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What is the UK Register of Licensed Sponsors?
The Register of Licensed Sponsors is the official Home Office list of every employer in the UK authorised to sponsor workers on the Skilled Worker visa, Health and Care Worker visa, Global Business Mobility visa and Temporary Worker routes. Only employers on this list can issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), which is a mandatory document for most UK work visa applications.
The register currently contains 142,071 organisations across every sector and region of the UK. It is updated by the Home Office almost every weekday as new licences are approved and existing licences are revoked or suspended.
Important: Always verify a sponsor's status on the official
GOV.UK register before accepting a job offer or submitting a visa application. A B-rated sponsor cannot issue new CoS documents.
How to use the sponsor register to find a job
- Search for companies in your target city or sector to build a list of employers legally able to sponsor you
- Check the rating column: A-rated sponsors can issue new CoS, B-rated sponsors cannot sponsor new applicants
- Contact sponsoring employers directly with your CV and mention that you require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship
- Use VisaPath Pro's COS + Jobs tool to check your Certificate of Sponsorship eligibility before applying
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if my employer is on the sponsor register?
Search for your employer's full legal name in the search box above. If they appear with an A rating, they currently hold a valid sponsor licence and can issue Certificates of Sponsorship. If they do not appear, they are not licensed to sponsor your visa under the Skilled Worker route.
What does an A rating vs B rating mean?
An A rating means the sponsor has demonstrated full compliance with Home Office sponsorship duties and can assign new Certificates of Sponsorship. A B rating means the Home Office has identified compliance issues. B-rated sponsors cannot assign new CoS documents, meaning they cannot sponsor new visa applications until they regain an A rating.
If my employer is not on the register, can they still sponsor me?
No. An employer must hold a valid sponsor licence and appear on the register before they can legally issue a Certificate of Sponsorship. However, employers can apply for a sponsor licence through the Home Office. The application process typically takes 8 to 12 weeks.
What happens if my employer loses their sponsor licence?
If your employer's sponsor licence is revoked, you will receive a curtailment notice giving you 60 days to find a new sponsoring employer or leave the UK. This is why it is important to check your employer's status on the register periodically, not just when you first apply.
Can I check the NHS sponsor register?
Yes. Search for "NHS" in the company name field. All NHS Trusts that hold a sponsor licence will appear. You can also filter by "Health and Care" in the visa route filter to find healthcare-specific sponsors across the UK.
Check your Skilled Worker visa eligibility
Use VisaPath Pro's free VisaScore tool to check your salary, SOC code and points score before you apply. Practice NMC CBT, OET and Life in the UK tests included.
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