UKVI updates Student Sponsor Guidance; rules apply from Jan 16

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has released an updated Student Sponsor Guidance – Sponsorship duties (Version 01/2026), marked “to be used from 16 January 2026”. The document sets out compliance requirements for UK universities and colleges licensed to sponsor international students, including rules on CAS issuance, reporting student changes, and work-while-studying oversight.

While the January 2026 update includes limited edits, it is the latest “operational handbook” used by sponsors—meaning universities must align internal processes that directly affect international students’ onboarding and compliance checks.

What changed in Version 01/2026

UKVI’s “changes since last publication” table shows the update removes references to the Educator’s Helpdesk and provides alternative contact details in multiple places in the guidance.

The updated guidance also points sponsors to sector support via GOV.UK and reiterates that sponsor duties remain central to holding a licence to recruit international students.

Why this matters for Indian students?

Although the guidance is written for institutions, it governs processes that shape a student’s experience, including:

• CAS assignment checks: Sponsors must assess course eligibility and academic progression before issuing a CAS.
• Working while studying: Sponsors are required to understand and apply restrictions on work conditions attached to Student visas and how these interact with course structures.
• Reporting duties: Universities must report certain changes in a student’s circumstances via the Sponsor Management System (SMS). This is part of the compliance framework that can affect visa status if reporting thresholds are triggered.

The document also references previously published requirements around remote delivery duties—noting these were published ahead of policy going live and are not currently enforced, with further communications expected on when they will come into force.

What students should do now

If your university asks for additional documents or enrolment confirmations, treat it as part of sponsor compliance—UKVI guidance puts clear duties on institutions to maintain robust records and reporting.

For 2026 applicants, expect universities to tighten consistency around CAS and engagement checks as they align to the latest guidance version.