Key takeaways
- The Home Office publishes a public register of every organisation licensed to sponsor workers in the UK.
- The worker register is refreshed on each working day, so the list you downloaded last week may already be out of date.
- It is published as a downloadable CSV (and HTML) file — there is no live search box on GOV.UK, so most people filter the file themselves.
- Each entry shows the organisation name, town/city, county, licence type/rating and the routes it can sponsor.
- Being on the register means the organisation holds a licence — it does not mean it has vacancies or will sponsor you.
- PriorityCOS provides administrative and document-handling support only; we are not immigration advisers.
What is the register of licensed sponsors?
The register of licensed sponsors (workers) is the official Home Office list of organisations that hold a valid sponsor licence for work routes such as the Skilled Worker visa. It is published on GOV.UK, it is free, and it is the only authoritative source — every "sponsor search" website you find online is a copy of this file.
There is a separate register for student sponsors, published as the register of licensed sponsors: students. If you are looking for a university or college, use that list instead.
Updated daily — why that matters
The worker register is refreshed on each working day. Licences are granted, surrendered, suspended and revoked continuously, so an organisation that appeared on Monday may be absent on Friday — and vice versa. Never rely on a saved copy, a screenshot, or a third-party directory. Always download the version dated today before you make a decision that depends on it.
Open today's list of sponsorsHow to search the list of sponsors
Open the GOV.UK publication
Go to the 'Register of licensed sponsors: workers' publication page. It carries the date it was last updated at the top — check this before you rely on it.
Download the current CSV
The register is attached as a CSV file (and a large HTML version). The CSV is the easiest to work with because you can filter it.
Search inside the file
Open it in Excel, Google Sheets or Numbers and use Ctrl+F / filters on the Organisation Name column. Try partial names — 'Priority' rather than 'Priority Corporate Services Ltd'.
Check the rating and route
Confirm the organisation holds the route you need (usually 'Skilled Worker') and is A-rated. A B rating means UKVI has imposed an action plan.
Re-check before you act
Because the list changes daily, re-download it before making any decision that depends on a sponsor's licence status.
What each column means
Organisation Name
The legal or trading name of the licensed sponsor as held by UKVI. Names can differ from the brand you know.
Town/City & County
The registered location of the sponsor. Large employers may appear once per site.
Type & Rating
For example 'Worker (A rating)' or 'Temporary Worker (A rating)'. B-rated sponsors are on an action plan.
Route
The visa routes the licence covers — Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, Scale-up, Temporary Worker categories and so on.
Common mistakes when reading the register
- Searching the brand name instead of the registered legal name — try partial words and alternative spellings.
- Assuming a listed sponsor is hiring. The register shows permission to sponsor, nothing more.
- Using a cached third-party 'sponsor list' site that has not been refreshed for weeks.
- Ignoring the route column — a Temporary Worker licence does not cover Skilled Worker hires.
- Overlooking a B rating, which restricts the sponsor from assigning new Certificates of Sponsorship.
If your organisation is not on the list yet
To appear on the register, your organisation first needs a sponsor licence. Our guide to getting a UK Sponsor Licence in 2026 walks through eligibility, documents, fees and timelines, and our 2026 compliance checklist covers the duties that keep you A-rated once you are listed.
PriorityCOS provides administrative and document-handling support only. We do not provide immigration advice, eligibility assessments or representation, and we are not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA, formerly OISC). For regulated advice, search the public register at gov.uk/find-an-immigration-adviser.
Frequently asked questions
How often is the UK register of licensed sponsors updated?
The Home Office updates the register of licensed sponsors (workers) on each working day, so in practice it changes almost every weekday. The GOV.UK publication page shows the exact 'last updated' date for the version you are downloading.
Where can I see the list of UK licensed sponsors?
The official list is published free of charge on GOV.UK as the 'Register of licensed sponsors: workers'. It is available as a downloadable CSV file and a large HTML page. Third-party search tools republish the same data but may be days or weeks behind.
Is the register of licensed sponsors free to search?
Yes. The official GOV.UK register is free to download and search. You do not need an account, and you should not pay a third party for access to the underlying list.
What does an A rating or B rating mean on the sponsor register?
An A rating means the sponsor is meeting its duties and can assign Certificates of Sponsorship normally. A B rating means UKVI has found compliance issues and placed the sponsor on a time-limited action plan; the sponsor cannot assign new CoS to new workers until it is upgraded.
My employer is not on the register — what does that mean?
It usually means the organisation does not currently hold a worker sponsor licence, or the licence was recently granted and has not yet appeared, or the entry is under a different legal name. Check alternative spellings and the trading versus registered name before drawing conclusions.
Does being on the register mean a company will sponsor me?
No. The register only confirms the organisation is permitted to sponsor. It says nothing about whether it has open roles, whether those roles meet the skill and salary thresholds, or whether it is willing to assign a Certificate of Sponsorship.
This article is general information only, based on published GOV.UK guidance as at 8 August 2026. It is not legal or immigration advice. The register itself is maintained and updated by the Home Office — always check the live GOV.UK publication for the current list.