Protecting the integrity of our democratic and electoral processes is a priority for this Government.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) does not intend to undertake such a review. The FCA has taken steps to address the risks associated with football club sponsorship arrangements involving unauthorised cryptoasset firms. Oversight of sponsorship arrangements involving political parties or politicians falls under electoral law and is a matter for the Government and the independent Electoral Commission.

The Government is bringing forward a number of policy reforms on political finance as part of the Representation of the People Bill. These include reforms to rules around political donations, as well as new rules relating to political donations in the form of cryptoassets, donations from companies and LLPs, and a cap on donations from overseas electors.   

In March 2026, alongside the publication of the independent Rycroft Review into countering foreign financial interference and influence in UK politics, the Government announced a moratorium on political donations made via cryptoassets. This includes political donations which take the form of sponsorships.

All licensed sponsors are subject to ongoing compliance monitoring, including through the Basic Compliance Assessment and wider sponsorship compliance framework.

It would not be appropriate to comment on ongoing investigations, including the number of sponsors currently subject to live compliance action. Where a sponsor is found not to be meeting its obligations, the Home Office may take a range of compliance actions, including action plans, licence restrictions, suspension or revocation.

The employment and remuneration of those on Health and Care worker visas is routinely checked throughout their visa journey and an assessment is also made when they come to renew their visa.

If we identify that a worker is not employed or receiving the correct remuneration, or there are any other compliance concerns, we will consider the appropriate action to take. This may include the revocation of the sponsor’s licence.

If a Sponsor notifies us that a worker has ceased employment, they will be referred for the consideration of the cancellation of their leave.

Sponsors in the care sector are assessed in the same way as all other sponsor licence holders. We do not conduct specific operations in this sector.

The employment and remuneration of those on Health and Care worker visas is routinely checked throughout their visa journey and an assessment is also made when they come to renew their visa.

If we identify that a worker is not employed or receiving the correct remuneration, or there are any other compliance concerns, we will consider the appropriate action to take. This may include the revocation of the sponsor’s licence.

If a Sponsor notifies us that a worker has ceased employment, they will be referred for the consideration of the cancellation of their leave.

Sponsors in the care sector are assessed in the same way as all other sponsor licence holders. We do not conduct specific operations in this sector.

The employment and remuneration of those on Health and Care worker visas is routinely checked throughout their visa journey and an assessment is also made when they come to renew their visa.

If we identify that a worker is not employed or receiving the correct remuneration, or there are any other compliance concerns, we will consider the appropriate action to take. This may include the revocation of the sponsor’s licence.

If a Sponsor notifies us that a worker has ceased employment, they will be referred for the consideration of the cancellation of their leave.

Sponsors in the care sector are assessed in the same way as all other sponsor licence holders. We do not conduct specific operations in this sector.

The assessment of the suitability of a sponsor licence holder that has previously had a licence revoked to sponsor workers in the future is set out in Workers and Temporary Workers - guidance for sponsors part 1: apply for a licence - GOV.UK

The circumstances that would normally lead to the suspension or revocation of a sponsor licence or any other compliance action is set out in Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors part 3: sponsor duties and compliance - GOV.UK

Licensed sponsors are permitted to recruit from overseas to fill any existing eligible role.

The assessment of the suitability of a sponsor licence holder that has previously had a licence revoked to sponsor workers in the future is set out in Workers and Temporary Workers - guidance for sponsors part 1: apply for a licence - GOV.UK

The circumstances that would normally lead to the suspension or revocation of a sponsor licence or any other compliance action is set out in Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors part 3: sponsor duties and compliance - GOV.UK

Licensed sponsors are permitted to recruit from overseas to fill any existing eligible role.

The assessment of the suitability of a sponsor licence holder that has previously had a licence revoked to sponsor workers in the future is set out in Workers and Temporary Workers - guidance for sponsors part 1: apply for a licence - GOV.UK

The circumstances that would normally lead to the suspension or revocation of a sponsor licence or any other compliance action is set out in Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors part 3: sponsor duties and compliance - GOV.UK

Licensed sponsors are permitted to recruit from overseas to fill any existing eligible role.

Compliance evaluations take multiple forms, either through the checking of individual’s salary and employment status, digital audits or field audits.

The catalyst for any one of these strands are numerous, either from external intelligence being passed to the department, possible concerns raised from within the Operational area or law enforcement activity for example.

The assessment of the suitability of a sponsor licence holder that has previously had a licence revoked to sponsor workers in the future is set out in Workers and Temporary Workers - guidance for sponsors part 1: apply for a licence - GOV.UK

The circumstances that would normally lead to the suspension or revocation of a sponsor licence or any other compliance action is set out in Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors part 3: sponsor duties and compliance - GOV.UK

Licensed sponsors are permitted to recruit from overseas to fill any existing eligible role.

The assessment of the suitability of a sponsor licence holder that has previously had a licence revoked to sponsor workers in the future is set out in Workers and Temporary Workers - guidance for sponsors part 1: apply for a licence - GOV.UK

The circumstances that would normally lead to the suspension or revocation of a sponsor licence or any other compliance action is set out in Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors part 3: sponsor duties and compliance - GOV.UK

Licensed sponsors are permitted to recruit from overseas to fill any existing eligible role.

