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Enquiries about illegal working and sponsorship under the points-based system


This section provides the contact details for our employers and education providers' helpline. The helpline can answer enquiries about sponsoring workers and students, and about preventing illegal working.

Before contacting us, you should read the Business and sponsors section.


  • Employers and education providers' helpline

    This helpline can provide:

    • information for employers and education providers about sponsorship under the points-based system;
    • information about the employers checking service for employers who want to verify the entitlement to work for people who are awaiting the outcome of an application made to the Home Office; and
    • advice to employers about preventing illegal working, and particularly about carrying out the document checks necessary to establish a statutory excuse against liability to pay a civil penalty.

    The cost of your call will vary depending on your network provider, and it is likely that calls from mobile phones will cost considerably more. We strongly recommend that you check with your network provider for potential costs. Please be aware that phone calls may be recorded for quality purposes.

    If you are an employer or educational institution or points-based system sponsor and have a general sponsorship enquiry, please email sponsorshipPBSenquiries@ukba.gsi.gov.uk. We aim to respond to general sponsorship enquiries within 2 working days.

    Phone:  0300 123 4699

    Opening Hours:  Monday to Thursday 09:00 - 17:00 and Friday 09:00 to 16:30 (excluding public holidays)