Sponsor Licence Suspension & Revocation

In This Article

• What is licence suspension?
• What is licence revocation?
• Common triggers for suspension or revocation
• The Grade B downgrade — a warning before revocation
• What happens to sponsored workers?
• The 60-day window
• Can an employer appeal?
• How to check if a sponsor's licence is at risk
• Common mistakes to avoid
• Frequently asked questions
• Related terms

What is Licence Suspension?

A suspension is a temporary action by the Home Office that restricts what a sponsor can do with its licence. While suspended, the employer typically cannot:

• Assign new Certificates of Sponsorship
• Sponsor new workers
• Request additional CoS allocation

However, existing sponsored workers can usually continue working for the employer while the suspension is investigated. Suspension is often a precautionary measure while UKVI investigates suspected compliance failures — it does not automatically mean revocation is coming, but it is a serious warning sign.

What is Licence Revocation?

A revocation is the permanent removal of a sponsor's licence. The employer is removed from the Register of Licensed Sponsors and can no longer sponsor any workers on any route.

Revocation can be:

• Mandatory — where the breach is so serious the rules require revocation (e.g., employing illegal workers knowingly, fraud)
• Discretionary — where the Home Office decides revocation is the appropriate response to the compliance failures found

Once revoked, the employer cannot re-apply for a new licence for a set cooling-off period (typically 12 months, or longer for serious breaches).

Common Triggers for Suspension or Revocation

Grounds that typically lead to revocation:

• Employing illegal workers knowingly
• Fraud or misrepresentation in licence applications or CoS submissions
• Paying workers below the required salary (persistent or deliberate)
• Recovering visa fees or ISC from workers (prohibited since December 2024)
• Roles not genuinely matching the CoS description
• Serious safeguarding failures in regulated sectors (care homes, schools)

Grounds that may lead to suspension or Grade B (see below):

• Poor record-keeping
• Missed SMS reporting obligations
• Incomplete right to work check documentation
• Failure to cooperate with a compliance visit
• Sponsored workers not turning up for work

The Grade B Downgrade — a Warning Before Revocation

Before revocation, many sponsors are downgraded to Grade B after a compliance visit or desk-based audit. Grade B means:

• The employer's CoS allocation is suspended (no new sponsorship possible)
• The employer is placed on a formal action plan — specific steps to address identified failings within a set timeframe
• A follow-up visit or desk audit assesses compliance
• If the action plan is met: restored to Grade A
• If not: licence revoked

Grade B is a recoverable position but requires dedicated effort and often external immigration compliance support.

What Happens to Sponsored Workers?

Workers' outcomes depend on the stage and type of action:

During suspension:

• Existing sponsored workers can generally continue working
• No new workers can be sponsored
• Workers should monitor the situation and start preparing alternatives

On revocation:

• The employer is removed from the register
• UKVI will curtail (shorten) the leave of sponsored workers
• Workers typically receive a 60-day notice period before their leave is curtailed

During the 60-day window:

• Workers can apply to switch to a new Skilled Worker sponsor
• Workers can depart the UK voluntarily
• If no action is taken, the worker becomes an overstayer after the curtailment date

The 60-Day Window

When a sponsor's licence is revoked, the Home Office sends each sponsored worker a curtailment letter giving them 60 days to:

1. Find a new licensed UK employer
2. Have the new employer assign an Undefined CoS
3. Submit a new Skilled Worker permission to stay application

This 60-day period is strict. Workers who do not act risk becoming overstayers, which can have long-term immigration consequences including bans on future UK visa applications.

Practical advice for workers:

• Start applying for new roles immediately — don't wait for formal curtailment letters
• Prioritise companies on the Register of Licensed Sponsors
• Seek independent immigration legal advice within the first week

Can an Employer Appeal?

The employer can challenge a suspension or revocation through:

1. Administrative review — a formal review by a different UKVI team of the decision to revoke/suspend. Must be submitted within a specific window.
2. Judicial review — a legal challenge in the courts. This is costly and time-consuming but has succeeded in some cases where the Home Office acted procedurally unfairly.
3. Re-application — after the cooling-off period ends, the employer can re-apply for a new licence, demonstrating the issues have been fixed.

How to Check if a Sponsor's Licence Is at Risk

Job seekers and workers can monitor their employer's status:

• The Register of Licensed Sponsors is updated monthly and available on GOV.UK — check your employer is still listed
• A sudden absence from the register may indicate revocation
• Hunt UK Visa Sponsors syncs from the register regularly — companies on this site hold an active licence as of the last sync

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Ignoring signs of employer distress. If an employer has compliance problems, it may not communicate them to workers. Watch for Home Office correspondence.
• Waiting for official curtailment letters. The 60-day window starts from curtailment — start acting as soon as revocation becomes known.
• Assuming the current employer will sort it out. Once revoked, the employer has no power to help workers — each worker must independently secure a new sponsor.
• Not taking legal advice. The 60-day window is tight; professional immigration advice is often essential.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my visa become invalid immediately when my employer's licence is revoked?

Not immediately. You have a 60-day curtailment period from when the Home Office sends your curtailment letter. However, you cannot work for the revoked employer during this period and cannot start new work without a new visa.

Can I continue to live in the UK during the 60-day window?

Yes — the 60-day window is granted specifically to give workers time to find a new sponsor or make arrangements to leave. You are lawfully present in the UK during this period.

What if I find a new sponsor after the 60 days?

If you haven't applied for a new visa within 60 days, your leave will have been curtailed and you'll be an overstayer. This is a serious immigration breach that can affect future UK and international visa applications.

Can dependants stay during the 60-day window?

Yes, dependants' leave is also curtailed, and they also have the 60-day window to change their status or depart.

Related Terms

• Sponsor Licence
• Sponsor Compliance Visit
• Changing Visa Sponsors
• Certificate of Sponsorship

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