Launching 1 November 2026
Free Level 1 User training and certificate for UK sponsors
Sponsoro Academy's Level 1 User Training is a free, self-paced online course for people who manage a UK sponsor licence in the Sponsorship Management System (SMS).
Last updated 27 October 2026 · Based on sponsor guidance Part 1 08/26, Part 2 10/26, Part 3 08/26 and Appendix D 10/26
Price
Free
Duration
About 4.5 hours
Modules
8
Certificate
Verifiable online
- No Sponsoro subscription required
- Stop and resume any time
At a glance
- Course
- Level 1 User Training
- Provider
- Sponsoro Academy (Sponsoro)
- Format
- Online, self-paced
- Assessment
- 30 questions, 80% to pass
- Guidance
- Home Office sponsor guidance Part 1 08/26, Part 2 10/26, Part 3 08/26, Appendix D 10/26
- Opens
- 1 November 2026
- Who it is for
- Level 1 and Level 2 Users, Authorising Officers, Key Contacts, HR and compliance teams
Why Level 1 User training matters now
Level 1 User training matters now because the Home Office is phasing out Level 2 Users, tightening SMS security and expecting licence holders to follow current sponsor guidance.
Level 2 Users are being phased out
No new Level 2 Users can be appointed from 9 September 2026, and existing ones must be converted or removed by 8 March 2027. Many people are taking on Level 1 duties for the first time.
SMS access is tighter
Multi-factor authentication is now mandatory for SMS users, and inactive accounts are being removed. Losing your only Level 1 User can put the licence at risk.
Knowing the guidance is a duty
Licence holders must read the relevant sponsor guidance and keep up with changes, and the Home Office can act on reasonable suspicion of a breach.
What is a Level 1 User?
A Level 1 User is the person who runs a sponsor licence day to day in the Sponsorship Management System (SMS). They assign Certificates of Sponsorship, report changes about sponsored workers and the organisation, add and remove SMS users, and read Home Office messages. Every sponsor must have at least one eligible Level 1 User at all times, or the licence will be revoked.
The primary Level 1 User must be an employee, director or partner of the organisation and a settled worker, with limited exceptions. Additional Level 1 Users can include staff from an outsourced HR provider or a UK-based representative, but neither can be the only Level 1 User.
Source: Workers and Temporary Workers guidance for sponsors, Part 1, section L4 (version 08/26).
Level 1 User vs Level 2 User
A Level 1 User can manage the whole sponsor licence on SMS, while a Level 2 User has a narrower role and is being withdrawn from 8 March 2027.
| Level 1 User | Level 2 User | |
|---|---|---|
| Assign Certificates of Sponsorship | Yes | Yes |
| Report worker activity | All workers | Only CoS they assigned or were given |
| Report changes to the organisation | Yes | No |
| Add or remove SMS users | Yes | No |
| Request more CoS | Yes | No |
| New appointments | Allowed | Not allowed since 9 September 2026 |
| Status | Continues | Ends after 8 March 2027 |
Level 2 User phase-out: key dates
The Home Office is removing the Level 2 User role on a fixed timetable between September 2026 and March 2027.
- 3 September 2026: multi-factor authentication starts rolling out for SMS users
- 9 September 2026: no new Level 2 Users can be appointed
- November 2026: multi-factor authentication expected to be in place for all sponsors
- 8 March 2027: deadline to convert Level 2 Users to Level 1 (if eligible) or deactivate them; remaining Level 2 accounts are then deactivated
Agency staff cannot be converted to Level 1 Users. If your team relies on Level 2 Users, plan their conversion now.
Curriculum
What the course covers
This sponsor licence compliance training follows the order a Level 1 User works in: getting secure SMS access, assigning Certificates of Sponsorship, managing pay and absence, reporting changes on time, keeping Appendix D records and preparing for a Home Office compliance visit.
Module 1
Sponsorship and the Level 1 User role
Key Personnel, your responsibilities and why the licence is a privilege.
