What a sponsor licence is
A UK sponsor is an organisation that has been granted a licence by the UK Home Office to employ overseas workers on the Skilled Worker visa route. The employer must hold a valid sponsor licence in order to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), the digital document your visa application requires. Every licensed sponsor is searchable on ImmigrationGPT. The 2026 general salary threshold is £41,700 (or the going rate for the SOC code, whichever is higher).
Key points about UK sponsors
- An organisation needs a sponsor licence to employ people on the Worker and Temporary Worker visa routes
- Sponsors are responsible for immigration compliance and reporting duties
- Licences are granted for specific visa routes (e.g., Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility)
- Sponsors must maintain certain standards and can have their licence revoked for non-compliance
- The Home Office maintains an official register of all licensed sponsors
Not all UK companies have a sponsor licence. An employer pays government fees for a licence and must meet compliance duties while it holds one.
Using our sponsor search
Our sponsor database helps you research UK employers that appear on public sponsor-register data. It is refreshed from Home Office sources. The register on GOV.UK is the official record.
What you can search by
- Company name
- Industry, by the SIC code the company files with Companies House
- Town or city
- Visa route, such as Skilled Worker
- Sponsors added to the register recently
Access our sponsor database
Search every sponsor on the register, refreshed from Home Office data. Filter by company name, city, visa route and industry.
Check if a company can sponsor a visaBeing on the register does not mean a company is hiring or will sponsor you. It means the company is allowed to sponsor.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a licensed UK visa sponsor?
You can search the official Home Office register of licensed sponsors on GOV.UK, or use ImmigrationGPT's free sponsor search to filter sponsors by name, location, industry or visa route. The register on GOV.UK is the official record.
How many companies are currently licensed to sponsor UK work visas?
The live count is on the sponsor search page, which reads the Home Office register twice a day. The register includes businesses, NHS trusts, universities, charities and public sector bodies.
What does a sponsor licence rating mean?
Most sponsors are A-rated. The Home Office downgrades a sponsor to a B-rating for minor breaches and sets an action plan of up to 3 months. A B-rated sponsor cannot sponsor new workers until it gets its A rating back. UK Expansion Worker sponsors show as Provisional. Source: GOV.UK sponsor guidance part 3, C8.
Can I check if a specific company is on the UK sponsor register?
Yes. You can search the sponsor register on GOV.UK or use ImmigrationGPT's sponsor search for faster results. Simply enter the company name to see their licence status, rating, visa routes, and location.
What does an employer need to sponsor a Skilled Worker?
A sponsor licence that covers the Skilled Worker route, and an A rating to assign new certificates of sponsorship. The job must meet the skill level and salary rules: usually RQF level 6 and at least £41,700 or the going rate, whichever is higher. The Home Office can refuse a role that is not genuine.
For more questions about finding sponsors, visa eligibility and applications, see the FAQ: