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Updated January 2026Care Sector Guide

Sponsor Licence Compliance for Care Providers: The Complete Guide

Over 470 care provider sponsor licences have been revoked since 2022. This guide shows you exactly how to protect your licence and your workforce.

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470+
Care sector licences revoked since 2022
40%
Of all revocations are care providers
60 days
For workers to find new sponsors after revocation
£60K
Maximum penalty per illegal worker

The UK care sector is facing a compliance crisis. Since 2022, over 470 care provider sponsor licences have been revoked—representing around 40% of all revocations across all sectors.

The Stakes for Care Providers

Licence revocation means all your sponsored workers lose their visa permission. Care homes have closed. Services have collapsed. Compliance is not optional; it is existential.

Why Care Providers Face Higher Scrutiny

High Volume of Sponsored Workers

Care providers often sponsor dozens or hundreds of workers, increasing compliance complexity.

Complex Employment Patterns

Mobile care workers, zero-hour contracts, and shift work make attendance tracking challenging.

Multi-Site Operations

Managing compliance across multiple care homes multiplies the administrative burden.

High Staff Turnover

Constant onboarding, offboarding, and document management.

Vulnerability Concerns

The Home Office is alert to potential exploitation of migrant care workers.

Sector-Specific Intelligence

Reports of underpayment and excessive working hours have prompted targeted enforcement.

Why Care Licences Are Revoked

Underpayment of Wages

Example: Care home paid workers for 30 hours but contracted them for 40 on their CoS.

Immediate licence revocation, referral to HMRC

Workers Not Doing the Sponsored Job

Example: Care workers sponsored as support workers were found doing primarily domestic cleaning duties.

Licence revocation, workers' visas curtailed

Failure to Track Mobile Workers

Example: Domiciliary care provider could not evidence where workers were or what hours they worked.

B-rating followed by revocation when not remedied

Unreported Leavers

Example: Care home failed to report 12 workers who left over 6 months.

B-rating and mandatory action plan

Document Gaps Across Sites

Example: Multi-site care group could not produce RTW evidence for workers at 3 of their 5 homes.

Licence suspension pending evidence provision

Care Provider Compliance Checklist

Documentation for Each Sponsored Worker

  • Passport copy (photo page and all UK stamp pages)
  • Current visa/eVisa digital status (screenshot or share code)
  • Certificate of Sponsorship reference and assignment date
  • Signed employment contract matching CoS details
  • Job description confirming care duties
  • Current home address, phone number, and email
  • DBS check certificate
  • Professional registration where applicable (NMC for nurses)

Attendance and Hours Evidence

  • Clock-in/out records for all shifts
  • Rotas showing scheduled hours
  • Visit logs for domiciliary care
  • GPS or electronic verification where used
  • Overtime records with dates and hours
  • Absence records with explanations

Salary and Payment Evidence

  • Payslips for past 12 months
  • Bank statements showing payment dates and amounts
  • Evidence that salary matches CoS declaration
  • Deductions explained and documented
  • Overtime payments recorded

Site and Location Compliance

  • All work sites registered on sponsor licence
  • Each site has accessible compliance records
  • Key Personnel aware of workers at each site
  • Consistent processes across all locations

How LuwaSuite Helps Care Providers

Multi-Site Dashboard

See compliance status across all your care homes in one view.

Mobile Clock-In for Visiting Carers

GPS-enabled attendance tracking for domiciliary care workers.

GPS Attendance Tracking

Verify workers are at registered work locations.

One-Click Audit Packs

Generate complete audit documentation instantly.

See LuwaSuite for Care Providers

Book a demo to see how LuwaSuite helps care homes stay compliant across multiple sites.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can care homes still sponsor overseas workers in 2026?

It depends. The Health and Care Worker visa route closed to new care worker applicants from April 2025. However, existing sponsored care workers can extend their visas and switch employers. Senior care workers and registered nurses may still be eligible under other visa routes.

What happens to my existing sponsored care workers after the visa route closure?

Workers already sponsored before the closure can continue working for you and can extend their visas. Their visa status is protected under transitional arrangements. However, you cannot sponsor new care workers through this route.

Why are so many care provider sponsor licences being revoked?

The Home Office has increased enforcement due to patterns of non-compliance, worker exploitation, and visa misuse. Common reasons include failure to pay contracted hours, workers not doing the job on their visa, poor record-keeping, and failure to monitor attendance. Over 470 care provider licences have been revoked since 2022.

How do I track attendance for care workers who visit clients at home?

Use electronic monitoring systems with GPS clock-in/out, client confirmation logs, travel logs, phone check-ins, and rota management software with real-time updates. The key is having contemporaneous evidence that workers are doing the hours specified on their visa.

Do I need to register all my care sites on my sponsor licence?

Yes. Every location where sponsored workers will regularly work must be registered. For care homes, this means each site. Failure to register work locations is a compliance failure that can result in a B-rating.

How does CQC compliance interact with sponsor licence compliance?

CQC and Home Office requirements overlap in areas like training records and contracts, but differ significantly. CQC focuses on care quality while the Home Office focuses on immigration compliance. Being CQC compliant does not mean you are automatically sponsor licence compliant.

What salary must I pay sponsored care workers?

Sponsored care workers must be paid at least the minimum salary threshold specified on their CoS, which must meet the going rate. Paying below the declared salary or not paying for all contracted hours is a serious compliance breach that leads to licence revocation.

Related Guides & Resources

Sponsor Licence Compliance Guide

Complete guide across all sectors.

Home Office Audit Preparation

How to prepare for compliance visits.

LuwaSuite for Care Providers

Built for care sector compliance.

Related Resources

Explore more compliance tools and guides