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Register of sponsors

This page explains what the register of sponsors for the points-based system is and what obligations you must satisfy in order to get on to the register.

Under the points-based system, if you are an employer or educational institution who wants to act as a sponsor, you need a licence. To get a licence, you must meet the following criteria:

  • you are a legitimate organisation working within the law in the United Kingdom;
  • there are no reasons to believe that you are a threat to immigration control; and
  • your organisation is committed to fulfilling its sponsorship duties.

This is to make sure that those working or studying in the United Kingdom do so legally. You will be awarded an A rating or a B rating on the register.

You must warn us if migrants do not comply with their immigration conditions, and comply with a number of other sponsorship duties or you will risk losing your licence.

Once licensed, you will be allowed to issue a certificate of sponsorship when applications for the tiers open. A certificate of sponsorship is a unique reference number, and not a paper document like a work permit. You give the migrant the number, which they quote on their application form when applying for permission to remain in or enter the United Kingdom.

If the migrant is applying to extend their stay in the United Kingdom, then both sponsors and migrants applying for leave to remain must think about how the migrant's current immigration status may affect their application under the switching rules.

Proposals for the switching rules were published in the migrant statement of intent for tiers 2 and 5 on 6 May 2008 with guidance on the process to follow before issuing a certificate of sponsorship. For information about the switching rules, read the section on switching into Tier 2, and extending in Tier 5.

The register of sponsors is now available with the name and rating of the organisation. The register can be downloaded from the right side of this page.

See also

Terms explained

  • Legitimate organisation

    An organisation that is working legally.

  • Register of sponsors

    A list of all organisations licensed to sponsor migrants under the points-based system.

  • Sponsorship duties

    The responsibilities organisations have when they sponsor migrants under the points-based system. The duties are record keeping, reporting, compliance, co-operating with us and tier specific duties.

  • Work permit

    Permission to work in the United Kingdom that is given to someone who has no automatic right to work here but has met the requirements to be allowed to do so.

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