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Table of Contents
Why is a Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence Revoked
Some of the most common reasons for the revocation are:
- Hiring skilled workers who are not eligible as per the visa requirements
- Not maintaining complete records of HR and SMS
- Notifying the Home Office about false information to mislead
- Not complying with the UKVI criteria for audits
- Getting involved in fraudulent activities or unethical business deals
A revocation means your business can no longer employ foreign skilled workers in any visa category. It can damage the reputation of your business and result in work visa cancellation for other sponsored employees, who then need to get employment with another sponsor or leave the UK. The organisation will also not be able to apply for a new licence until the period set by the Home Office, which is about 12 months after the licence is revoked.
Sponsor Licence Suspension vs Revocation
People often don’t know the difference between the two and get confused.
A sponsor licence suspension is a temporary block by the Home Office on your business hiring activities from outside the UK for not meeting the rules, and it requires future evidence before a decision. You are not eligible to issue new sponsorship certificates, but your current employees can work as usual. Your business will have to follow all rules and reply on time to show that the non-compliance was non-deliberate. If the Home Office believes your case, your sponsorship licence will be active again.
The revocation comes after the final verdict, as per the evidence collected against your organisation for failing to meet standards and breaching protocols. Once the licence is revoked, you cannot issue any further visas, and your current employees must find another visa sponsor to avoid leaving the UK. The business must apply for a new licence after a cool-down period.
What Happens After a Revoked Sponsor Licence
When an organisation fails to respond quickly after getting the licence revoked:
- You will be removed from all public records related to licenced sponsors.
- All current employees will get a 60-day notice of curtailment.
- Your organisation will face hefty fines and court time.
- Your company’s reputation, recruitment, and employee trust will be damaged.
In some cases, if the revocation was done after a proper investigation, it could also get the directors into trouble. They wouldn’t be able to apply for any further licences or get involved in the recruitment processes as directed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Here’s how much getting a sponsor licence costs now: UK Visa & Sponsorship fees increase in April 2025.
Sponsor Licence Revoked: What To Do Now?
It’s stressful to see your skilled worker or formerly Tier 2 sponsor licence revoked, but with the right strategy, action, and intention, you can protect your interests and help affected employees. Here’s what you should do:
- Read the letter carefully: Understand the Home Office’s reasons and the evidence behind the revocation verdict. Monitor the breaches to avoid them in the future and determine the best response if faced with similar issues.
- Notify the workers: They have a right to be notified earlier because their visas are at risk, so they should have enough time to explore other opportunities.
- Get Legal Advice: It is recommended to get professional help so that a solicitor can help determine whether you can challenge the revocation and how to prepare for the next steps. Our specialists will advise you better in light of your reasons, the workers who will be affected, and your conduct throughout the Home Office investigation.
It is not recommended to reapply or communicate directly with the Home Office without consulting a legal professional.
What Can You Do Legally?
The primary legal remedy after your sponsor licence is revoked is a Judicial Review. If you believe the decision was not legal or fair, you can ask your legal team to advise you about seeking help with a review from the High Court.
Your legal team can send a letter to the Home Office to ask about reconsidering the decision before they start the legal process.
If you want to pursue these options, you must act quickly within the first three months of the revocation to avoid the trouble. When the legal strategies are not applicable, the next option for you is to meet the compliance and prepare for a reapplication by:
- Having a complete internal compliance audit through our support.
- Fixing all SMS and HR issues that red-flagged your licence.
- Monitor all the processes and apply the Sponsor Licence Compliance Checklist.
How to Avoid Licence Revocation in the Future?
Now that you are considering reapplying, there are specific points you need to meet to avoid having your application revoked in the future.
- Have a clear roadmap for all internal structures and right-to-work checks.
- Train the HR teams on compliance.
- Conduct inspections and audits to track SMS reporting, visa expiration, and the salary caps as per the immigration rules.
- Stay on track with the UKVI immigration rules.
- Get legal help to take care of audits and immigration compliance.
If you work in sectors like healthcare or social care, it is important to avoid all breaches and follow rules as instructed by bodies like CQC or GLAA.
Get Legal Help
Getting a sponsor licence revoked is stressful, but there are plenty of alternatives to come back. Legend Consults can help you secure and rebuild your trust and compliance game whilst ensuring you are on the road to recovery.
Once the Home Office revokes your sponsor licence, it must follow specific rules to ensure the decision is fair and transparent. It can be solid ground to challenge the revocation if it’s the reverse. Our team will review the decision made by the Home Office to see if there is any lack of evidence of failure to follow the rules. Consult with our self-sponsorship specialist today!
When you see a sponsor licence revoked for your business, it means the Home Office has found enough evidence supporting that you are involved in fraudulent activities or have breached the rules of UK immigration. This can get your licence revoked, and you will not be able to hire foreign employees as skilled workers. The sponsor visa type has gained popularity lately after the UK labour shortage.
Whilst this licence category is not for everyone, it requires much effort even for those who have obtained it. Failing to comply with the rules can get you in trouble with hefty fines and even jail time in some cases. Moreover, it will damage the reputation of your business, and the current force will have to look for a new sponsor if they want to live in the UK. Want to find out how to recover from a revoked licence? Read on.
