SwiftHunts

Free tool

UK visa sponsor checker

Find out if a company is licensed to sponsor a UK Skilled Worker visa. Search the official Home Office register of licensed sponsors.

  • Free, with no sign-up
  • Over 120,000 licensed sponsors
  • Updated every week

Enter a company name and press Search, or try one of these:

What is a licensed visa sponsor?

To hire someone on a UK Skilled Worker visa, an employer needs a sponsor licence from the Home Office. Only licensed employers can give you the certificate of sponsorship you need to apply for the visa. The Home Office publishes every licensed organisation in a public register, and this checker lets you search it in seconds.

If an employer isn’t on the register, it can’t sponsor you right now, however keen it is to hire you. Checking first saves you from applying to roles that can never turn into a visa.

How to check a sponsor

  1. 1

    Search the company. Type part of the employer’s name. Add a town to narrow down common names.

  2. 2

    Check the role. Make sure the job is eligible and the salary meets the current Skilled Worker threshold on GOV.UK.

  3. 3

    Ask about sponsorship. If the advert doesn’t say, ask the recruiter whether the role offers a certificate of sponsorship.

Tips for finding a job with visa sponsorship

  1. 1

    Target licensed employers first. Every application to a company without a licence is a long shot. Check the register before you spend time on a cover letter.

  2. 2

    Search by legal name. Look for “Limited”, “LLP” or the parent company if the brand name returns nothing.

  3. 3

    Read the advert closely. Some licensed employers still state “no sponsorship” for particular roles. That line overrides the licence.

  4. 4

    Check the salary early. The salary must meet the Skilled Worker minimum for your occupation. The thresholds change, so check GOV.UK for the current figures.

  5. 5

    Mention your visa needs clearly. Say in your application that you will need sponsorship. Recruiters prefer to know up front.

This tool is for information only and isn’t legal or immigration advice. For the current rules, see the Skilled Worker visa guidance on GOV.UK.

Frequently asked questions

Is this visa sponsor checker free?

Yes. It is free to use, with no sign-up.

Where does the data come from?

From the UK Home Office’s official register of licensed sponsors for workers, published on GOV.UK. We show A-rated sponsors on the Skilled Worker route, which is the route most overseas job seekers need.

How often is the list updated?

The Home Office updates the register regularly. We download the latest version every week, and the date of our last update is shown under the search results.

Why can’t I find a company I know sponsors visas?

The register lists legal names, which often differ from the brand you know: a company may appear as “Example (UK) Limited” or under a parent company. Try a shorter part of the name and remove the town. Some employers sponsor through a different visa route, which this checker does not cover.

If a company is on the register, will it sponsor me?

Not automatically. A licence means the company is allowed to sponsor, not that it will for every role. The job must also meet the Skilled Worker rules, such as an eligible occupation and the minimum salary. Check the job advert or ask the employer whether the role offers sponsorship.

What does A-rated mean?

An A rating means the sponsor is in good standing and can assign certificates of sponsorship. A sponsor downgraded to a B rating must follow an action plan and generally cannot assign new certificates until it is upgraded, so B-rated sponsors are not shown here.

Does this cover the Health and Care Worker visa?

Yes. The Health and Care Worker visa is part of the Skilled Worker route, so licensed health and care employers appear in these results.

More free tools

ATS CV Checker

Upload your CV and get a score out of 100, with a list of fixes that help applicant tracking systems read it.

CV Keyword Scanner

Compare your CV with a job description and see your match rate and the keywords you are missing.

Cover Letter Templates

Fill-in-the-blank cover letters for experienced professionals, career changers and graduates.

Resignation Letter Template

Professional resignation letters: formal, short or warm. Fill in and send.

Follow-Up Email Templates

Polite follow-ups after you apply, or when you haven’t heard back after an interview.

Interview Thank-You Email

Thank-you emails to send within a day of your interview.

Reference Request Email

Ask a former manager or lecturer to be your reference.