A sponsored worker whose employer’s sponsor licence is revoked has their visa curtailed to 60 days, or fewer if less time remains, and must find a new sponsor, switch visa category, or leave the UK. This applies to Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visa holders in England and Wales. GOV.UK guidance confirms that revocation cancels the certificate of sponsorship immediately, ending the worker’s right to work for that employer. Workers who knowingly contributed to the reasons for revocation may not receive the full 60-day period.
Table of Contents
Summary
- Sponsor licence revocation cancels every certificate of sponsorship linked to that employer and ends the worker’s right to work immediately.
- The Home Office curtails affected visas to 60 days, or to whatever time remains on the visa if that is shorter.
- Workers can use the 60-day window to find a new licensed sponsor, switch to a different visa category, or leave the UK before their permission expires.
- The Home Office confirmed in the Prestwick Care litigation that it has no legal duty to weigh the impact of revocation on affected workers, so the responsibility to act quickly rests entirely with the individual.
- Fees already paid for the original visa application, including the Immigration Health Surcharge, are not refunded and cannot be carried across to a new application.
Finding out that an employer’s sponsor licence has been revoked, often through a stalled salary payment or a letter that arrives without warning, leaves a worker with 60 days to find a lawful route to remain. The consequences of revocation fall on employees just as heavily as on the sponsoring business, and the clock on finding a solution starts running from the date of the Home Office decision, not the date the worker finds out about it.
This forms part of our wider guide to sponsor licence suspension, downgrade and revocation.
What happens to my visa if my sponsor is revoked?
A worker’s certificate of sponsorship is cancelled automatically once the Home Office revokes the employer’s sponsor licence, and the visa is curtailed to 60 days or less. This applies across the Skilled Worker Visa, Health and Care Worker Visa, and other Worker and Temporary Worker routes in England and Wales.
Government guidance on employees whose visa sponsor loses their licence confirms that a sponsored employee’s certificate of sponsorship is cancelled the moment the employer’s licence is revoked, and permission to stay is limited to 60 days from that date, or to however long remains on the visa if it is due to expire sooner. The worker cannot lawfully continue in that job once the licence is gone, because employment under the Skilled Worker route depends on holding valid sponsorship for that specific role. Anyone who continues working for the former sponsor after revocation risks breaching their visa conditions.
Can I keep working during the 60-day period?
A worker generally cannot continue working for the employer whose sponsor licence has been revoked, because revocation removes the legal basis for that employment immediately. Suspension carries different consequences: sponsored staff already in post may continue working while the Home Office investigates.
Confusing suspension with revocation leads many workers to keep working when they should stop. Where a licence is only suspended, employees already working can usually continue in that role while the Home Office completes its inquiry, though no new certificates of sponsorship can be issued during suspension. Once a licence moves to revocation, that permission ends. The Immigration Rules require continuing employment to match the terms of an active certificate of sponsorship, and revocation removes that certificate entirely, so remaining in the same job breaches the visa conditions.
What are my options within the 60 days?
Within the 60-day curtailment period, a worker in England and Wales can apply to a new licensed sponsor, switch to a different eligible visa category, or leave the UK before permission expires. Taking no action within that window results in becoming an overstayer once the 60 days end.
Finding a new sponsor means securing a job offer from an employer holding an active Worker sponsor licence, which then issues a fresh certificate of sponsorship for a new Skilled Worker application. Switching categories suits workers who qualify through a different route entirely, such as the partner route for those in a genuine relationship with a British citizen or settled person, or the parent and private life routes in appropriate cases. Workers who fear persecution or serious harm on return to their home country may have grounds to make a protection claim rather than leaving. Each route carries its own eligibility test, and a new application should ideally be approved before the curtailment period runs out.
|
Option |
Who it suits |
Key requirement |
|
New sponsor and fresh certificate of sponsorship |
Workers who can secure another sponsored role quickly |
New employer must hold an active Worker sponsor licence |
|
Switch to partner, parent, or private life route |
Workers with a qualifying family relationship in the UK |
Must meet the specific eligibility requirements of that route |
|
Protection claim |
Workers who fear persecution or serious harm on return |
Must show a genuine and substantiated fear of harm |
|
Leave the UK |
Workers with no viable route to remain |
Must depart before the 60-day curtailment period ends |
Do I get my visa fees back if my sponsor loses its licence?
No, the Home Office does not refund visa application fees or the Immigration Health Surcharge already paid for a visa linked to a revoked sponsor licence. This applies in England and Wales regardless of how the revocation came about or whether the worker was at fault.
Money spent on the original application, including the Immigration Health Surcharge that funds NHS access, cannot be carried across to a new application or reclaimed once the sponsor’s licence is revoked. A fresh application requires fresh fees, which places real financial pressure on workers who must act quickly within the 60-day window.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have if my sponsor’s licence is revoked?
A worker typically has 60 days from the date of revocation to find a new sponsor, switch visa category, or leave the UK, or less time if their existing visa was due to expire sooner. This 60-day period is often called the grace period.
Can I switch employers instead of leaving the UK?
Yes, switching to a new employer is possible provided that employer holds an active sponsor licence and issues a new certificate of sponsorship before the 60-day curtailment period ends. The worker must not start the new role until the fresh visa application is approved.
Will I get a refund if my sponsor’s licence is revoked?
No, the Home Office does not refund visa fees or the Immigration Health Surcharge already paid for an application connected to a revoked sponsor licence. Any new application requires fresh payment in full.
Talk to Gulbenkian Andonian Solicitors
Finding a lawful route to remain in the UK within 60 days takes careful planning. Our immigration team can assess your options and help you act before the curtailment period ends.
Dr Bernard Andonian is the Co-Founder of Gulbenkian Andonian Solicitors and a leading authority in UK immigration, human rights, family and civil litigation law. With over 40 years of experience, he brings a wealth of legal knowledge and courtroom expertise. A former Judge and a recipient of a PhD in Law from the University of West London, Dr Andonian has served on the Law Society’s Immigration Law Panel, where he played a key role in shaping national legal standards. His name is featured in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame, recognising his consistent excellence and influence in the field. Known for his practical approach and deep understanding of immigration law, he is frequently consulted for commentary on policy changes and legal reform.