30 min
Module 2
SMS access, security and managing users
MFA, keeping access alive and the end of the Level 2 role.
30 min
Module 3
Certificates of Sponsorship
Defined and Undefined CoS, accurate details, corrections and withdrawals.
45 min
Module 4
Start dates, pay and absence
The 28-day rule, paying correctly and the 4-week absence limit.
35 min
Module 5
Reporting duties
What to report, by when, and how to count working days.
45 min
Module 6
Record keeping (Appendix D)
The records to keep for every worker, and for how long.
30 min
Module 7
Right to work and wider legal duties
Right to work checks, the October 2026 changes and the limits on advice.
30 min
Module 8
Compliance checks and enforcement
Visits, B-ratings, suspension, revocation and staying ready.
35 min
How it works
Sponsoro Academy's Level 1 User Training is free to register, self-paced online and ends with a verifiable certificate when you pass the final test.
- 1
Register for free
Add your name and work email below. It takes under a minute.
- 2
Get your enrolment email
We will email you on 1 November 2026 when the course opens.
- 3
Work through 8 modules
Short lessons, practical exercises and a quiz at the end of each module.
- 4
Pass and get certified
Score 80% or more on the 30-question final test to download your certificate.
A certificate you can keep on file
The Sponsoro Academy certificate records your name, completion date, score and the Home Office sponsor guidance Part 1 08/26, Part 2 10/26, Part 3 08/26, Appendix D 10/26 versions the course covered.
- Shows your name, completion date and score
- Lists the guidance versions the course covered
- Carries a unique ID that anyone can check on our verification page
- Recommends a refresh after 12 months, as the guidance changes often
The certificate shows you completed independent training. It is not a Home Office qualification and does not guarantee compliance.
Who it is for
Level 1 User Training is for anyone responsible for sponsor licence compliance, especially SMS users and the managers who oversee them.
- New and existing Level 1 Users
- Level 2 Users moving to Level 1 before March 2027
- Authorising Officers and Key Contacts
- HR and compliance teams supporting a sponsor licence
Further reading
These guides sit alongside Level 1 User Training on day-to-day sponsor duties.
Register for free enrolment
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is the course really free?
Yes. The course and the certificate are free. You do not need a Sponsoro subscription.
When does it open?
On 1 November 2026. Everyone who registers gets an email the day it opens.
Is this approved by the Home Office?
No. Sponsoro Academy is independent training. It is not provided, approved or accredited by the Home Office or UK Visas and Immigration.
Can I show the certificate during a compliance visit?
You can keep it on file as evidence that you completed training on the sponsor guidance. It does not guarantee compliance, and the Home Office will still look at how your licence is actually run.
Is this immigration advice?
No. The course covers general compliance information. For questions about a particular worker, speak to a regulated immigration adviser.
How long does it take?
About 4.5 hours in total. You can stop and pick up where you left off.
Can my whole team take it?
Yes. Each person registers with their own email and gets their own certificate.
What happens to my details?
We use them to tell you when the course opens and to set up your enrolment. We only send product updates if you tick the box. You can ask us to delete your details at any time.
Who can be a Level 1 User?
At least one Level 1 User must be an employee, director or partner of your organisation and a settled worker, with limited exceptions. Contractors and consultants hired for a specific purpose cannot be Key Personnel, and from 9 September 2026 nor can workers supplied by an employment business.
Is SMS Level 1 User training free?
Yes. Sponsoro Academy's Level 1 User training and certificate are free.
What happens to Level 2 Users in 2027?
Existing Level 2 Users must be converted to Level 1 Users, if eligible, or deactivated by 8 March 2027. After that date the Home Office deactivates any remaining Level 2 accounts.
Do Level 1 Users have to be trained?
The guidance requires licence holders, and in particular Key Personnel, to read and understand the relevant sponsor guidance and keep up with changes. Training is a practical way to do that and to show you have.
Independent training provided by Sponsoro. This course is not provided, approved or accredited by the Home Office or UK Visas and Immigration. It covers general compliance information and is not immigration advice.