In a development that has stunned compliance specialists, The Times revealed on 5 February that the UK Home Office has quietly restored sponsor licences to dozens of employers that were stripped of the privilege during last year’s crackdown on Skilled Worker visa abuse in the care sector. Freedom-of-information responses analysed by the newspaper show that at least 74 of 566 care providers whose licences were revoked between June 2022 and June 2025 are now once again authorised to hire overseas staff.
Some directors of black-listed firms allegedly continued sponsoring migrants through new companies while the original bans remained in place. Professor Brian Bell, chair of the Migration Advisory Committee, told reporters he was “amazed” the temporary bans amounted to “no punishment at all”, comparing the regime unfavourably with the Financial Conduct Authority’s long-term prohibitions in banking.
The revelations raise awkward questions for the government, which has promised to reduce net migration and eliminate exploitation. A Home Office spokesperson said officials are “reviewing whether existing powers need strengthening” but emphasised that re-approval is possible when employers demonstrate genuine reform and submit to enhanced auditing.
![Home Office reinstates migrant-worker sponsor licences for firms previously penalised for abuse]()
As companies navigate these evolving sponsorship rules, many are turning to specialist partners for help. VisaHQ’s UK portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) provides step-by-step guidance, document checking and real-time application tracking, supporting HR teams and individual applicants to stay compliant with Home Office requirements and avoid the pitfalls that can lead to licence suspension.
For UK businesses the case is a reminder that sponsor compliance failures can be costly but not necessarily terminal—yet repeated lapses now risk far harsher consequences if political pressure forces rule changes. Employers with valid licences should expect more unannounced audits, tougher evidence thresholds for genuine vacancies and higher civil-penalty fines.
HR and mobility teams are urged to audit their visa files, ensure wage records match Certificate of Sponsorship submissions and budget for potential increases in the Immigration Skills Charge if ministers pursue a ‘polluter-pays’ model later this year.
Some directors of black-listed firms allegedly continued sponsoring migrants through new companies while the original bans remained in place. Professor Brian Bell, chair of the Migration Advisory Committee, told reporters he was “amazed” the temporary bans amounted to “no punishment at all”, comparing the regime unfavourably with the Financial Conduct Authority’s long-term prohibitions in banking.
The revelations raise awkward questions for the government, which has promised to reduce net migration and eliminate exploitation. A Home Office spokesperson said officials are “reviewing whether existing powers need strengthening” but emphasised that re-approval is possible when employers demonstrate genuine reform and submit to enhanced auditing.
As companies navigate these evolving sponsorship rules, many are turning to specialist partners for help. VisaHQ’s UK portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) provides step-by-step guidance, document checking and real-time application tracking, supporting HR teams and individual applicants to stay compliant with Home Office requirements and avoid the pitfalls that can lead to licence suspension.
For UK businesses the case is a reminder that sponsor compliance failures can be costly but not necessarily terminal—yet repeated lapses now risk far harsher consequences if political pressure forces rule changes. Employers with valid licences should expect more unannounced audits, tougher evidence thresholds for genuine vacancies and higher civil-penalty fines.
HR and mobility teams are urged to audit their visa files, ensure wage records match Certificate of Sponsorship submissions and budget for potential increases in the Immigration Skills Charge if ministers pursue a ‘polluter-pays’ model later this year.
