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What a sponsor must decide and report when a sponsored worker does not start within the Home Office's 28-day period.
01
Calculate the 28-day period from the correct event.
The current sponsor guidance says a worker should normally begin the sponsored role no later than 28 days after the latest of the relevant CoS start date, the valid-from date on the eVisa or applicable vignette, the notified grant date, or the specified Creative Worker concession event.
The calculation should be recorded. Counting automatically from the CoS date can produce the wrong answer where permission was granted or notified later.
02
After the period, the sponsor must make a substantive choice.
If the worker has not started by the end of that period, the sponsor must either report the new start date and reasons if it wishes to continue sponsorship, or stop sponsoring the worker. The report is due by the end of ten working days after the 28-day period.
Continuing sponsorship does not make the delay acceptable. UKVI may cancel the worker's permission if it does not consider the reason valid, so a right-to-work check remains essential before employment begins.
03
Evidence the reason, not only the revised date.
The guidance gives examples including serious travel disruption, a contractual notice period, administrative delay obtaining an exit visa, illness, bereavement and compelling family or personal circumstances. The list is not exhaustive and each case is considered on its facts.
The sponsor should retain the chronology, communications and documents supporting the reason, the decision to continue or withdraw sponsorship, the SMS submission and the eventual right-to-work check.
Working checklist
Questions before the next step.
- Identify the latest relevant start-date event
- Calculate the end of the 28-day period
- Obtain evidence for the delay
- Decide whether sponsorship can continue
- Report within the required SMS window
- Complete and retain the right-to-work check
Primary sources
Rules and official guidance.
Reviewed 5 August 2026. Check the current provision and complete facts before relying on this resource.
How to use the source record
Verify the current instrument, commencement date, transitional position and caseworker guidance against the application date and complete facts. The source may change after this resource was reviewed.
Questions
Points that commonly alter the answer.
Does every delayed start need to be reported?+
The guidance says no report is required where, after permission has been granted, the start is delayed by no more than the defined 28-day period. Other reporting duties may still arise on the facts.
When is the SMS report due after a delayed start?+
Where the worker does not start within the defined 28-day period, the sponsor must report the position by the end of ten working days after that period.
Can the worker still start after 28 days?+
A sponsor can report a new start date and reasons and continue sponsorship, but UKVI may cancel permission if the reason is not considered valid. The sponsor must complete the required right-to-work check before work begins.
Continue within this subject
Follow the sponsor position from licence to continuing control.
Applications, sponsored roles, reporting, payroll and inspection readiness form one regulatory system. Continue with the part of that system that determines the present risk.
Sponsor position review
Test the licence, role and operating evidence together.
Quastels can review the organisation, sponsor controls, role, salary, reporting position and the decision that must be made next.
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