Understand the sponsor licence
A licence allows an organisation to sponsor workers on the routes recorded. It does not establish current recruitment, sponsorship for a particular job, or eligibility for an individual applicant.
- Check the exact legal organisation name, location, route and rating.
- Treat each register row as a licence-route record; one employer can appear more than once.
- Confirm a trading name belongs to the listed legal employer.
Read the official register →Research the employer and vacancy
Start with a shortlist, then look for current roles on the employer’s own careers pages. Keep the original advert, closing date and employer contact channel.
- Use Company Checker to compare names with the register.
- Check the employer’s own domain and careers page independently.
- A missing name can reflect spelling, a parent company, or an outdated import; check GOV.UK before concluding.
Check a company →Read sponsorship wording carefully
An advert saying sponsorship may be considered is different from a commitment. Existing right to work required or no sponsorship available can rule out an application that depends on sponsorship.
- Read the whole advert, including eligibility and application questions.
- Ask one specific question about sponsorship for this role if the wording is unclear.
- Do not assume that all jobs at a licensed employer qualify.
Review advert facts with Pro →Check occupation, salary and visa route
Use the actual duties to investigate the occupation code and relevant route. Salary rules and eligibility can change, and different routes or circumstances may have different requirements.
- Ask the employer about the proposed occupation code and compare it with the job duties.
- Review the current route rules and applicable going rate on GOV.UK.
- Check restrictions and exceptions against your own circumstances with an authorised adviser when needed.
Check current Skilled Worker job requirements →Build a useful Sponsor Match shortlist
Choose an industry and preferred location. Matches reflect those register filters; the register does not contain job titles, applicant experience or vacancy salaries.
- Use the profession field to organise your own search.
- Read why a result matched and verify the inferred industry.
- Save employers worth researching, then look for real vacancies.
Find my Sponsor Matches →Prepare a UK-style CV
Make your evidence easy to find: contact details, a concise professional profile, employment history, education and relevant skills. Use a simple readable layout.
- Use recent, relevant experience and consistent dates.
- Describe your contribution and evidence without inventing metrics.
- Leave out sensitive identity documents and unnecessary personal details.
Open CV Builder →Tailor your application
Map each important requirement to a truthful example. If a skill is absent from your experience, do not add it just to match the advert.
- Choose two or three examples relevant to the role.
- Write a specific reason for choosing this employer.
- Proofread names, job references, dates and attachments.
Build a Better Application →Contact recruiters professionally
Use the contact channel in the advert. Send a short message naming the role, your relevant evidence and one clear question. Respect requests to apply only through the official portal.
- Avoid mass messages and demands for a Certificate of Sponsorship.
- On LinkedIn, use relevant job alerts and the employer’s official posts.
- Keep a record of when you contacted someone.
Prepare an outreach draft →Apply, follow up and track
Record the source, date applied, status and next action. Follow the employer’s stated timeline; if none is given, send one courteous follow-up after allowing time for review.
- Save the vacancy reference before an advert disappears.
- Record a follow-up date you can act on yourself.
- Update outcomes without treating a checklist as a prediction of success.
Open Application Tracker →Prepare for interviews
Prepare factual examples of your work, explain your own contribution and practise concise answers. Research the organisation’s actual services and the team’s priorities.
- Prepare examples of problem solving, collaboration and learning.
- Ask about duties, expectations and the recruitment process.
- Answer right-to-work questions accurately; confirm sponsorship arrangements with the employer.
Use Get Hired guidance →Avoid sponsorship scams
Never pay an employer or recruiter for a job or Certificate of Sponsorship. A register entry does not authenticate the person contacting you.
- Verify offers using contact details found independently on the employer’s official site.
- Do not send bank details, passwords or identity documents to an unverified contact.
- Stop if someone guarantees a visa, pressures you to pay, or asks for a job-placement payment.
Read the safety notice →Know when to seek regulated advice
This toolkit provides general research and application support. It cannot assess your individual immigration position or decide which route you qualify for.
- Use current GOV.UK information for official requirements.
- Check that an adviser is registered or belongs to an approved professional body.
- Seek qualified help for questions about your status, conditions, refusals or complex eligibility.
Find an authorised adviser →