The UK licensed sponsors list has been updated for both workers and international students, giving applicants a refreshed official resource for checking employers and education providers.
UK Visas and Immigration updated both registers on 19 October 2026. The worker register covers organisations licensed under Worker and Temporary Worker routes, while the student register covers institutions authorised under the Student and Child Student routes.
For applicants, these registers are a useful starting point when considering a sponsored job or a place at a UK institution. However, the publication notices describe register updates; they do not announce a new visa scheme or changes to eligibility requirements. Neither update notice identifies individual organisations added or removed. Establishing those changes would require comparing versions of the registers.
Worker Sponsor List
The worker register lists licensed sponsors and includes their sponsorship categories and ratings. Applicants should check the relevant category, because an organisation’s presence on the register does not mean it can sponsor someone under every work route.
For a Skilled Worker visa, applicants must have a job offer from an approved employer, and the job must meet the route’s eligibility and salary requirements. The employer’s licence is therefore only one part of the application. A listing should not be treated as confirmation that the organisation has vacancies or will sponsor a particular applicant.
A practical approach is to check an employer’s sponsorship details before spending time on an application, then use its official recruitment website to find suitable vacancies. Where an advertisement does not explain whether sponsorship is available, ask the recruitment team directly.
Student Sponsor List
The student register identifies institutions licensed to sponsor students under the Student and Child Student routes. It also includes the categories of students they can sponsor and their sponsorship ratings. Applicants should check the institution and the relevant category when assessing a study offer.
A place on a course and a visa application are separate stages. GOV.UK explains that an education provider issues a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, usually called a CAS, after offering a place. Applicants must enter the CAS reference number in their Student visa application and apply within six months of receiving it.
Before committing to a course, ask the institution’s admissions team whether it can issue a CAS for your intended programme and what conditions you must meet first. Keep written confirmation of the course details, fees and any refund terms.
Sponsorship Documents Explained
Workers and students use different sponsorship references in their applications:
| Applicant | Sponsorship reference | Purpose |
| Skilled Worker applicant | Certificate of Sponsorship, or CoS | An electronic record supplied by the employer, with a reference number for the visa application |
| Student applicant | Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, or CAS | A reference number supplied by the education provider for the visa application |
For Skilled Worker applications, GOV.UK states that applicants must apply within three months of receiving their CoS. For Student applications, the corresponding period is six months from receiving the CAS. These are separate requirements from checking whether the organisation appears on a sponsor register.
Check Before Applying
Start with the relevant official register linked below and search for the organisation’s name. If the name on your offer differs from the registered name, ask the employer or institution to explain the connection before proceeding.
Next, confirm the offer through contact details you obtain independently from the organisation’s official website. This is a sensible verification step because finding a genuine organisation on a register does not establish who sent a particular email or offer.
Finally, review the requirements for your own visa route. Workers should confirm that the role is eligible and meets the applicable salary rules. Students should confirm their course and CAS arrangements with their education provider. Sponsorship supports the application, but applicants must still satisfy the relevant visa requirements.