Work Sponsor Licence Grants Fall 24 Percent in Latest Home Office Data
25 May 2026
If you are on a Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa and thinking about changing employer, the latest Home Office figures show the pool of new licensed sponsors shrank in the past year.
The Home Office published immigration statistics on 21 May 2026, covering the year ending March 2026. The data shows 32,301 decisions were made on work sponsor licence applications, down from 37,233 in the previous year. Of those, 17,200 licences were granted, which is "24% fewer than the year before." A further 15,101 applications were not granted, covering both rejections and withdrawals. There are now 124,837 organisations holding skilled work sponsor licences in total.
The fall in new grants reflects fewer organisations joining the sponsor network, not existing licences being removed. New work visa numbers are also falling. Skilled Worker visa grants decreased 30% and Health and Care Worker visa grants fell 38% in the same period.
For workers on sponsored visas, a smaller flow of newly licensed sponsors means fewer employers can take on overseas workers for the first time. If you are planning a job move that needs a new sponsor, it is worth checking that a prospective employer already holds a valid A-rated sponsor licence before you progress the application. You can search the Home Office register of licensed sponsors on GOV.UK.
Sources: