Sponsor Licence Data and Statistics

Posted onMay 9, 2025

On 7 May 2025, the UK government updated its list of sponsor licence holders.

There are sponsor licence holders across the UK, ranging in size from self-sponsorship entrepreneurial start-ups to international listed companies and across all sectors, ranging from healthcare companies to specialist tech firms.

All companies with a sponsor licence have one thing in common. They must comply with their licence obligations, and if they don’t, they risk sponsor licence suspension or revocation.

Our UK Immigration Lawyers examine the sponsor licence data.

UK Immigration Lawyers in London and Online

For specialist immigration and sponsorship compliance legal advice, call Legal 500 featured OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.

Sponsor licence holders

The list of companies with a sponsor licence to sponsor workers and temporary workers can be found here.

Some business owners find it intrusive that the government regularly publishes and updates a list of sponsor licence holders, especially as it includes information about the category of workers each company is licensed to sponsor and its sponsorship rating.

Sponsor licence trends

Regular release of information from the Home Office allows OTS Solicitors to pick out sponsorship trends, enabling them to provide:

Sponsor Licence Management Services that are alert to the latest trends and developments.
Bespoke Immigration Law Training.
Advice on Home Office licence enforcement.
Sponsor licence compliance advice.
Guidance on sponsor licence applications.
Advice if a sponsor licence is at risk of suspension or revocation.

Reduction in UK visa applications

The number of UK visa applications reduced by over a third (37%) in the year to March 2025.

The 2024-2025 visa figures are:

March 2024-March 2025, just over 772,000 visa applications were made.
March 2023-March 2024, over 1.2 million visa applications were received.

The fall in visa applications is not restricted to Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker Visas. The number of applications for Family Visas, Spouse Visas, and Student Visas has all fallen.

UK Immigration Lawyers all suggest that the sudden reduction in visa applications can be attributed to a combination of the economic climate and changes in immigration rules introduced by the previous government. With non-work visas, the rule change examples include:

The financial requirement for a Family Visa or Spouse Visa increased from £18,600 to £29,000.
Limiting international students from bringing family members to the UK on Dependant Visas.

In the last 12 months, applications for Skilled Worker Visas fell by around 16%. The corresponding fall in Dependant Visa applications as family members of skilled workers was 13%. The reasons for the fall in Work Visa applications may be due to:

Increasing the salary threshold for the Skilled Worker Visa to the higher of £38,700 or the going rate for the job.
Stopping carers and senior carers on Health and Care Worker Visas from being able to bring family members with them to the UK on Dependant Visas.

Immigration Solicitors also predict that we may see a further reduction in Work Visa applications from March 2025 to March 2026 because:

The introduction of further immigration rule changes after the forthcoming White Paper, and
The increase in national insurance contributions for UK employers, and
Fears and uncertainties about global tariffs and trade deals, and
Worry about the impact of planned changes in employment law and how this will affect businesses, and
Increased sponsor licence enforcement in sectors traditionally reliant on sponsored overseas workers

The monthly statistical information released by the Home Office can be found here.

Increase in sponsor licence monitoring and enforcement

Most sponsor licence holders are alive to the increase in sponsor licence monitoring by the Home Office and the consequences for employers:

Increase in the number of Home Office compliance visits and audits.
Sector-specific focus, such as the healthcare sector.
Rise in sponsor licence holders being put on case plans and sponsor licence suspensions.

Should the statistics affect your sponsor licence strategy?

While UK Immigration Lawyers can understand why sponsor licence holders, and particularly those in Home Office targeted sectors, are questioning reliance on a sponsor licence, the reality is:

The UK continues to have a shortfall in the number of skilled settled workers and vacancies.
The UK education policy and apprentice schemes will take time to produce highly skilled and experienced workers.
Global tariffs and the US–UK and India–UK trade deals could create opportunities for UK companies and the need to increase their workforce.
Overseas businesses may conclude that setting up a subsidiary or branch office in the UK is the best strategy for 2025 and 2026.

These factors suggest that sponsor licence holders should respond cautiously to the sponsor licence data and statistics. A cautious approach could include:

A review of HR practices and policies.
Checking that key personnel receive the support and guidance they need.
Proactively sponsor licence trouble shooting by arranging annual audits by Sponsorship Licence Lawyers.
Seeking immigration legal advice if your business is at increased or high risk of Home Office enforcement action.
Engagement in Immigration Law Training to keep up to date with the latest changes to the immigration rules and compliance guidance.

Contact OTS Solicitors for immigration legal advice

At OTS Solicitors, our specialist team of Legal 500 recommended Immigration Lawyers and Employment Solicitors work together to provide a solutions-led approach to sponsor licence applications and compliance.

Our team can help your business with advice on: