The UK sponsor licence, explained in plain English
Plain-English guides to the UK sponsor licence, the register of licensed sponsors, and the companies that hold it.
Welcome to UK Sponsor Guide
Quick answer
A UK sponsor licence is permission from the Home Office for an employer to sponsor workers on eligible visa routes. The GOV.UK register of licensed sponsors lists more than 125,000 organisations that hold one. Being on the register means the employer is permitted to sponsor. It does not mean they will sponsor this role, any role, or you.
What this site covers
UK Sponsor Guide is an independent information site for international job seekers researching UK employers. We explain the documents, rules, and data you will meet during that research, in plain English, with sources.
- How the sponsor licence works, including ratings and routes.
- What the register of licensed sponsors shows — and what it hides.
- The Skilled Worker salary floors and how they interact with job ads.
- How to check an employer yourself, for free, before you apply.
Who publishes this site
UK Sponsor Guide is published by an independent editorial team. We research the UK sponsor licence system using primary sources: the GOV.UK register of licensed sponsors, Home Office guidance, and official statistics. We do not sell a checker, an extension, or an account. The register is free on GOV.UK, and our job is to show you how to use it.
How to use this site
Start with the guides below. Each one ends with a numbered source list, so you can verify every claim on GOV.UK.
If you only remember three things, remember these:
- A licence is permission, not a promise.
- "Not on the register" is not the same as "will not sponsor".
- Check the employer, the ad, and the salary before you spend time applying.
Latest guides
Skilled Worker Salary Thresholds in 2026: What You Need to Know
The 2026 Skilled Worker salary floors: £41,700 standard, £33,400 reduced, plus going rates, Health and Care thresholds, and what to do when a job ad pays less.
Sponsor searchHow to Find UK Companies That Sponsor Visas in 2026
Find UK companies that can sponsor work visas in 2026: start from the register of licensed sponsors, read job ads carefully, and check salary before you apply.
Sponsor licenceUK Sponsor Register Explained: What It Does and Doesn't Show
The GOV.UK register of licensed sponsors: what every field means, and the three things it cannot tell you.
Check an employer against the UK sponsor register — free
- The GOV.UK register of licensed sponsors is the official list of organisations permitted to sponsor.
- Look up the employer's legal name before concluding anything — brand names miss.
- A licence is permission to sponsor, not a promise to sponsor any role or person.
The register is free, official, and public — every tool uses the same data. This site is information only, not immigration advice.