Source transparency
The official-source register
The evidence behind this resource. Open the current publisher version before applying a rule or making a sponsor report.
A checked date records our research review. It does not mean a source changed on that day or remains unchanged afterwards.
| Primary source | Publisher updated | Editorially checked |
|---|---|---|
| Workers and Temporary Workers: Part 1 — apply for a licenceVersion 08/26. Guidance valid from 28 August 2026; accessible version dated 3 September 2026. L4 covers key personnel, transition away from Level 2 accounts, phased mandatory MFA and inactive accounts. | 3 September 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Workers and Temporary Workers: Part 2 — sponsor a workerVersion 10/26; use alongside route-specific guidance. S3 covers CoS and starting work; S4 includes absence and change-of-employment provisions. October changes include Right to Work Scheme scope and Religious Worker recruitment. | 8 October 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Workers and Temporary Workers: Part 3 — sponsor duties and complianceVersion 08/26, valid from 28 August 2026. C1 reporting; C2 organisational changes; C4 mergers/TUPE; C7 compliance checks. Deadlines have event-specific exceptions. | 2 September 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Appendix D — record-keeping duties for Worker and Temporary Worker sponsorsVersion 10/26. Student record-keeping was removed from this appendix in May 2025 and is governed by Student sponsor guidance. Sponsor-retention rules do not override longer retention duties for other purposes. | 8 October 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Appendix D publication and update historyHistory distinguishes the 8 October update, 3 August eVisa/vignette update and 29 May 2025 removal of Student content. | 8 October 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Workers and Temporary Workers: sponsor a Skilled WorkerVersion 04/26. SK4 occupation/skill and care-worker requirements, SK5–7 salary and calculation rules. Lists transitional provisions; do not assume a single salary threshold or care route open to overseas recruitment. | 8 April 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Right to work checks: an employer’s guideThe current final guide is dated 1 October 2026. Covers prescribed initial/follow-up checks, eVisas, ECS and TUPE. Do not use an expired BRP alone as proof. | 1 October 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Employer’s right to work checklistOctober 2026 scope includes specified worker, subcontractor and online matching arrangements. Read exact definitions and transition dates rather than assuming all freelance work is included. | 1 October 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Code of practice: avoiding unlawful discrimination while preventing illegal workingPage retains an older URL slug but the opened title/content is October 2026. Provides equal treatment, digital access and permitted check-method safeguards. | 1 October 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Check a job applicant’s right to work using their share codeOfficial employer service; date of birth and right-to-work share code required. Page did not display a publication/update date. | Not supplied | 4 November 2026 |
| Use the Employer Checking ServiceOfficial service for specified outstanding applications, reviews, appeals and document/digital difficulties. It does not replace an available online check in every case. | Not supplied | 4 November 2026 |
| UK visa sponsorship for employers: your responsibilitiesOfficial overview of HR systems, organisational changes and sponsor duties. Detailed route guidance takes precedence over simplified summaries. | Not supplied | 4 November 2026 |
| UK visa sponsorship for employers: certificates of sponsorshipExplains Defined/Undefined CoS and assignment controls. A CoS is not immigration permission or a right-to-work check. | Not supplied | 4 November 2026 |
| UK visa sponsorship for employers: licence ratingsWorker sponsors use A/B ratings, with a provisional UK Expansion Worker category. Do not describe employer self-assessment traffic lights as official ratings. | Not supplied | 4 November 2026 |
| UK visa sponsorship for employers: immigration skills chargeOfficial fee/exemption overview. The sponsor must pay applicable charge; no fee amounts are frozen into these guides. | Not supplied | 4 November 2026 |
| SMS guide 13 — multi-factor authenticationOperational manual for MFA and one-time passcodes. Never disclose SMS IDs, passwords or OTPs to another person. | 2 October 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Check whether a sponsored worker needs an ATAS certificateATAS depends on route, occupation, research subject/level and nationality; retain the certificate or approval where required. | Not supplied | 4 November 2026 |
