The Home Office checks that sponsors are meeting their duties. Section C7 of Part 3 of the sponsor guidance (version 08/26, valid from 28 August 2026) explains how. This guide summarises it, with paragraph references.
It explains the published process. It does not predict the outcome of any check. Speak to a regulated adviser about your circumstances.
When checks happen
The Home Office may check a sponsor at any time, before a licence decision or after a licence is granted (C7.9). GOV.UK's overview notes that UK Visas and Immigration may visit a business to check it is suitable when it applies. Part 1 says a compliance check may happen before a licence is granted (L3.3).
A check that involves a visit or interview can be announced or unannounced (C7.9). Checks may also follow a reasonable suspicion of a breach, which can be based on a poor compliance record with the Home Office or other departments (C7.4).
What a check can involve
Paragraph C7.6 lists the forms a compliance check can take:
- asking for more documents or information
- verifying documents and information you gave
- an on-site visit
- a digital compliance check, which is an interview by video call
- checks with other government departments, agencies or local authorities
- other information that comes to light, for example from a worker's application or a member of the public
The Home Office also makes regular checks with HMRC that workers are paid in line with the Immigration Rules and sponsor guidance (C7.7). It may check by phone, video or letter too (C7.16).
What officers may do
During a check, the compliance officer may (C7.15):
- verify what you said in your licence application, which may include photographs of your premises
- verify what you said in support of a worker's application
- check you are meeting all your sponsor duties
- speak to sponsored workers, including former ones
- speak to staff involved in recruiting sponsored workers
- inspect records and systems, such as the Appendix D record-keeping requirements
- check other workers to make sure you are preventing illegal working
- carry out criminal record and civil penalty checks on people who fall within the guidance's definition of "you"
Visits can take place at any address where sponsored workers do their jobs, including a third party's offices (C7.14).
The officer will not tell you their assessment during the check (C7.18). Officers carry official Home Office identification. If you doubt an official is genuine, the guidance says to call 0300 123 4699 (C7.19).
Co-operating
You must co-operate and give Home Office staff full access to premises or sites under your control on demand (C7.10). If your workers are based at a client's premises, you must make sure the client knows an unannounced visit may happen there, and secure its co-operation. If a third party does not co-operate, the Home Office will take action against you.
Annex C2(e) lists failing to co-operate with a compliance check, or delaying compliance activity, as a ground on which the Home Office will normally revoke a licence.
C7.11 says the Home Office will not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour, harassment, or attempts to use pressure or bribery to get information.
Being ready
The guidance does not publish a visit script, but it does say what officers look at. In practice, that points to the duties themselves:
- Appendix D records for each sponsored worker, available on request
- right to work evidence for every worker, sponsored or not
- jobs that match the occupation code and job description on each Certificate of Sponsorship
- reports made on time through the sponsorship management system
- Key Personnel who know their roles
The printable sponsor compliance checklist lists the duties with their paragraph references.
What can follow a check
After a check, the Home Office decides what, if any, action to take and tells you in writing (C7.23).
Where a breach is relatively minor and you are willing and able to fix it, the guidance says the Home Office will, in most cases, downgrade the licence to a B-rating and issue a time-limited action plan (C7.25). The action plan fee is £1,579, as published on GOV.UK (3 Oct 2026).
For a more serious breach, such as a significant or systematic failing, it may suspend the licence pending revocation or revoke it without suspension (C7.26). Our guides on B-ratings, suspension and revocation explain each route.
Discrepancies found after a decision may also be investigated (C7.20). Using deception to obtain a licence may be a criminal offence (C7.22).
Common questions
Will we be told before a visit?
Not necessarily. C7.9 says visits and interviews can be announced or unannounced.
Can a check happen by video?
Yes. C7.6 includes a digital compliance check, an interview by remote video.
Will the officer tell us how it went?
No. C7.18 says the officer will not indicate their assessment during the check. The decision comes in writing afterwards (C7.23).
Can we talk to someone about our situation?
You can tell us about your situation. We do not assess cases or help with forms.