UK Register of Licensed Sponsors: Guide 2026
Section A: What is the UK Register of Licensed Sponsors? The UK Register of Licensed Sponsors (Workers) is an official list published by the UK Home Office, detailing all organisations that have been granted permission to sponsor foreign nationals under the UK’s points-based immigration system. Organisations seeking to hire foreign nationals must first […]
Sponsor Licence Renewal? 2026 Rules
Section A: Sponsor Licence Renewal Rules 2026 The UK’s approach to sponsor licence renewal underwent a major change on 6 April 2024. Prior to that date, all sponsor licences were issued with a four-year validity period, and sponsors were required to apply for a renewal before the licence expired in order to continue […]
Temporary Worker Sponsor Licence | 2026 Eligibility & Application
` Section A: What is a Temporary Worker Sponsor Licence? Organisations looking to recruit an overseas national under certain types of work visas will need a valid Temporary Worker Sponsor Licence. A Temporary Worker sponsor licence is the permission granted by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to enable the approved licence-holder to assign Certificates […]
Sponsorship: UK Visa & Immigration Guide 2026
Section A: Sponsorship in UK Immigration In UK immigration law, sponsorship is the licensing framework that allows eligible employers and education providers to sponsor certain workers and students under specified immigration routes. It applies both to people applying from overseas and, in some cases, to people applying from within the UK to stay, […]
Immigration Skills Charge 2026 | Cost, Who Pays & Exemptions
Section A: What is the Immigration Skills Charge? The Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) is a fee payable by most UK employers when sponsoring workers under either the Skilled Worker or the Senior or Specialist Worker visas, with limited exemptions. It was introduced on 6 April 2017 under the Immigration Skills Charge Regulations to address […]
Scale Up Sponsor Licence Guide 2026
Section A: What is the Scale Up Sponsor Licence? The Scale Up Sponsor Licence is the permission needed by UK employers from the Home Office to sponsor workers under the Scale Up route. Technically, there is no separate category called a ‘Scale-up sponsor licence’ in the UK immigration system. The Scale-up route sits […]
Sponsor Licence Application Fee: Employers’ Guide 2026
Section A: What is the sponsor licence application fee? Sponsorship is a valuable route to accessing global talent, but it requires upfront investment and a commitment to ongoing legal and regulatory duties. The headline sponsor licence application fee is a mandatory cost that UK employers must pay when applying for a licence to […]
SMS Level 1 User: Role & Responsibilities
Section A: What is an SMS Level 1 User? An SMS Level 1 User is an individual authorised by a sponsor licence holder to carry out operational sponsorship tasks through the Sponsor Management System (SMS). The role sits at the centre of day-to-day licence administration and is the mechanism through which most sponsor […]
UK Tier 2 Sponsor List Explained 2026
Section A: What is the Tier 2 Sponsor List? A sponsor licence is the permission needed for UK organisations to hire foreign national workers under specific visa categories, such as the Skilled Worker visa (formerly the Tier 2 Visa). The Home Office maintains the list of sponsors to identify all employers that have […]
UKVI Action Plan: 2026 Sponsor Guide
Section A: What is a UKVI Sponsor Action Plan? As a Home Office approved employer with a sponsor licence, your organisation will be placed on the national register of sponsors, and you’ll be given a licence rating. You’ll automatically get an A-rated licence if your application is approved. An A-rated licence will allow […]