You’ll have to find a new job and sponsor if your employer loses their sponsor licence.
You could also be affected if:
- their licence is suspended
- they’re taken over
- they don’t renew their licence
What happens to you depends on whether you’re already in the UK when your employer’s sponsor licence changes.
You’re already in the UK
Your sponsor’s licence is suspended
| Your circumstances | What will happen |
|---|---|
| Travelled to the UK but haven’t started work | You can start work |
| Already working | You can keep working |
| Applied to extend your visa | Your application won’t be processed until the suspension ends |
Your sponsor’s licence is withdrawn
Your visa will be limited to 60 days and your certificate of sponsorship will be cancelled.
You must either:
- find a new employer to sponsor you within the 60 days
- leave the UK
Your visa won’t be limited to 60 days if it has less than 6 months left. In this case, you’ll be able to stay until it expires.
Your visa will be cancelled and you’ll need to leave the UK immediately if UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) think you were involved in why your sponsor’s licence was withdrawn.
You’re outside the UK
You should check the status of your sponsor’s licence before you travel. If we suspend it, UKVI will remove your sponsor from the register of sponsors.
Your sponsor’s licence is suspended
| Your circumstances | What will happen |
|---|---|
| Applied for a visa | Your application will be put on hold until the end of the suspension |
| Have a visa but haven’t travelled to the UK | You’ll be contacted by UKVI |
Your sponsor’s licence is withdrawn
| Your circumstances | What will happen |
|---|---|
| Applied for a visa | It will be refused |
| Have a visa but haven’t travelled to the UK | Your visa will be cancelled - you won’t be allowed to enter if you travel to the UK |
The sponsor’s business is taken over or they don’t renew their licence
You’ll have to find another employer to sponsor you if:
- your employer doesn’t renew their sponsor licence
- following a takeover of your old employer’s business, your new employer doesn’t apply for a sponsor licence within 28 days
Your visa will be limited to 60 days (unless your visa expires in under 6 months) - you’ll have to leave the UK if you haven’t found a sponsor by the end of that time.
Your visa will be cancelled if you have permission to come to the UK but haven’t travelled yet. You won’t be allowed to enter if you travel to the UK.
