Sponsor licence revoked: care workers keep visas

What changed on 14 September

Normally, when a sponsor loses its licence, the Home Office cancels the sponsored worker's permission, usually shortening it to 60 days so they can find a new sponsor or leave. Version 12.0 of the Home Office's caseworker guidance on cancellation and curtailment, published for staff on 11 September and updated on GOV.UK on 14 September 2026, adds a temporary arrangement for adult social care.

Caseworkers must not cancel permission for someone on the Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker route who works as a care worker (SOC 6135 or 6145) or senior care worker (SOC 6136 or 6146), where revocation of the sponsor's licence is the sole reason. If there is any other reason to cancel, the normal process applies. The guidance makes clear this is a temporary measure that the Home Office will keep reviewing.

This protects the worker's immigration permission, not their job. The revoked employer can no longer sponsor them, so the worker still needs a new licensed sponsor and a fresh application to carry on in a sponsored role.

Why now: record enforcement

On 9 October 2026, the Home Office said more than 4,400 sponsors lost their licence in the year ending June 2026. That is a 140% rise on the year before and the highest on record, and the figure covers all sectors, not only care. It also said more than 6,600 sponsors have lost their licence since the current government took office.

Care has been heavily affected for some time. In March 2025, the government said more than 470 care-sector sponsor licences were revoked between July 2022 and December 2024. Analysis of the latest transparency data by the Work Rights Centre (27 August 2026) puts revocations at 4,403 and suspensions at 4,840 across all Skilled Worker sponsors between July 2025 and June 2026. Official statistics do not publish a breakdown by sector.

New protection for victims of exploitation

A separate change in the Statement of Changes HC 584 (3 September 2026) took effect on 8 October 2026. Skilled Workers whom the Home Office's competent authorities identify as victims of modern slavery can now work for any employer for the rest of their current permission, instead of being tied to the sponsor. The Home Office release says this will help care workers among others.

Duties that have not changed

The revocation protection is for workers, not sponsors. The current sponsor guidance (version 08/26, valid from 28 August 2026) still requires sponsors to report most changes in a worker's circumstances within 10 working days. It also confirms that compliance visits can be announced or unannounced, and that civil penalties for illegal working can reach £60,000 per worker. Finding a sponsored worker doing a job that does not match their certificate of sponsorship is listed as grounds for mandatory revocation.

The Immigration Rules now also test pay period by period. Paragraph SW 14.3B of Appendix Skilled Worker requires pay at or above the going rate for every hour worked in each pay period. For monthly-paid staff, earnings over any three-month period must reach a quarter of the required annual salary. Short or irregular hours, or unpaid gaps between packages, are therefore a compliance risk as well as a fairness issue.

Support for displaced workers in England

DHSC has confirmed up to £7.5 million for 2026 to 2027 for 15 regional partnerships in England that help displaced international care workers find ethical employers. It says this is expected to be the fund's final year, with all money spent by 31 March 2027.

What this means for your service

If you employ displaced workers: a worker from a revoked sponsor may still hold valid permission. Check their status through the proper right-to-work process. Do not assume they have 60 days or less.
If you hold a licence: check that every sponsored worker's actual duties match their certificate of sponsorship. A mismatch is a mandatory revocation trigger.
Check pay in every pay period, not just over the year. Rotas that leave sponsored staff short of hours can breach SW 14.3B.
Keep reporting on time: most changes within 10 working days.
Know the exploitation route: a worker recognised as a modern slavery victim can now leave their sponsor and work elsewhere. Make sure staff know how to raise concerns safely.
Use the regional partnership if you can offer jobs to displaced care workers. Funding is expected to end on 31 March 2027.

This is general information, not legal advice.

Kiwi isn't an immigration adviser. For your own situation, speak to an OISC-registered adviser or an immigration solicitor.