We are proud to share this recent outcome for a client in the care sector whose sponsor licence had been revoked by the Home Office.
The revocation was based on concerns about an alleged salary shortfall. For a care provider with sponsored workers on its books, this was not just a legal problem. It was an immediate threat to the people they employ and the services they deliver.
What Revocation Actually Means
It is worth being clear about what a revocation does, because many employers do not fully understand the position it puts them in until it happens.
There is no right of appeal against a revocation decision. The only legal routes available are to submit representations asking the Home Office to reconsider via PAP, or to apply for judicial review in the High Court.
On top of that, a mandatory 12-month cooling-off period applies before any new licence application can even be submitted. Existing sponsored workers typically have their visas curtailed to 60 days.
The organisation cannot sponsor new migrant workers, cannot extend existing ones, and faces the prospect of losing key staff while being locked out of reapplying for over a year.
Acting quickly was not optional. It was the only choice.
Reviewing the Decision
Our team went through the revocation decision carefully. The concerns raised by the Home Office related to salary compliance, but on close review, those concerns were capable of being properly addressed, backed by the right evidence.
We worked directly with the client to build that evidential picture from the ground up.
The Pre-Action Protocol
Before pursuing judicial review, we prepared a Pre-Action Protocol (PAP) letter addressed to the Home Office. A PAP letter sets out the legal grounds on which a decision is challenged and gives the Home Office a formal opportunity to reconsider.
The PAP addressed each of the Home Office's concerns directly and was accompanied by a full evidential bundle. Nothing was left unaddressed. The representations were structured to give the decision-maker a clear and complete basis on which to reassess.
If you are facing revocation and are unsure where to start, book a consultation with our team as early as possible.
The Outcome
On 7 March 2026, we submitted the representations on behalf of our client. On 20 March 2026, the Home Office wrote back to confirm that the sponsor licence had been fully reinstated with immediate effect.
The decision letter stated:
"We have fully considered the representations and evidence submitted by you and we are now writing to tell you that we have reinstated your sponsor licence."
"After considering these materials we have concluded that it is appropriate to reinstate your sponsor licence in this instance."
"We have fully reinstated your sponsor licence with immediate effect."
Fourteen days from submission of PAP
The care provider avoided the 12-month lockout, its sponsored workforce remained in place, and it was able to continue delivering services without prolonged disruption.
What Other Care Providers Should Take From This
Revocation feels final. It is not always final.
But the window to act is short, and the quality of the representations matters a great deal. A PAP that does not properly address the Home Office's concerns, or that lacks supporting evidence, is unlikely to succeed. And once that opportunity is missed, the options narrow considerably.
We help care providers across the UK with sponsor licence revocation challenges, compliance preparation, and re-applications after revocation where reinstatement is not possible. We also work with providers on pre-licence compliance so that these situations are less likely to arise in the first place.
If your sponsor licence has been revoked, do not wait to get advice. The sooner you act, the more options you have.
Book a consultation with Nara Solicitors today, or call us on +44 20 4576 4977 (also available on WhatsApp).
