Licensed sponsors on the Worker and Temporary Worker routes: version 10/26 of sponsor guidance Part 2 is valid from 8 October 2026 and reflects Statement of Changes HC 584 and Right to Work Scheme changes.
Key facts
- Who: Licensed sponsors of workers on the Worker and Temporary Worker routes
- From: 8 October 2026
- Source: Sponsor a worker: sponsor guidance part 2
UK Visas and Immigration has published version 10/26 of Sponsor a worker: sponsor guidance part 2. It is valid from 8 October 2026. The guidance reflects changes to the Immigration Rules coming into force on 8 and 29 October 2026, as set out in Statement of Changes HC 584 (published on 3 September 2026). It also reflects changes to the Right to Work Scheme that came into force on 1 October 2026.
The guidance lists these changes:
- Religious Workers (S1.19, S3.42, S9.15): references to the "resident labour consideration" are deleted, because the requirement will no longer apply to applications submitted on or after 29 October 2026. A sponsor whose Religious Worker intends to apply before that date must continue to follow section MRW5 of Sponsor a Minister of Religion or Religious Worker in force before 29 October 2026.
- Right to work checks (S1.40 to S1.43): redrafted and updated to reflect the extension of the Right to Work Scheme to other working arrangements from 1 October 2026. In S7.60 (former S7.58), sentences on how to carry out right to work checks are deleted, as this is covered in other guidance.
- Level 2 users (S2.4): a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) can be assigned only by a Level 1 user or, until 8 March 2027, a Level 2 user. The guidance says the Level 2 User role will cease to exist after 8 March 2027.
- Financial requirement (S7.22 to S7.31, formerly S7.22 to S7.29): redrafted for clarity and updated for changes from 29 October 2026 affecting Ministers of Religion and Religious Workers who are not entitled to National Minimum Wage.
- Age requirements (S7.53, formerly S7.51): transitional references to the age requirements for certain routes are deleted as no longer required.
- Modern slavery (S8.28, S8.29): new paragraphs reflect a provision from 8 October 2026 for Skilled Workers identified as victims of modern slavery. Paragraph S8.5 is amended to match.
Where new paragraphs were added, later paragraphs in the relevant section have been renumbered. The guidance also lists other minor housekeeping changes.
What this means for applicants
Sponsors of Religious Workers should check the date on which the worker intends to apply. For a worker who intends to apply before 29 October 2026, the guidance says to follow section MRW5 as in force before that date. The resident labour consideration will no longer apply to applications submitted on or after 29 October 2026.
Sponsors that rely on Level 2 users to assign a CoS should note that, under S2.4, a Level 2 user can assign a CoS only until 8 March 2027.
Anyone considered the employer of a worker for the purposes of the Right to Work Scheme must read the right to work checks guidance linked in S1.42. S1.43 states that if a sponsor is issued with a civil penalty for employing an illegal worker, or fails to carry out right to work checks as the guidance requires, UK Visas and Immigration is likely to revoke the licence.
Sponsors using printed or downloaded copies should check the version number and date on GOV.UK.
Related guide: Sponsorship requirements for Skilled Worker sponsors
Sources
- Sponsor a worker: sponsor guidance part 2, UK Visas and Immigration, version 10/26