Numerous small businesses, including mini-marts, vape shops, and car washes, remain licensed to sponsor skilled foreign workers under a UK visa scheme that was intended for higher earners, according to findings by BBC Verify. Despite rule changes implemented in July 2025 to restrict the scheme primarily to graduate-level employees earning at least £41,700, over 1,900 such businesses are still registered sponsors.
The register includes more than 1,500 grocery and convenience stores, approximately 150 taxi operators, around 100 barber shops, and dozens of car washes and vape shops. Significantly, more than 100 of these businesses were added to the list after the rules were tightened. However, being on the register does not guarantee individual visa applications will be approved.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood initiated an urgent review into the presence of businesses like vape shops, barbers, and car washes on the skilled worker sponsor register two months ago, citing concerns about potential misuse. A Home Office spokesperson stated that any businesses found to be abusing the system would have their licenses revoked. The spokesperson also noted that the skilled worker threshold has been raised, making over 100 occupations ineligible for new visas.
Some companies may have joined the register before the rule changes officially took effect, or their approvals may predate the July 2025 tightening. Others might remain on the list because they were approved earlier or are sponsoring workers already in the UK.
Globally, over 120,000 businesses hold licenses to sponsor skilled workers. The skilled worker scheme was established post-Brexit to help employers recruit after the end of free movement from the EU. Fees for joining the sponsor register range from £611 for smaller firms to £1,682 for larger businesses. The UK Visas and Immigration service can conduct visits during the application process.
Prior to July of last year, foreign hires could qualify for sponsorship if their qualifications were equivalent to A-levels and they earned at least £38,700 in most cases. Since the rule update, professions not requiring a graduate-level education, such as shop managers, are no longer eligible. Additional English language requirements were also introduced in January of this year.
In the 12 months leading up to March, 68,067 skilled worker visas were granted. This number, comprising 29,745 main applicants and 38,322 dependants, represents a 30% decrease from the previous year. IT professionals were the most common recipients, followed by those in finance. The decline in visa approvals was largely attributed to individuals in food preparation and hospitality trades no longer qualifying under the revised scheme.