Discover the importance of Annaizu Compliance Management in today's business landscape and how a Home Office compliance management platform can help your business streamline its compliance efforts, reduce risks, and stay ahead of regulations.
For employers planning to recruit internationally, and for people searching for a sponsored role in the UK, one question comes first: is the organisation licensed to sponsor workers?
The answer begins with the Home Office register of licensed Worker and Temporary Worker sponsors, often still called the “Tier 2 sponsor list”. Annaizu’s free UK Sponsor Licence Checker turns that register into a practical search tool, with filters for organisation, location, visa route and licence rating.
What is a UK sponsor licence?
A sponsor licence is the Home Office authorisation that allows an eligible UK organisation to sponsor workers on specified immigration routes. For the Skilled Worker route, the employer must hold a valid licence, offer a genuine eligible role, meet the relevant salary and skill requirements and assign a valid Certificate of Sponsorship, commonly called a CoS.
The licence belongs to the organisation, not the worker. It also creates ongoing responsibilities. A licensed sponsor must maintain suitable systems, keep required records, monitor sponsored workers, report relevant changes and use the Sponsorship Management System correctly. Sponsorship is therefore not simply permission to recruit. It is a continuing compliance commitment.
| Term | What it means | What it does not mean |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsor licence | The organisation is authorised for one or more sponsorship routes. | Every role or applicant can be sponsored. |
| Certificate of Sponsorship | An electronic sponsorship record assigned to a specific worker. | A visa, physical certificate or guaranteed approval. |
| Skilled Worker visa | The immigration permission a worker applies for after meeting the route requirements. | Something an employer can grant directly. |
Is the Tier 2 sponsor list still the correct name?
“Tier 2 sponsor list” remains a familiar search phrase, but Tier 2 (General) was replaced by the Skilled Worker route in December 2020. The official publication is now the register of licensed sponsors: workers, covering organisations licensed under Worker and Temporary Worker routes.
That distinction matters. A company may appear on the register but only for a route that does not match the role or applicant. Always check the route and rating shown, not only the organisation name.
What the register can tell you
| Register field | How to use it | Check alongside it |
|---|---|---|
| Organisation name | Confirm the legal or trading name listed. | The name on the vacancy, offer and contract. |
| Town or location | Separate similarly named organisations and narrow a search. | The actual employing entity and work location. |
| Route | See which worker category the organisation can sponsor. | Whether the job and applicant meet that route’s current rules. |
| Rating | Understand the licence status published in the register. | Whether the employer can assign a new CoS at that time. |
How employees and jobseekers should use the list
- Search the employer’s name. Try the legal name as well as the brand name.
- Check the location. This helps distinguish businesses with similar names.
- Open the route information. For a Skilled Worker application, the organisation must be licensed for the relevant route.
- Verify the vacancy independently. Check the employer’s website and trusted recruitment channels. The register is not a jobs board.
- Ask precise questions. Confirm whether the role is eligible, whether sponsorship is offered for that vacancy and which entity will employ you.
Be cautious if anyone treats payment as a guarantee of a sponsored job or visa. A listing alone does not validate a recruiter, job offer or request for money. Applicants who need help understanding their options can explore Annaizu’s immigration services for employers and individuals.
How employers should use the list
For an employer, the register provides a useful external check, but it is not a replacement for the Sponsorship Management System or internal licence records. Confirm that the organisation’s published name, route and rating are as expected. If something appears wrong, investigate promptly rather than assuming that the public register or an internal spreadsheet will correct itself.
Employer check: five questions to ask
- Are the correct routes attached to the licence?
- Are key personnel and SMS access details current?
- Do CoS details match the real job, salary and location?
- Can the organisation produce the required worker records?
- Are reportable changes identified and handled on time?
A-rated and B-rated licences compared
| Point | A-rated | B-rated |
|---|---|---|
| General position | Full sponsor rating. | Downgraded status requiring improvements. |
| New sponsorship | Can generally assign CoS, subject to route rules and allocation. | Cannot normally assign CoS to new workers until upgraded. |
| Employer priority | Maintain compliant systems and records. | Complete the Home Office action plan and regain A-rating. |
Use the register as a starting point, not the final decision
The Annaizu Sponsor Licence Checker makes a large official dataset easier to explore, including searches and filters that help users narrow the register. The underlying data comes from GOV.UK and can change. Recheck the live result when making an important recruitment, compliance or immigration decision.
For jobseekers, the list helps identify organisations authorised to sponsor under particular routes. For employers, it offers a quick public-facing sense check. For both, the same rule applies: a register entry answers one question about licensing, not every question about the job, the worker or the visa.
Start with the right check
Search the current sponsor register by organisation, location, route and rating.
Frequently asked questions
Does appearing on the sponsor list guarantee a job?
No. It confirms that the organisation is licensed for the route shown. It does not confirm that it is currently recruiting, that a particular vacancy is eligible or that it will sponsor a specific applicant.
Can a sponsor licence holder guarantee a visa?
No. The employer can assign a Certificate of Sponsorship only when the requirements are met. The applicant must still submit a valid visa application and receive a decision from UK Visas and Immigration.
How often should I check the register?
Check the live register whenever the information affects a current recruitment, sponsorship or immigration decision because licence entries and ratings can change.
Official sources
This article is general information, not legal advice. Always check current GOV.UK guidance and obtain case-specific advice where needed.
.svg)