Licence presence is only step one: appearing on the register does not mean an employer is hiring, has a suitable vacancy, will sponsor your application or can sponsor every occupation. Verify the exact organisation name, then check the vacancy directly.

1. Build a list from real vacancies

Start with current vacancies on employers' own careers sites and reputable job boards. Search by role and location, then record the employer's stated legal or employing entity. A brand name may differ from the organisation name used on the Home Office register.

Do not treat FindMySponsor's derived industry label as official Home Office industry data. The register confirms licence presence and routes; it does not classify employers as technology companies or publish vacancies.

2. Verify the exact organisation name

Enter the employer's exact name in the sponsor licence checker. Exact conservative matching is the verification result. Substring results are only possible entries to investigate, because similarly named companies can be separate legal entities.

  • Compare the raw organisation name with the employer or offer documentation.
  • Check the town, licence rating and sponsored routes for additional context.
  • Check the register's source date and re-verify against the latest GOV.UK register.

3. Research the occupation code

A licensed employer can sponsor only eligible work under the applicable immigration route. Use the SOC code lookup and compare the duties—not just the job title—with the official occupation description. Check the current skill and salary rules on GOV.UK.

4. Validate the vacancy and sponsorship terms

Ask the employer whether this specific vacancy is eligible for sponsorship, which legal entity will employ you, which route and SOC code it expects to use, and whether the salary meets both the general threshold and the occupation's going rate. A statement that an employer has sponsored before is not a promise about your application.

5. Apply with evidence relevant to the role

Tailor the application to the vacancy's essential criteria. For technical roles, evidence can include production experience, measurable project outcomes, architecture decisions, security or reliability work, and relevant qualifications. Avoid unsupported lists of supposedly “in-demand” technologies; the vacancy requirements are the useful evidence.

  1. Confirm sponsorship needs truthfully when the application asks.
  2. Keep the job advert and written sponsorship statements.
  3. Never pay for a job offer or Certificate of Sponsorship; read the sponsorship scam guide.

Related specialist guides

Reviewed 8 August 2026. Sources: GOV.UK sponsor register, eligible jobs and salary rules, and eligible occupation codes. Informational only, not legal advice.