Sponsor Compliance
Appendix D • Mar 2026
Everything You Need to Know About The New Home Office Guidance Update
6 March 2026
The Home Office has published the latest version of Appendix D that governs how you must maintain records for sponsored workers. IRS HR breaks down the complex Sponsor Licence guidance into an interactive, audit-ready toolkit.
Acceptable Formats
Records can be physical paper files or digital scans. They must simply be strictly organized and "available on request".
Retention Period
Keep documents for the entire duration of sponsorship, PLUS one year after employment ends.
License Documents
Original documents from your license application must be kept as long as you hold a license.
Document Retention Timeline
Summary of Changes: 6 March 2026
Mandatory adjustments implemented to reflect the latest version (03/26) of the sponsor guidance.
Employment Rights Duty (Section 5l)
Sponsors must now keep evidence that they have made workers aware of their employment rights in the UK.
Seasonal Worker eVisa Shift
Applications on or after 25 Feb 2026 receive an eVisa only. Physical vignettes are no longer standard.
The 4 Pillars of Compliance
Pillar 1: Right to Work & Entry
Online Right to Work Check
Must use the 'Share Code' service. Retain the PDF result for your records.
IRS HR: Compliance Made Effortless
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We don’t provide immigration advice but connect you to our panel of solicitors for immigration advice. The information above is only for informational purposes and shouldn’t be construed as immigration advice.