UK Visa Sponsor List 2025 — How to Search the Home Office Register
The complete guide to the UK Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors. Learn how to search it, what the data means, and how to find companies actively sponsoring Skilled Worker visas in 2025.
What is the UK Register of Licensed Sponsors?
The Register of Licensed Sponsors — also known as the sponsor list — is a publicly available document published by the Home Office listing every UK employer currently approved to sponsor overseas workers. If an employer does not appear on this list with an Active status, they cannot legally assign a Certificate of Sponsorship, which means you cannot use them to support a work visa application. CHECKALL syncs with the official register daily so you always see the most current data.
Source: GOV.UK
The official register is published by the Home Office at GOV.UK and updated regularly. It lists Worker and Temporary Worker sponsors, their licence category, and their rating (A or B). CHECKALL makes this data searchable and linkable to job listings.
Who appears on the register?
Worker sponsors (A-rated)
Employers with a full A-rated licence can assign Certificates of Sponsorship for the Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Global Business Mobility, and other Worker routes.
Worker sponsors (B-rated)
A B-rating means the employer had their rating downgraded, typically due to compliance issues. They can still sponsor but must follow an action plan agreed with UKVI. Workers with existing visas are not normally affected.
Temporary Worker sponsors
Employers licensed to sponsor workers on time-limited routes such as the Seasonal Worker, Creative Worker, or Charity Worker visas.
Scale-up Worker sponsors
Companies that have qualified as high-growth scale-up businesses and hold a specific licence to sponsor Scale-up Worker visa applicants.
Student sponsors
Universities, colleges, and schools approved to sponsor international students on the Student or Child Student visa routes (published on a separate register).
The register only lists employers currently holding an active licence. Former sponsors whose licences have been revoked or suspended will not appear — which is why checking status in real time matters.
How to use the sponsor list to find a visa sponsor
Search by company name or sector
Use CHECKALL to search the register by company name, city, or industry. Each result shows the employer's licence type, rating, and current status. The official Home Office register is a bulk download — CHECKALL makes it searchable in seconds.
Search the sponsor register now
CHECKALL indexes the full Home Office register and updates it daily. Search by name, location, or industry to find sponsors in your field.
Confirm the licence status is Active
Only employers showing an Active status on the current register can legally assign a Certificate of Sponsorship. A company with a Suspended or Revoked status cannot sponsor new workers, even if they previously sponsored others.
Licence status can change at any time
A company on the register today could have their licence suspended or revoked tomorrow if they fail a UKVI compliance audit. Always check status at the point of applying — not just when you first research the company.
Check the licence covers the right route
The register shows which route each employer is licensed for. Make sure the employer holds a licence for the specific visa route you need — for example, a company licensed for Temporary Workers only cannot assign a Skilled Worker CoS.
- Skilled Worker — most common route for professionals
- Health and Care Worker — separate sub-route within Worker category
- Global Business Mobility — covers ICT and senior/specialist workers
- Scale-up Worker — fast-growth companies only
- Temporary Worker — seasonal, creative, charity roles
Research the company before approaching them
The register confirms legal eligibility to sponsor, not suitability as an employer or whether a specific vacancy exists. Use the register as a starting point, then research the company's website, LinkedIn, and job boards to identify relevant open roles.
Apply directly and mention sponsorship explicitly
When applying for roles, state clearly that you require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. This avoids wasting time with employers who are on the register but unwilling or unable to sponsor for the specific vacancy. Many companies on the register only use their licence selectively.
Be upfront in your application
Include a line in your cover letter or email such as: "I hold [visa type] and will require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for this role." This is direct, professional, and saves time for both parties.
How employers get onto the register
To appear on the sponsor list, a UK employer must successfully apply for a sponsor licence. Understanding this process helps you assess how established a sponsor is.
- 1
Employer checks eligibility. The company must be a genuine UK business operating lawfully, with no history of immigration non-compliance. Irish citizens and those with settled status do not require sponsorship, so the employer must have a genuine need.
- 2
Application submitted online. The employer applies through the Home Office online portal and pays a licence fee. Fees vary: £536 for small or charitable organisations, £1,476 for medium or large sponsors (subject to change — verify on GOV.UK).
- 3
UKVI reviews the application. UK Visas and Immigration reviews the application and may conduct an unannounced visit to verify the business is genuine and has appropriate HR systems in place.
- 4
Licence granted — employer added to register. If approved, the employer receives an A-rated licence and is added to the public register. Their Authorising Officer and Level 1 Users gain access to the Sponsor Management System to assign CoS records.
- 5
Ongoing compliance obligations. Licensed sponsors must track sponsored workers, report changes (such as a worker leaving or changing role), and maintain HR records. Failure to comply can result in a downgrade to B-rating or licence revocation.
Sponsor licence processing times
Sponsor licence application decision
New licence application
8 weeksCan vary
Priority licence processing (if available)
Priority processing
10 business daysCan vary
CoS assignment after licence granted
CoS assignment
1–5 daysCan vary
Skilled Worker visa decision (outside UK)
Visa decision (overseas)
Up to 3 weeksCan vary
Skilled Worker visa decision (inside UK)
Visa decision (in UK)
Up to 8 weeksCan vary
Common mistakes when using the sponsor list
Treating the list as a jobs board
The register shows which companies can sponsor — not which companies have vacancies right now. You still need to find an active job opening and go through the normal hiring process.
Not checking the status at application time
A company that was on the register when you first saw them may have had their licence suspended or revoked by the time you apply. Always verify the current status immediately before submitting your visa application.
Ignoring the licence category
A company may hold a Temporary Worker licence but not a Worker licence. This means they can sponsor seasonal or creative workers but cannot assign a Skilled Worker CoS. Always confirm the licence covers your specific visa route.
Assuming a B-rated sponsor cannot help you
A B-rating indicates compliance issues, but B-rated sponsors can still legally assign CoS records under an action plan agreed with UKVI. Assess the risk, but do not automatically rule them out — especially if the role is otherwise right for you.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to find a licensed UK visa sponsor?
Search thousands of companies on the official Home Office register — filtered by industry, city, and visa route.