A sponsor must tell the Home Office about significant changes to its own organisation. Sections C2 to C4 of Part 3 of the sponsor guidance (version 08/26, valid from 28 August 2026) set out what to report and how. This guide summarises them, with paragraph references. Changes about individual workers are covered in our guide to sponsor reporting duties and deadlines.
It explains the published rules. It does not assess any organisation's change. Speak to a regulated adviser about your circumstances.
The deadline
You must report a change no later than 20 working days after the date you became aware of it (C2.3). The exception is replacing your Authorising Officer or Key Contact, which has its own process. GOV.UK's summary gives the same 20 working day window.
What to report
Paragraph C2.4 lists what a Level 1 User reports through the sponsorship management system (SMS). It includes:
- replacing or amending the Authorising Officer or Key Contact
- adding or removing Level 1 Users, or updating their details
- changes to your organisation's name, address, branches or head office
- structural changes, such as new branches, sites or linked UK entities
- a change in any registration or accreditation you legally need to operate, or need for your licence
- stopping trading or entering an insolvency procedure
- a merger, takeover or similar change
- a conviction for a relevant offence, listed in Part 1 Annex L4, of anyone within the guidance's definition of "you"
- for Worker sponsors, a change in organisation size or charitable status
- other changes, such as adding a representative or a substantial change in the nature of the business
A change in size or charitable status matters because it can change what you pay for licence fees and the Immigration Skills Charge (C2.5).
How to report
Use the SMS functions "request changes to licence details" or "Manage Level 1 and 2 users" (C2.4). Each change is a separate request. A change of address, for example, may also mean updating your Key Personnel's working address (C2.7).
Some changes update automatically. A new main or head office address is one (C2.8). For an A-rated, fully active licence, replacing the Authorising Officer or Key Contact, or adding Level 1 Users, can also update automatically where the postcode matches (C2.9 and C2.10). Other changes go to a caseworker (C2.13). A name change may need a new licence if it is part of a wider change such as a merger (C2.14).
If you have no Level 1 User with SMS access, you must use the change of circumstances form instead for certain changes (C2.15). Unless you are surrendering, you must always have at least one Level 1 User (C2.16).
Where a signed submission sheet or documents are needed, send them within 5 working days. Further documents requested are also due within 5 working days. Miss the deadline and the request is refused, and the Home Office may revoke the licence (C2.19).
Processing times and the priority service
GOV.UK publishes the current processing time for standard change requests. A paid priority service gives a faster decision for some requests. The fee is £350 per request (GOV.UK, 3 Oct 2026).
GOV.UK's priority service page lists the eligible requests. They include extra CoS allocations, Level 1 User changes, Authorising Officer and Key Contact changes, adding a representative, and moving to new premises. To use it, you must be an A-rated, fully active sponsor and have submitted the request in the SMS first. The page says the service "does not guarantee your request will be approved".
Insolvency
Section C3 covers insolvency. In outline:
- Administration or administrative receivership: tell the administrator you are a licensed sponsor, and tell the Home Office within 20 working days. The insolvency practitioner must be appointed as Authorising Officer (C3.1 and C3.2).
- Company voluntary arrangement: report within 20 working days. With no change of ownership, the licence can continue. With one, the Home Office treats it as a sale and will revoke the licence (C3.4 and C3.5).
- Liquidation: report within 20 working days of entering liquidation. The Home Office will then revoke the licence (C3.7).
Mergers and takeovers
A sponsor licence is not transferable (C4.1). Changes in direct ownership, sales of a controlling stake, takeovers and de-mergers must be reported within 20 working days (C4.2). Where direct ownership changes, the licence ends through revocation, or is made dormant if workers move to another sponsor's licence. The new owner needs its own licence to keep employing the workers (C4.5).
Workers who move under TUPE or similar protection need no new application if the new sponsor holds the right licence and their duties are unchanged (C4.10). A new owner without the right licence must apply within 20 working days of the transfer (C4.12). Annex C4 gives eight worked examples.
Key Personnel details
Part 1 adds rules that make Key Personnel details matter. SMS accounts unused for 12 months or more may be deactivated (L4.72). From 9 September 2026 no new Level 2 Users can be appointed (L4.4). Each Level 1 User's mobile number, email address and date of birth must be correct for multi-factor authentication (L4.84).
The printable sponsor compliance checklist includes the organisation reporting duties.
Common questions
Is the 20 working days from the change or from when we found out?
C2.3 says from "the date you became aware of the change".
Does a move to a new office need reporting?
Yes. Address changes are listed in C2.4. A new main or head office address normally updates automatically once reported (C2.8).
Can our licence move to the company that bought us?
No. C4.1 says a licence is not transferable. Section C4 sets out what the old and new owners must do.
Can we talk to someone about our situation?
You can tell us about your situation. We do not assess cases or help with forms.