All applicants seeking permission under the Student route must meet the English language requirements set out in the Immigration Rules. Applicants studying at degree level or above must demonstrate English language ability at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, while those studying below degree level must demonstrate ability at level B1. Higher education providers with a track record of compliance may assess the English language ability of applicants studying at degree level or above using a method they consider appropriate. The provider must record the method of assessment on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies and retain evidence of that assessment. UK Visas and Immigration may assess a sponsor’s arrangements for determining English language ability as part of its compliance activity, including during a compliance visit. Sponsors that are not permitted to assess English language ability must ensure that applicants provide evidence through one of the methods specified in the Immigration Rules, such as an approved Secure English Language Test. Individuals remain subject to review during the visa process and at the border, and may be refused entry where they do not meet the relevant requirements.

All applicants seeking permission under the Student route are required to satisfy the genuine student requirement set out in the Immigration Rules. UK Visas and Immigration considers each application on its individual merits and assesses all the information and evidence available. This may include the applicant’s immigration and education history, the relevance of the proposed course to their previous study and future plans, their knowledge of the course and sponsoring institution, their reasons for choosing to study in the UK, and their financial circumstances. Where further information is required, the applicant may be invited to attend a credibility interview. An application may be refused where the decision maker is not satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that the applicant is a genuine student.

Student sponsors must maintain oversight of sponsored students throughout their studies and notify UK Visas and Immigration of reportable events relating to their students. These include non-enrolment, a failure to attend or engage, withdrawal from a course, and earlier-than-expected completion. Sponsors are assessed in the annual Basic Compliance Assessment on the rates of non-enrolment and course completion. If sponsorship is withdrawn or an individual no longer satisfies the Student route requirements, their permission may be cancelled in accordance with the Immigration Rules.

The Home Office can conduct both virtual audits and in-person visits (either announced or unannounced) of sponsors at any time to assess their compliance with their sponsorship duties. Sponsors are assessed annually against the Basic Compliance Assessment requirements of refusal rate, enrolment rate, and course completion rate. Sponsors must also request their allocation of sponsorship certificates annually, and the Home Office will take account of factors including the number of students currently studying at the institution, its student-to-teacher ratio, the number of full-time teaching staff and the capacity of its premises. These arrangements support oversight of the number of sponsored students and whether a sponsor can continue to meet its sponsorship duties

Education providers must hold a valid Student sponsor licence and meet the relevant educational oversight and immigration compliance requirements to sponsor international students. Student sponsors must also apply for a Basic Compliance Assessment (BCA) each year to demonstrate that they continue to meet the required compliance standards. UK Visas and Immigration monitors sponsors through risk-based compliance activity and may take appropriate action where the required standards are not met or wider concerns are identified. Student route applications are considered on their individual merits against the Immigration Rules, including the requirement to demonstrate knowledge of English.

Student sponsors are required to monitor the academic engagement of sponsored students and report specified changes in their circumstances to UK Visas and Immigration, including where a student fails to enrol, ceases to study or sponsorship is withdrawn. Where an individual no longer meets the requirements of the Student route, the Home Office may cancel their permission in accordance with the Immigration Rules. Individuals must leave the UK before their permission expires, unless they have made a valid application for further permission to stay. Those who remain in the UK without permission are liable to enforcement action.

Each Sponsor’s allocation of Certificates of Sponsorship is subject to an ‘eligible role’ assessment, which includes a consideration of the need and credibility of a particular role against the organisation’s profile. Genuineness checks are also undertaken as part of the worker’s application for permission as per the Immigration Rules which take into account the intentions and ability of an individual to undertake the role and form part of ongoing compliance assessments post-decision.

All Religious and Charity Workers sponsors must hold charitable status; all sponsor licence applications are assessed against published guidance and all worker applications are assessed against the Immigration Rules, If any concerns relating to the management of a Sponsor Licence are raised we will take the appropriate action.

While Sponsorship compliance is similar across all the sponsored routes, there are Immigration Rules that are specific to the Religious and Charity worker routes, such as the requirement that applicants under Religious Worker must perform religious duties to support the activities of the religious institution, and applicants under the Charity Worker route must undertake unpaid voluntary fieldwork.

The new safe and legal routes announced in the Restoring Order and Control statement will enable community groups, universities and employers to identify refugees they wish to sponsor.

The routes will be capped. Arrivals under the new community sponsorship route will start small and build over time to align with the UK’s capacity to support refugees. The Home Office will retain overall control on numbers. The government will set out further details in due course.

The named community sponsorship route will open to applications from prospective lead sponsors later this autumn, with arrivals expected from autumn 2027 onwards.

Further details of the new route, including eligibility requirements, will be announced in due course.

The information requested is not available from published information.

The Government remains extremely concerned about levels of worker exploitation in the adult social care sector and UKVI continue to investigate all allegations of sponsor non-compliance.

Revocation is generally a last resort, for example where a sponsor breaches their mandatory duty to pay the worker in accordance with the Immigration Rules and/or national minimum wage regulations.

The Home Office continues to work very closely with the 15 Regional Partnerships funded by the Department for Health and Social Care, together with officials in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This involves data sharing agreements to ensure local authorities are in a position both to address risks to continuity of care and support workers who need new employment.

UKVI also offers a dedicated point of contact, which ensures the prioritisation of all applications for sponsorship or visas related to the workforce who are displaced by revocation absent of any additional priority service fees.