| Sponsor a worker: Part 2 publication historyConfirms changes effective 8/29 October 2026 and Right to Work Scheme changes effective 1 October 2026. | 8 October 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Apply for a sponsor licence: Part 1 publication historyAccessible version added 3 September; substantive version 08/26 published 28 August 2026. | 3 September 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Student sponsor guidance: official publication collectionUse the linked current documents. The collection update date does not mean every document was substantively revised that day. | 9 October 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Document 1: Applying for a Student sponsor licenceCurrent PDF linked from the official collection on the review date; version 10/2026 effective 8 October 2026. Includes provider type, educational oversight, key personnel and sites. | 9 October 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Document 2: Sponsorship DutiesVersion 10/2026 effective 8 October 2026. Section 2 covers student records; sections 7 and 9 contain reporting tables. Use this rather than assuming Worker Appendix D is a student checklist. | 9 October 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Document 3: Student sponsor compliancePage displays 9 October 2026; body is version 06/2026, effective 1 June 2026. Transitional completion arrangements continue through 31 May 2027. | 9 October 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Document 4: Higher education regulatory reformPage displays 9 October 2026; body is version 03/2025 effective 19 March 2025. Read with Document 1; regulatory arrangements and provider categories vary by UK nation. | 9 October 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Student sponsor compliance visits: audit processOperational overview dated April 2025, published 2 May 2025. It does not replace the Student sponsor policy documents. | 2 May 2025 | 4 November 2026 |
| Student sponsor compliance audits: official PDFUser-supplied official seven-page PDF; same audit overview as the accessible publication, not a separate policy instrument. | 2 May 2025 | 4 November 2026 |
| Student and Child Student: caseworker guidanceVersion 15.0, published for staff 9 October 2026; webpage updated 16 October 2026. Some financial changes described here take effect on 30 November 2026. | 16 October 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Immigration Rules: Appendix StudentConsolidated Rules. Check commencement/transitional provisions before applying a newly inserted provision to an individual application. | 29 October 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Immigration Rules: Appendix Child StudentChild Student eligibility and care arrangements. A parent, nominated guardian, close relative and private foster carer are not interchangeable categories. | 29 October 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| SMS guide 4A: creating a CAS for Student sponsorsOperational field guidance. Use with the newer policy documents where policy or access arrangements have changed. | 11 November 2025 | 4 November 2026 |
| SMS manual 5: reporting student activityDespite its legacy URL, this is the official student activity reporting manual. It explains system use; duty and trigger dates come from policy. | 7 September 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| SMS manual 1: introduction and managing user accessCurrent access transition: no new Level 2 appointments from 9 September 2026; Level 2 access ends after 8 March 2027. | 5 October 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| SMS manual 13: multi-factor authenticationOfficial MFA setup and recovery guidance. | 2 October 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| UK visa sponsorship management system: official sign-inUndated live service page. Use GOV.UK as the trusted entry point; this website does not collect SMS credentials. | Not supplied | 4 November 2026 |
| Register of licensed sponsors: studentsSnapshot checked on 4 November 2026. The register can change; recheck when relying on a provider status. | 4 November 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Check immigration status using a share codeOfficial general immigration-status checking service; right-to-work and right-to-rent checks have distinct services. | Not supplied | 4 November 2026 |
| Academic Technology Approval Scheme: official guidanceFCDO source for ATAS scope, exemptions, certificates and changes. March update added a warning about false AI-generated application details. | 24 March 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| UK Agent Quality Framework: British Council overviewPrimary sector partner explanation of AQF; the binding sponsor obligation is in Document 2, paragraphs 3.30–3.31. | Not supplied | 4 November 2026 |
| Keeping children safe in education 2026England only. Statutory education safeguarding guidance; use the corresponding national framework elsewhere in the UK. | 1 September 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Boarding schools: national minimum standardsEngland only. Boarding safeguarding standards are distinct from immigration permission and sponsor duties. | 18 May 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Students: education provider licence suspension or lossOfficial student-facing guidance on suspension, revocation, possible teach-out and cancellation. Individual notices and circumstances matter. | Not supplied | 4 November 2026 |
| Visa brake: changes to the UK visa systemPolicy-specific nationality/route/entry-clearance scope. Do not turn this into a blanket nationality exclusion for existing students or other routes. | 26 March 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
Official material is attributed to the Home Office, UK Visas and Immigration and GOV.UK, as applicable. Reused public-sector data is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated.