In February 2025, the Home Office released updated data on sponsorship compliance, revealing thousands of enforcement actions against UK visa sponsors. The figures highlight how businesses and educational institutions risk serious penalties if they fail to meet legal obligations.
The data emphasises the importance of strict compliance for organisations sponsoring workers. The UK’s sponsorship system requires full compliance with immigration rules, and failing to meet these obligations can lead to suspensions, revocations, and significant operational disruptions. This newsletter takes a closer look at the latest sponsorship compliance figures.
Thousands of sponsors faced enforcement action
Within 2024, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) took significant enforcement action against non-compliant sponsors. The latest figures show:
- 1,620 skilled/temporary worker sponsors had their licences suspended.
- 1,839 skilled/temporary worker licences were revoked.
These numbers confirm that UKVI actively enforces sponsorship rules. Businesses and institutions that fail to comply risk losing their ability to hire international talent.
UKVI are increasing the number of compliance checks they are able to do by regularly arranging to carry out online compliance checks via video-call instead of in-person audits.
How might sponsors lose their licence?
Sponsors must track and report attendance at work, absences, maintain proper records, and provide accurate and updated information to UKVI. False or misleading – or even missing – details, even if unintentional, can result in penalties. Sponsored employees must also work in their approved roles and be paid their salaries in accordance with the CoS (or pay increases above the CoS).
Even minor breaches can lead to investigations. If UKVI finds non-compliance, a suspension or revocation may follow, leaving businesses unable to hire skilled workers and the risk of any existing workers losing their visa status.
What happens when a sponsor licence is revoked?
Without a sponsor licence, businesses face major disruptions. If a licence is revoked, sponsored employees may have their visas curtailed, meaning they could be forced to leave the UK. Hiring new skilled migrant workers becomes impossible, potentially leading to staff shortages and operational issues – especially if the business requires expatriate workers from their overseas group companies/headquarters.
Suspensions, while not as severe as revocations, can still be disruptive. During a suspension, a business cannot sponsor new visa applicants, which can delay recruitment and create uncertainty for current employees.
How can sponsors avoid penalties?
With enforcement actions at a high level, sponsors must take a proactive approach to compliance. Conducting regular compliance audits helps organisations identify issues before they escalate. Staff training is also important to ensure HR teams fully understand UKVI reporting and record-keeping duties. Clear, well-organised documentation can make all the difference during an inspection, reducing the risk of penalties.
Regular internal reviews help ensure compliance with UKVI requirements. This means keeping accurate records, meeting sponsorship duties, and correctly reporting changes to employee roles. Staying ahead of compliance risks helps prevent errors that could jeopardise your sponsor licence.
How 3CS can help
The 2025 Home Office data highlights the risks of non-compliance, from financial penalties to losing the ability to hire skilled immigrant workers.
At 3CS, we help businesses stay compliant through our comprehensive training and audit services. Our support ensures you meet UKVI requirements, maintain accurate records, and identify risks before they lead to enforcement action. Get in touch to learn how our compliance services can protect your business.
