What Is an A-Rated Sponsor?

Every company on the UK sponsor register has a rating assigned by the Home Office: either A (compliant) or B (compliance issues identified). This rating directly affects how quickly a company can sponsor you, what risks you face as a sponsored worker, and whether the company is likely to maintain its licence long-term. Understanding what these ratings mean is essential for making informed decisions about where to work.

Currently, 115,831 sponsors (100.0%) are A-rated and 15 (0.0%) are B-rated on the Skilled Worker route. The overwhelming majority of sponsors maintain their A-rating, which is a good sign for the overall health of the sponsorship system.

Current sponsor ratings

Data from the Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors, refreshed daily.

A-rated sponsors in depth

An A-rating is the standard, default rating. When a company first receives a sponsor licence, they are A-rated. The rating is maintained as long as the company meets its sponsorship duties, which include:

• Record-keeping: Maintaining copies of sponsored workers' passports, visa documents, right-to-work evidence, and contact details
• Reporting changes: Notifying the Home Office when a sponsored worker does not show up for their first day, is absent without permission for 10+ working days, has their job duties or salary changed, or leaves the company
• Cooperating with compliance visits: The Home Office conducts announced and unannounced visits to check sponsors are meeting their duties. A-rated sponsors must make relevant staff and documents available
• Only sponsoring genuine vacancies: The role must be real, at the appropriate skill level, and the salary must match what was declared on the CoS

A-rated sponsors can assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) without prior Home Office approval. This means the process is faster — once the employer decides to hire you, they can create the CoS immediately through the Sponsorship Management System.

What triggers a B-rating?

A B-rating is issued when the Home Office identifies compliance failures. These are typically discovered during a compliance visit (which can be unannounced) or through data analysis. Common triggers include:

• Failure to report worker departures: If a sponsored worker leaves the company and the sponsor does not report this within the required timeframe (usually 10 working days)
• Poor record-keeping: Not maintaining up-to-date copies of sponsored workers' documents, or being unable to produce them during a compliance visit
• Incorrect CoS information: The actual job duties, location, or salary do not match what was declared on the Certificate of Sponsorship
• Inadequate HR systems: Not having proper processes to track sponsored workers' attendance, whereabouts, and immigration status
• Non-cooperation with compliance visits: Not making relevant staff or documents available when the Home Office requests them
• Workers not in genuine roles: If the Home Office finds sponsored workers are not actually doing the job described on their CoS, or the role does not exist at the declared skill level

Consequences for employees at B-rated sponsors

If you are already working for a sponsor that is downgraded from A to B, or you are considering joining a B-rated sponsor, here is what you need to know:

• Your existing visa remains valid. A downgrade to B does not automatically affect your current visa or right to work. Your visa was issued based on the CoS, and it remains valid for its stated duration.
• New CoS may need pre-approval. B-rated sponsors may need Home Office approval before assigning new Certificates of Sponsorship. This can slow down the hiring process for new workers or visa extensions.
• Risk of licence revocation. This is the biggest concern. If the sponsor fails to address the compliance issues within the action plan timeframe, the Home Office can revoke their licence entirely. If this happens, your visa is typically curtailed (shortened) to 60 days. During those 60 days, you must either find a new sponsor and apply for a new visa, switch to a different immigration route, or leave the UK.
• Visa extensions may be scrutinised. If you need to extend your visa while your sponsor is B-rated, the application may receive additional scrutiny.
• Settlement applications are not directly affected. If you are applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR / settlement), the sponsor's rating at the time of your application should not, in itself, affect the outcome — but you need the sponsor to still hold a valid licence at the point your visa was granted.

How sponsors return to A-rating

When a sponsor is downgraded to B, the Home Office issues a formal action plan. This document specifies:

1. The specific compliance failures identified
2. What corrective actions the sponsor must take
3. The deadline for completing those actions (typically 3-12 months)
4. Evidence the sponsor must provide to demonstrate compliance

Common corrective actions include implementing new HR tracking systems, training staff on sponsorship duties, conducting internal audits of sponsored worker records, and reporting any overdue changes to the Home Office. Once the sponsor demonstrates compliance — often verified by a follow-up visit — the A-rating is reinstated.

Large companies (including some well-known brands and NHS trusts) have been temporarily B-rated due to administrative oversights and returned to A within a few months. A B-rating is not necessarily a sign of a bad employer — it may simply indicate a temporary gap in their compliance processes, especially if they have grown quickly and their HR systems have not kept pace.

Should you work for a B-rated sponsor?

The short answer: it depends on the circumstances. Here is a framework for evaluating the risk:

What happens when a licence is revoked?

If a sponsor's licence is revoked entirely (which goes beyond a B-rating), the consequences are severe:

• The Home Office writes to all sponsored workers, informing them their visa will be curtailed
• You typically have 60 days to find a new sponsor, switch to a different visa route, or leave the UK
• Your CoS is cancelled, so any pending visa applications or extensions are refused
• The 60-day period starts from the date the Home Office sends the curtailment letter, not from the date the licence was revoked
• During the 60-day period, you can work for a new sponsor who has assigned you a new CoS, even before your new visa is granted (as long as you have applied in time)

How to check a sponsor's rating

• On SkilledWorker: Search for the company — the rating is displayed prominently on every sponsor profile page
• On the Home Office register: Download the CSV from gov.uk and search for the company. The Rating column shows A or B.
• Filter by rating: On SkilledWorker, use the A-rated only filter to exclude B-rated sponsors from your search results entirely

Practical tips

1. Always prefer A-rated sponsors. When you have a choice between similar roles at an A-rated and B-rated sponsor, the A-rated option carries less risk.
2. Ask directly about the rating. If you are interviewing with a B-rated company, ask them to explain the reason and their timeline for returning to A. A transparent answer is a good sign.
3. Have a backup plan. If you do join a B-rated sponsor, keep your CV updated and maintain awareness of alternative sponsors in your field. If the worst happens, you want to move quickly within the 60-day window.
4. Monitor changes. Check your sponsor's rating periodically on SkilledWorker. Ratings can change — an A-rated sponsor can be downgraded, and a B-rated sponsor can be upgraded.
5. Do not panic if your sponsor is downgraded. A B-rating does not mean imminent revocation. Most sponsors resolve their issues and return to A. But stay informed and have options ready.
6. Keep your own records. Maintain copies of your CoS, visa documents, and employment contract. If you ever need to switch sponsors quickly, having these documents readily available speeds up the process significantly.

Frequently asked questions