Key facts
- Over 1,900 small high street businesses, including vape shops and car washes, are licensed to sponsor foreign workers in the UK.
- UK visa rules were tightened in July 2025, restricting sponsorship to graduate-level employees earning at least £41,700.
- More than 100 businesses were added to the sponsorship register after the rule changes.
- The Home Office has revoked thousands of sponsorship licenses, with 3,299 revoked in 2025.
- Sixty businesses on the register had previously been fined for employing illegal workers.
Despite tightened UK visa rules implemented in July 2025, which aimed to restrict the skilled worker sponsorship scheme to graduate-level employees earning at least £41,700, a significant number of small high street businesses continue to hold licenses to sponsor foreign workers. BBC Verify found that over 1,900 businesses, including mini-marts, vape shops, and car washes, remain on the register.
More than 100 of these businesses were added to the skilled worker sponsorship list after the rule changes took effect. The register includes over 1,500 grocery and convenience stores, 150 taxi operators, and 100 barber shops. The Home Office stated that over 100 occupations are now ineligible for new skilled worker visas and that any businesses abusing the system would have their licenses revoked.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood initiated an urgent review into the presence of certain businesses on the register due to concerns about potential misuse. While being on the register does not guarantee visa approvals, it allows businesses to apply for foreign workers. Some companies may have applied before the rule changes, or their approvals predate the new regulations. The Home Office revoked 3,299 licenses in 2025, a substantial increase from 347 in 2023. Furthermore, 60 businesses on the register had been fined a combined £2.5 million for employing illegal workers.
Experts note that the rule changes have significantly impacted sectors like hotels and restaurants, which can no longer sponsor roles like chefs or managers. Lawyers suggest some businesses may attempt to sponsor roles in marketing or bookkeeping to circumvent the new restrictions. The Home Office now scrutinizes business finances to ensure they can meet the required salary thresholds. Immigration lawyer Joanna Hunt commented that it would be difficult for a typical high street shop to justify sponsorship at a degree level, as roles must align with the business type and meet skill requirements.