App Field Guide: What the Registry Data Means

This search tool is built directly on the official Home Office data for licensed sponsors. To help you navigate the results effectively, this guide explains what each data field represents within the registry. This is a technical overview of the dataset attributes.

Data Column: Organisation Name

This is the official legal name of the entity that holds the sponsor licence. You can use this name to perform further research on platforms like Companies House to verify the organisation's financial standing and operational history.

Data Column: Town / City

This field represents the primary registered location of the employer. While an organisation may have multiple offices, this is the location associated with the licence record. This field helps you identify employers by geographic proximity.

Data Column: Status

This column indicates the current standing of the licence. The registry tracks whether an organisation is 'Active' or 'Inactive'. An 'Active' status represents an organisation currently included in the Home Office's official register of authorized sponsors. A status changes to 'Inactive' if the organisation no longer appears on the most recent list provided by the Home Office. By maintaining these records, the tool provides a historical view of the register's evolution.

Data Column: Type & Rating (A vs B)

The Home Office assigns a rating to every employer on the register to reflect their compliance status:

• A-Rating: This is the standard rating awarded to a sponsor who has met their compliance duties.
• B-Rating: This is a transitional rating given when the Home Office is not satisfied with a sponsor's compliance. While B-rated, a sponsor generally cannot assign new Certificates of Sponsorship to new workers.

Data Column: Route

The 'Route' column indicates the specific category of sponsorship the employer is authorized to provide. Common categories in our database include 'Skilled Worker' for professional roles, 'Global Business Mobility' for transfers, and 'Creative Worker' for roles in the arts.

Data Column: Sector

This field categorizes the organisation's primary area of business. To provide consistent results, our tool approximates sectors using the 2-digit "Division" level of the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 2007 taxonomy. This technical mapping allows us to group related business activities into high-level categories such as:

• Information Technology (Divisions 62-63)
• Consultancy (Division 70)
• Manufacturing (Divisions 10-32)
• Construction (Divisions 41-43)
• Retail (Division 47)
• Logistics (Divisions 49-53)
• Hospitality (Divisions 55-56)
• Finance & Insurance (Divisions 64-66)
• Property (Division 68)
• Recruitment (Division 78)
• Education (Division 85)
• Healthcare & Care Services (Divisions 86-88)
• Other (All other SIC divisions)

You can use the Sector Filter to identify employers operating within your specific industry background by selecting these broad divisions.

Data Source & Verification

The data in this tool is refreshed daily from the official government registers. You can verify these technical terms and view the source data directly on GOV.UK:

• Official Rating Definitions: Sponsorship licence ratings (GOV.UK)
• Main Register Source: Register of licensed sponsors (GOV.UK)

Note: This guide is provided for technical assistance in using our search tool. It does not constitute legal or immigration advice. For questions regarding your personal visa eligibility, always consult an official legal professional.