Sponsor Licence Revocation

If your organisation has received a notice from the Home Office regarding the suspension or revocation of your sponsor licence, it is vital to act quickly. At IMD Corporate, our immigration solicitors are experienced in supporting employers through complex sponsor licence issues, from urgent legal advice to full representation.

A sponsor licence enables UK-based organisations to legally employ overseas workers under the Skilled Worker (formerly Tier 2) route. The Home Office has the authority to suspend or revoke this licence if it believes the sponsor has failed to comply with the conditions and duties imposed by immigration law.

Revocation means the licence is cancelled — and once this happens:

You lose the ability to sponsor migrant workers

Existing employees sponsored under the licence may have their visas curtailed

Your business could face reputational damage and staff shortages

A 12-month “cooling-off” period typically applies before you can reapply

Common Reasons for Licence Revocation

The Home Office may revoke a sponsor licence for a range of reasons, including:

Failure to comply with sponsor duties (e.g. record keeping, reporting changes, monitoring employee activity)

Issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) improperly, such as for unapproved or non-genuine roles

Inadequate HR systems or failure to provide requested documents during a compliance visit

Changes to the business not reported (e.g. office relocation, change in key personnel)

Fraud, deception or providing false information in the licence application or during audits

Some grounds for revocation are mandatory; others may be discretionary. Either way, the consequences are serious and often immediate.

Suspension vs Revocation

Suspension means your licence is temporarily paused while the Home Office investigates. You cannot issue new CoS during this period.

Revocation is the permanent withdrawal of your licence. Sponsored workers may need to leave the UK unless they find another sponsor.

If your licence has been suspended, you may have an opportunity to respond and avoid revocation, but time is limited.

What Happens to Sponsored Workers?

If the Home Office revokes your licence:

All current sponsorships become invalid

Workers are usually given 60 days to find a new sponsor or leave the UK

If the worker is found to be complicit in the breach, their visa may be curtailed immediately

This can place both your business and your employees under significant pressure.

How Our Immigration Solicitors Can Help

At IMD Corporate, we advise UK employers of all sizes, from start-ups to multinational corporations, on sponsor licence issues. Our services include:

✅ Assessing the grounds for suspension or revocation

✅ Reviewing and strengthening your compliance systems

✅ Responding to Home Office notices (within strict deadlines)

✅ Representing you in communications with UKVI

✅ Advising on reapplying after revocation, or challenging decisions through judicial review (where appropriate)

We take a proactive approach to ensure your business stays compliant and protected from disruption.

Why Choose Us?

Specialist Immigration Expertise – Our team is focused solely on UK immigration law

Responsive & Strategic Advice – We understand the commercial impact and act quickly

Track Record of Success – We’ve helped many businesses retain or restore their sponsor licences

Tailored Compliance Support – We can audit your HR systems and train staff to prevent future issues

If your sponsor licence has been suspended or revoked, or if you’re concerned about an upcoming compliance visit, contact us immediately. Early legal advice can be the difference between business continuity and serious disruption.

❓ What should I do if I receive a sponsor licence suspension notice?

You should seek legal advice immediately. Suspension is a serious warning from the Home Office that your compliance as a sponsor is under investigation. You will typically be given 20 working days to respond to the allegations. During this time, you must review your HR practices, gather supporting evidence, and submit a detailed response. A well-prepared representation can help avoid revocation.

❓ What should I do if I receive a sponsor licence suspension notice?

❓ Can I appeal a sponsor licence revocation?

There is no formal right of appeal against a decision to revoke a sponsor licence. However, in some cases, a Judicial Review may be possible if the decision was unlawful, procedurally unfair, or based on incorrect information. Our solicitors can assess your case and advise on whether challenging the revocation through the courts is viable.

❓ How long do I have to wait before reapplying for a sponsor licence?

If your licence is revoked, you will usually be subject to a 12-month “cooling-off” period before you can reapply. However, reapplying successfully requires a significant improvement in your systems and processes — and often, a demonstration of how previous issues have been resolved. Legal advice is essential to maximise your chances of reapproval.

❓ What happens to my sponsored workers if the licence is revoked?

If your licence is revoked, your existing sponsored workers will no longer be lawfully employed under the Skilled Worker route. In most cases, they will be given 60 calendar days to find a new sponsor or leave the UK. This can cause significant disruption to your business and hardship for employees, so it’s important to act quickly if revocation is threatened.

❓ Can I continue employing migrant workers during a suspension?

No new Certificates of Sponsorship can be issued while your licence is suspended, and you may not be able to assign unused CoS. However, current sponsored employees can usually continue working while the investigation is ongoing — unless the Home Office determines otherwise. It is essential to stay within the rules and maintain accurate records during this period.

❓ What can I do to prevent licence revocation in the future?

Prevention is the best strategy. Ensure your business:

– Maintains a robust HR and record-keeping system
– Carries out and records regular right-to-work checks
– Keeps up-to-date contact and employment details for sponsored workers
– Reports changes to the Home Office within the required timescales
– Trains key staff on sponsor duties and compliance

Our solicitors can provide sponsor compliance audits and training to reduce the risk of future enforcement action, including the potential revocation of a sponsor licence. However, in some cases, a Judicial Review may be possible if the decision was unlawful, procedurally unfair, or based on incorrect information. Our solicitors can assess your case and advise on whether challenging the revocation through the courts is viable.

Our solicitors can provide sponsor compliance audits and training to reduce the risk of future enforcement action.

Our business immigration experts

Jarmila Entezari

Senior Associate View profile

Marcin Durlak

Managing Partner View profile

Marcelo Reale

Consultant Solicitor View profile

Alicja Bielawska

Solicitor View profile

Why come to us?

Tailored solutions. IMD Corporate is a law firm built by people of different backgrounds and nationalities. We have immigrants among our lawyers. We understand your needs and customise our services to suit you. Whether you are expanding your workforce internationally or seeking visas, our solutions are designed to align with your business goals or chosen career path.

Clear communication. We do not use legal jargon, and as a team of UK based international business immigration lawyers, we are often able to communicate in your native language. We are transparent when it comes to fees, budget planning, and timescales. We keep you informed at every step of the process, providing clarity on the status of your application.

Clients are our focus. Our commercially focused approach will help us find the best solution for you. At IMD Corporate we believe in getting the job done and working to the deadlines and budgets set. Our immigration lawyers work effectively to ensure that your interests are protected.

International Client focus. Our immigration law practice is focused on International Clients seeking guidance on global mobility strategy. We understand the challenges a foreign business or individual is facing and know how to guide you through the process.

International partnerships. We have established strong partnerships with trusted legal professionals and immigration lawyers in key jurisdictions throughout Europe and worldwide, ensuring seamless and efficient approach to cross-border matters.