SPONSOR COMPLIANCE
Sponsor Compliance
Protect your sponsor licence and stay compliant with UKVI requirements.
Stay compliant. Stay in control.
Holding a UK sponsor licence is not a one-off achievement. It carries ongoing obligations that must be met continuously. UKVI can conduct unannounced compliance visits at any time — and the consequences of failing a visit can be severe, including licence downgrading or revocation.
Many organisations only discover their compliance gaps when it is too late. We work with employers to build robust systems and processes before UKVI comes knocking — not after.
From right to work checks and record keeping to SMS reporting and HR training, we help you meet your sponsor obligations without disrupting your day-to-day business operations.
Services in this area
- Compliance audits & reviews
- Licence maintenance
- Record keeping & reporting
- Right to work & HR guidance
- Breach prevention & training
- UKVI audit support
How We Can Help
Risk Management
We identify compliance risks before UKVI does — proactive identification of gaps in your record-keeping, reporting and HR processes.
Audit Ready
We help you maintain your records and systems so that an unannounced UKVI compliance visit does not become a crisis.
Practical Guidance
We translate UKVI's Sponsor Guidance into clear operational steps your HR team can implement — without the legal jargon.
Ongoing Support
Compliance is not a one-off exercise. We provide ongoing support as your business grows, as staff change and as UKVI guidance evolves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are a sponsor licence holder's key ongoing compliance duties?
Sponsors must maintain accurate records for all sponsored workers, conduct right to work checks before employment starts, report changes to sponsored workers' circumstances via the Sponsor Management System (SMS) within specified timeframes, and keep contact details and key personnel information up to date. Failure to meet any of these duties can result in a compliance visit and licence action.
What does UKVI check during a sponsor compliance visit?
UKVI compliance officers typically check right to work documents and records, Appendix D record-keeping obligations (contract of employment, wage slips, contact details, NI numbers), SMS reporting history, that sponsored workers are doing the jobs they were assigned, and that HR systems and processes reflect the sponsor guidance. Visits can be announced or unannounced.
What happens if we fail a UKVI compliance visit?
Following a failed compliance visit, UKVI may downgrade your licence from an A-rating to a B-rating (preventing new sponsorship until you meet a compliance action plan), suspend your licence (which freezes all sponsorship activity while UKVI investigates), or revoke your licence entirely. Workers already sponsored may have their leave curtailed. It is always better to identify and fix gaps proactively.
How often should we conduct an internal sponsor compliance audit?
Best practice is to conduct a full internal audit at least once a year, with quarterly checks on key risk areas such as right to work expiry dates, CoS assignments, and SMS reporting deadlines. Higher-risk organisations — those with high staff turnover or multiple sponsored workers — benefit from monthly monitoring. Our ongoing compliance support packages cover all of this for you.
Need help with sponsor compliance or preparing for an audit?
Protect your licence. Get expert support today — before UKVI raises an issue.
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