obligations Sponsor licence holders operate under strict compliance obligations, including duties to monitor sponsored workers’ absence and, where required, report relevant changes through the SMS. This means that when a sponsored worker is absent from work on sick leave, as the employer-sponsor you have a number of obligations […]
Home Office Compliance Visits & UKVI Compliance
Section A: What is UKVI Compliance? UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is the division of the Home Office responsible for managing the UK’s visa system, sponsor licensing and immigration compliance enforcement. A UKVI compliance inspection can be a cause of real concern for employers. The Home Office has powers to investigate organisations to […]
UK Sponsor Guidance 2026 | Duties, Compliance & Rules
Section A: Home Office Sponsor Guidance Hiring from overseas is a business decision that is rarely taken lightly, yet the UK immigration rules are complex and demanding on employers of foreign workers. The official UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) sponsor guidance is called “Workers and Temporary Workers: Guidance for Sponsors”, which details the […]
Sponsor Licence 2026: Apply to Hire Overseas Workers
Section A: What is a Sponsor Licence? A sponsor licence is a legal requirement for UK organisations that want to hire non-UK resident skilled workers. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), a division of the Home Office, operates the sponsor licence application process to verify if organisations meet the requirements to sponsor overseas workers. Through […]
Apply for a UK Sponsor Licence 2026: How, What & When
Section A: About the UK Sponsor Licence A sponsor licence is the statutory authorisation that allows a UK-based organisation to employ overseas nationals in roles that require immigration sponsorship. Issued by UKVI, it grants the employer permission to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to qualifying workers under specific visa categories. Without a sponsor […]
Appendix D: Sponsor Licence Record Keeping
Section A: What is Appendix D? Appendix D is an appendix to the Home Office sponsor guidance that sets out the record-keeping requirements for sponsor licence holders under the wider sponsor licence duties. It specifies the documents that UK employers must retain for each individual they sponsor under various immigration routes, such as […]
Certificate of Sponsorship 2026: Request, Assign & Amend
Section A: What is a Certificate of Sponsorship? A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is a digital record that allows workers who do not already have the right to work in the UK in the role, such as British citizens, Irish citizens, settled workers or others with permission allowing the work, to apply for […]