How Do I Check a UK Work Visa Job Offer Is Genuine?
Check the employer on the UK government's official Register of licensed sponsors: workers on GOV.UK. A UK employer can only sponsor a Skilled Worker visa if it holds a sponsor licence, and only the official register shows whether it does. If the employer is not listed, it cannot issue the certificate of sponsorship the visa requires.
The check matters now. On 12 November, Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency said it had arrested a man accused of taking £34,000 and Rs465,000 from a citizen on the promise of a UK work visa for his nephew to work as a mason. The suspect had returned £25,500 but allegedly kept the rest, the FIA said.
What checks should I run before paying anyone?
First, search the GOV.UK register for the employer's legal name and check the route covers Skilled Worker. Second, check that the job is on the government's list of eligible occupations and that a certificate of sponsorship names that job. Third, never pay a private person or agent to arrange sponsorship. In the FIA case, the money went to an individual, and most of it was not returned.
What if the offer fails a check?
Stop, and do not send money or documents. A genuine employer will be on the register and will not ask you to pay for sponsorship. Immigration rules change often, so always check the official GOV.UK page on the day you apply. This article is general information only, not personal immigration advice.
Where is the official register?
On GOV.UK, under 'Register of licensed sponsors: workers'. The register is a downloadable list that the Home Office updates regularly, most recently on 12 November 2026. Always use the official page, not a copy sent by a recruiter.
