UK Updates Priority Change of Circumstances Service for Licensed Sponsors

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has updated its Priority Change of Circumstances service, which allows licensed sponsors of Worker and Temporary Worker routes to request expedited processing for specific administrative actions. The service is designed to prioritize certain requests each day, which sponsors must submit via email.

According to guidance updated on April 27, 2026, the priority service is available for sponsors who need to make urgent changes to their sponsorship status or management. While the service accelerates the processing time for the request, UKVI states that the use of the priority service does not guarantee that a request will be approved.

The priority service is limited to a specific set of requests. Eligible actions include:

• Annual certificate of sponsorship (CoS) allocation
• Additional certificate of sponsorship (CoS) allocation
• Adding a new level 1 user
• Changing a level 1 user
• Replacing the authorising officer (AO)
• Amending the authorising officer (AO)
• Replacing the key contact (KC)
• Amending the key contact (KC)
• Adding a representative
• Amending organization details specifically regarding a move to new premises

Certain routes are explicitly excluded from this expedited processing. Post License requests for the Global Business Mobility (GBM) UK Expansion worker route, the GBM Service Supplier route, and the GBM Secondment Worker Route are not accepted through priority services.

The administrative framework for these requests has undergone several modifications over the last several years. On April 5, 2020, the priority change of circumstances service transitioned from a telephone-based system to an email-based service, and the telephone line was discontinued.

More recent updates to the service include a fee increase that took effect on November 11, 2025. The premium service for work sponsors ceased to exist after November 30, 2025, a change that was reflected in the eligibility section of the guidance on December 1, 2025.

Sponsors are directed to the Sponsorship Management System (SMS) Manual for full guidance on how to submit a change of circumstances request through the system.