UKVI has announced that the Level 2 user role in the Sponsor Management System (SMS) will no longer exist after March 2027. Sponsors need to decide now who keeps access and make sure those people can still log in.
There is a nearer deadline too. Following changes to Parts 1 and 3 of the sponsor guidance on 28 August 2026, UKVI has emailed sponsors whose Level 1 or Level 2 users haven't accessed SMS in the last 12 months. Those users must log in by 6 December 2026 or be deactivated.
Miss these dates and Level 2 users could lose access, along with your ability to assign CoS, report changes and manage compliance. If you're left without an active Level 1 user, UKVI may take action to revoke your sponsor licence. This article covers what is changing, who is affected and what to do about the SMS Level 2 user transition.
The Level 1 user has the highest level of access. They manage the licence and can add or remove other users. Level 2 users do the day-to-day work, such as assigning CoS and reporting worker activity.
With the Level 2 role closing, you'll need to decide which Level 2 users should become Level 1 users, if they meet the criteria in Part 1 of the guidance, and which should be deactivated.
UKVI is also taking a firmer line on inactive accounts. An account counts as inactive if it hasn't been accessed for 12 months or more, and UKVI will deactivate those still unused on 6 December 2026.
Both changes come down to individual accountability. Sponsors are responsible for making sure only people who need SMS access have it, so anyone who has left, changed roles or no longer works on sponsorship should be deactivated. Each person should have their own account rather than sharing a login.
Any organisation with a sponsor licence and active SMS users. That covers employer sponsors (Skilled Worker, International Sportsperson and so on) and temporary worker sponsors (GAE, Charity Worker and so on).
If an immigration representative or compliance consultant is a Level 2 user on your licence, their account is covered too, so make sure they know.
Level 1 users and Authorising Officers aren't exempt, because inactive Level 1 accounts are being deactivated as well. It's worth checking who holds each key personnel role now.
Size makes no difference. A sponsor with one Level 2 user is affected, and a sponsor with a single Level 1 user is more exposed, because one inactive account could leave the licence with no active user.
Review every Level 1 and Level 2 account. Deactivate anyone who has never logged in, hasn't logged in for a year, has left or no longer works on sponsorship. A Level 1 user can deactivate others but not themselves.
Ask everyone you want to keep to log in before 6 December 2026. If someone has forgotten their user ID, another Level 1 user can find it under "Manage Level 1 and 2 users". A sole Level 1 user can find theirs in the licence decision letter. As a last resort, the Business Helpdesk can help, but only if you contact them from an email address registered to key personnel.
Decide whether each Level 2 user should be appointed as a Level 1 user or deactivated. Correct any out-of-date names, emails and phone numbers, including your Key Contact details. Consider having more than one Level 1 user so the licence doesn't depend on one person.
Check you have at least one active Level 1 user. Keep screenshots, emails or a compliance log entry showing what you did and when. UKVI recommends that the Level 1 user logs in at least monthly, so build that into your routine.
Two dates matter: 6 December 2026 for inactive users, and March 2027 for the Level 2 role.
A deactivated account can't log in or do anything. If your Level 2 users handle most of your sponsorship work, you could be unable to assign CoS, report changes or complete routine compliance tasks, all of which have deadlines under your sponsor duties.
The bigger risk is losing your last active Level 1 user. UKVI has said it may take action to revoke the licence in that situation, and you'd need to submit a sponsor change of circumstances form to nominate a new one, which adds delay. More broadly, losing working SMS access may be treated as a breach of your duties and lead to an action plan or a downgrade.
Aim to have everything done at least three months before March 2027, to allow for troubleshooting and UKVI response times.
What is the exact deadline for the Level 2 user transition?
There are two dates. Users who haven't accessed SMS in 12 months or more must log in by 6 December 2026. The Level 2 role itself will no longer exist after March 2027.
Can I add new Level 2 users after the deadline?
No. The role is closing, so any additional access will need to be at Level 1, and the person must meet the criteria in Part 1 of the guidance.
Do immigration representatives acting as Level 2 users also need to take action?
Yes. They're users on your licence like anyone else, so speak to your adviser early.
What if a Level 2 user can't access their account?
Check the basics first, such as a forgotten user ID (see Step 2). If that doesn't solve it, contact the Business Helpdesk. If the person no longer needs access, deactivate the account and reassign their work.
Does the transition affect my Level 1 user or Authorising Officer?
Yes. Inactive Level 1 accounts will be deactivated too, so your Level 1 user should log in regularly. If you end up with no active Level 1 user, submit a sponsor change of circumstances form to nominate a new one.
Will the SMS interface change after the transition?
UKVI hasn't announced any change to how SMS looks. What changes is who holds which role. Keep accessing it through the SMS.
With a login deadline on 6 December 2026 and the Level 2 role closing after March 2027, this isn't one to leave. Audit your users, get the right people logged in, decide who stays and keep a record of what you did. Good SMS user management is now a basic part of sponsor compliance, and it's far easier to sort out now than after access has been lost.
If you need support managing the SMS Level 2 user transition or want a full compliance review of your sponsor licence, our immigration consultants can guide you through the process and ensure your SMS access is maintained.