Check Sponsor Licence UK: How to Verify Company Sponsorship

This article explains, in clear steps, how to check whether a company has a sponsor licence, read and understand the information on the register, verify a sponsor licence number and Certificate of Sponsorship, and spot warning signs to protect yourself from risk.

Key Takeways

• Always check the employer on the official Register of Licensed Sponsors before accepting any sponsored job offer.
• Only A-rated sponsors can reliably assign new Certificates of Sponsorship for Skilled Worker roles.
• Verify that the CoS details match the company’s legal name and sponsor licence number listed on GOV.UK.
• Carry out extra checks on Companies House and the employer’s website to confirm the job is genuine.
• If a sponsor is missing, suspended, or downgraded, get professional advice immediately to protect your immigration status.

What is a UK Sponsor Licence – and Why Does It Matter?

A UK sponsor licence is permission granted by the Home Office to an employer so they can legally sponsor non-UK/Irish nationals on Worker and Temporary Worker routes, such as the Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visas.

Only organisations with an active licence can:

• Assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to overseas or in-country applicants
• Lawfully employ workers under the sponsored work routes
• Be listed on the official Register of Licensed Sponsors

Sponsors are given a licence rating:

• A-rating – fully compliant; allowed to assign new CoS and listed normally on the register
• B-rating – under improvement plan; generally cannot assign new CoS until upgraded, and therefore not a realistic option for most new applicants

For workers, this matters because:

• If the employer is not licensed, the visa application will fail, they simply cannot sponsor you under the Worker routes, regardless of the job offer.
• If an employer sponsors workers without a valid licence, they risk large fines, licence revocation and even criminal penalties, and workers risk losing status or being treated as working illegally.
• If a company later loses its sponsor licence, current sponsored staff usually have their leave curtailed and must either find a new sponsor or leave the UK.

Verifying sponsorship before accepting an offer or resigning from a current role is therefore essential.

Get to know: CoS Letter UK: What It Is and What It Should Contain

The Official Register of Licensed Sponsors: Your Primary Source

The Register of Licensed Sponsors: Workers is the only authoritative public list confirming which organisations hold a current Worker/Temporary Worker sponsor licence.

Key features:

• Maintained by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), part of the Home Office
• Published as a CSV spreadsheet on the GOV.UK website and updated very frequently
• Shows, for each sponsor:
  • Legal name and (usually) location
  • Licence type (Worker / Temporary Worker)
  • Visa routes they can sponsor
  • Licence rating (A or B)

Immigration firms and job-search websites often host their own sponsor lists and search tools, but all reputable ones pull data from this same Home Office file. The official register remains the final reference point and should be used to settle any doubt.

Step-by-Step: How to Check If a Company Has a Sponsor Licence

Step 1 – Access the Official Register

On GOV.UK, locate the page titled “Register of licensed sponsors: workers” and download the latest CSV file. The page clearly states that the document lists organisations licensed to sponsor workers and notes when it was last updated.

Step 2 – Open and Search the File

Open the CSV in Excel, Google Sheets or similar. Then:

• Use the search function (for example, CTRL + F on a computer)
• Type the exact legal name of the organisation you wish to check

Important points:

• The register typically lists the legal name, not the trading name. For example, a retailer may trade under a brand name but appear as “XYZ Stores Limited”. Cross-check both if unsure.
• Spelling and spacing must be accurate. If nothing appears, the company may be unlicensed, may use a different legal name, or may have been removed from the list.

Step 3 – Interpret the Results

When you find a matching entry, look at these details:

• Licence type – “Worker”, “Temporary Worker” or both. To sponsor Skilled Worker roles, the organisation must have the relevant Worker permissions.
• Routes – Many versions of the register include the specific categories (e.g. Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Global Business Mobility).
• Licence rating – Prefer A-rated sponsors. A B-rated sponsor is under a Home Office action plan and usually cannot issue new CoS for fresh hires.

If the employer:

• Appears on the register, with an A-rating and the correct route, they can in principle sponsor you; subject to role, salary and other visa requirements.
• Does not appear, they cannot lawfully sponsor you for a Skilled Worker or other Worker/Temporary Worker route, regardless of what they claim.

Verifying a Sponsor Licence Number and Certificate of Sponsorship

Once you have a job offer, you may receive a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or at least a draft. Each CoS includes:

• Your personal details (name, date of birth, nationality, passport number)
• Job information (title, occupation/SOC code, salary, hours, location)
• Sponsor details, including the sponsor licence number and company name
• CoS reference number and start date

To reduce risk of refusal:

1. Confirm that the sponsor is A-rated and still authorised for the route you will use (e.g. Skilled Worker).
2. Check that the job details meet Skilled Worker rules, correct occupation code, minimum salary threshold and other criteria set out in the Skilled Worker guidance and occupations list.

Errors or inconsistencies on the CoS, such as the wrong SOC code, incorrect salary, or mismatched personal details, can result in visa refusal. Always ask your employer to correct mistakes before you submit an application.

When to Seek Professional Advice

Sponsor licence rules, salary thresholds and eligibility criteria change frequently. Recent years have seen tighter salary bands, closer scrutiny of compliance, and a rising number of suspensions and revocations.

You should consider specialist advice if:

• The employer appears on the register, but with details that do not clearly match your job or CoS.
• You discover that your current sponsor has been suspended or removed from the list.
• You are changing employers 
• Close to a key milestone, such as a settlement application, and want to ensure continuity.

A regulated immigration adviser or solicitor can review the register entry, your CoS and your wider circumstances, then advise on the safest route forward.

Get to know: Do You Need a Lawyer for a Sponsor Licence Application?

Contact Gulbenkian Andonian Solicitors

If you are unsure about a sponsor’s status or need help assessing a Certificate of Sponsorship, our team can review your documents, check the employer’s licence position, and advise on the safest way forward. Sponsor licence issues can lead to refusals or loss of immigration status, so early advice is always worthwhile. 

Contact us today and speak with a specialist who understands the complexities of UK sponsorship and Worker routes.