Sponsor Licence Compliance
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What is it? Sponsor Licence Compliance Explained
Sponsor licence compliance refers to the legal duties and obligations a UK employer must follow after being granted a sponsor licence. The Home Office can carry out regular or surprise compliance visits to ensure you are meeting all the required standards.
Maintaining licence compliance is essential to keep your licence valid and avoid serious consequences such as suspension, downgrade, or revocation. This page is for guidance for sponsors also includes information for sponsor duties and compliance.
Who is it for? UK Sponsor Licence Holders
This guidance is for:
If you have migrant workers under any visa route, such as the Skilled Worker Visa, you must comply with all sponsor licence duties.
What is the Process Like? Sponsor Licence Compliance Visits
A sponsor compliance visit is an inspection by a Home Office compliance officer. These visits may be:
Pre-licence visits (before granting your licence)
Post-licence visits (after the licence is issued)
Unannounced visits (spot-check inspections)
During a visit, the officer will:
Check your HR systems, recruitment process, and record-keeping
Review Certificates of Sponsorship issued
Interview sponsored staff and HR managers
Ensure you're reporting changes correctly through the Sponsor Management System (SMS)
What Are Your Sponsor Licence Duties?
To remain compliant, your organisation must meet the following key duties:
✅ Record-Keeping
Maintain detailed files on each sponsored worker, including passport copies, address, right-to-work checks, and absences.
✅ Reporting Duties
Notify the Home Office of key changes, such as changes to job title, salary, location, or if a worker leaves.
✅ Monitoring Responsibilities
Track attendance, contact details, and immigration status of all sponsored employees.
✅ Preventing Illegal Working
Carry out and document right-to-work checks before employment begins.
✅ Using SMS Correctly
Your Level 1 or 2 user must update the Sponsor Management System as required.
Failure to meet these sponsor licence duties is a breach of compliance.
What Happens If You Fail a Sponsor Licence Compliance Visit?
If the Home Office compliance officer finds issues during a visit, your business may face:
🔸 A downgrade of your licence rating
🔸 A suspension of your sponsor licence
🔸 A revocation of your sponsor licence
🔸 Inability to sponsor or extend visas for current workers
🔸 Damage to your business’s reputation
In some cases, a compliance breach can trigger immediate revocation without notice.
Why Choose Bekenbey?
At Bekenbey Immigration, we help you:
Prepare for compliance visits from the Home Office
Implement effective HR systems and record-keeping processes
Conduct mock audits to avoid licence suspension
Train your key personnel in SMS usage and compliance
Respond to compliance concerns or warnings
Our experts ensure you’re fully covered under UK immigration rules and always inspection-ready.
How to Maintain Sponsor Licence Compliance Daily
Here’s how you can maintain ongoing compliance:
Appoint trained personnel – Level 1 and Level 2 users must understand their roles
Update SMS immediately – Report any worker or company changes
Keep all required documents – As listed in Appendix D of the Sponsor Guidance
Track employee absences and visa expiry dates
Conduct internal audits regularly
Avoid assigning CoS without justification
Prepare for unannounced visits at any time
Documents Needed
If you're considering reapplying after a refusal, prepare:
Getting these right the second time is crucial.
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