Bringing exceptional international talent to the UK begins with securing the right sponsorship. Whether you’re an employer aiming to grow your team or a skilled professional seeking opportunities in the UK, understanding the Certificate of Sponsorship UK is a critical step in the process.
At Rees Clayton, our expert immigration solicitors are here to guide you through every aspect of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship. Available 24/7, our dedicated professionals are ready to assist you with tailored advice and immediate support.
Call us today at 02033939272 for reliable, expert assistance whenever you need it.
A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is a digital document that verifies that a legitimate and acceptable migrant has been extended an offer of employment or enrolment by a licenced UK enterprise or educational institution. It includes the identity of the grantee, information about the organisation that is providing financial support, a start and end date, and a special reference number for the CoS. Before applying for a work or study visa, candidates are required to hold a CoS. The purpose of the CoS number is to ensure that the applicant’s CoS is valid and appropriate for the sought kind of visa by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is required for the following visa categories:
The sponsor verifies that the applicant satisfies the requirements of the visa by granting a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). Providing a CoS to an overseas worker is an employer’s way of verifying that they have the right abilities for the job, that the position is suitable for their level of experience, and that the salary is at least the minimum required. Schools, colleges, and universities only provide CoS to those who are truly qualified for a specific academic program.
Sponsoring organisations in the UK can rely on the immigration attorneys at Rees Clayton, who are at the forefront of immigration law and global mobility in the country. When it comes to your:
Get in touch with one of our expert and professional immigration lawyers at 02033939272.
Depending on the prospective employee’s present residency status, a foreign Skilled Worker may be assigned a defined or undefined CoS.
Foreign Skilled Workers now residing outside of the UK can be granted a defined CoS.
Anyone on a work visa, including Skilled Workers already in the UK, or anyone else entering the country without a specific work visa, can apply for an undefined COS. For instance, this could be necessary if an employee needs a fresh sponsorship certificate because they changed jobs.
In order to work in the UK under certain visa categories, employers must get a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) in order to sponsor non-UK nationals.
Both the sponsor and the employee must fulfil specific requirements before a CoS can be assigned.
Employers are required to fulfil specific requirements in order to be issued a Certificate of Sponsorship. These requirements include:
Employers are required to possess a sponsor licence that is valid and issued by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). They can now issue CoSs to employees who are not from the UK due to this licence. To prove they are a real company offering real jobs, employers must go through a rigorous application process to get a sponsor licensing.
It is possible to revoke or suspend an employer’s sponsor licence if they have a record of noncompliance or violations of immigration rules. A clean compliance record is critical for continuing to issue CoS.
Employers must follow strict rules and laws about immigration. Maintaining accurate records of sponsored workers, checking their Right to Work eligibility, and reporting any important changes (such as changes in job roles, salary, or employment status) to UKVI are all part of this.
Employers need to show they can afford to pay the worker’s salary and all the other expenses that come with being a sponsor. This is evaluated when a sponsor applies for a licence.
An employer verifies to the Home Office that a worker satisfies the necessary visa criteria when they assign a COS to that person. The Home Office has the authority to reject a visa application if they determine that the information provided on the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is inaccurate, deceptive, or does not accurately represent the applicant’s position.
Certificates of Sponsorship can only be granted to employees who fulfil the following requirements:
The job being advertised must be suitable for a CoS according to UK government regulations. The position must normally fulfil the minimum wage requirement and have a specific level of skills (such as RQF level 3 or higher for Skilled Workers). For each type of visa, the requirements are different.
Workers also need to be able to demonstrate that they meet the financial, health, and language standards for their specific visa category. As with any visa application, the CoS is merely a single component.
In most cases, a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is necessary for foreign nationals who do not possess British citizenship or who do not have alternative legal authorisation to work in the UK, such as indefinite leave to remain, EU Settled Status, or being a family member of a UK resident.
Workers can’t have a criminal record or a history of immigration offences that would make them ineligible for a visa.
If you have questions about the requirements for a specific sponsorship route, consulting an experienced immigration lawyer can provide the clarity you need. At Rees Clayton, we specialise in guiding both employers and workers through the complexities of the UK’s employment-based immigration system. Our expert team offers comprehensive support throughout the entire sponsorship process.
We are available 24/7 to assist you. Contact us today at 02033939272 for reliable advice and answers to all your questions.
In order to be eligible to be a sponsor, a company must have an HR department that is fully operational and has three vital roles that manage the sponsorship process. One Level 1 User, one Key Contact, and one Authorising Officer are the very minimum requirements.
Your Authorising Officer is in charge of the majority of a company’s sponsorship activities. Typically, they are already a part of the HR department and are responsible for hiring and recruiting from outside the country. The sponsorship management system (SMS) is accessible to authorised users who are also Level 1 Users.
If there are any issues with your sponsorship licence, the Key Contact will handle all discussions with the Home Office.
To assign or cancel sponsorship certificates, Level 1 Users will utilise the sponsor management system (SMS). In case your situation or the situation of an employee you sponsor changes, they will also be in charge of filing reports. Your Authorisation Officer may be responsible for overseeing one or more Level 1 Users.
When you apply for a support licence, you will need to show proof of what kind of business you run and why you want to hire foreign workers. Additionally, when requesting and issuing Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS), there is no need to upload documents to the Sponsorship Management System (SMS). Instead, you must complete a CoS application form directly within the SMS. This form requires detailed information about the employment, including:
It’s important to note that a valid sponsor licence is mandatory to request a Certificate of Sponsorship through SMS. For guidance on obtaining a sponsor licence, including the necessary documentation, visit our Sponsor Licence page for more details.
To provide a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), a firm or educational institution must have a valid sponsor licence and access to the sponsor management system. Furthermore, your sponsor licence must be of an A-rated quality. Sponsors with a B rating are not authorised to issue new certificates of sustainability.
In order for you to apply for a visa within 3 months as a foreign worker, your company must give you a Certificate of Sponsorship. A sponsorship certificate does not exist in physical form but rather as an electronic record.
The Sponsorship Management System (SMS) handles all requests for Certificates of Sponsorship. Using the Sponsorship Management System (SMS), only users with level 1 or level 2 permissions can request or issue Certificates of Sponsorship. The steps are different if you need a specific CoS or an undefined one.
To apply for a defined Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), follow these steps:
Applications are typically processed within one working day.
Sponsoring businesses must create and assign CoSs through the Sponsorship Management System (SMS). Users must follow these steps to create a CoS (please note that this is only for making one CoS; there is another way to make a group of CoSs):
Allocations of Certificates of Sponsorship (COS): These are the number of COS that a sponsoring licence holder may assign to overseas employees. Depending on the kind of sponsorship licence and the requirements of the employer, these distributions are subject to particular guidelines and restrictions.
Employers are allotted a set number of COS under the category of Skilled Worker Sponsorship based on their particular situation, such as size and history of hiring foreign workers. These COS are used to sponsor foreign nationals with the necessary skills who are coming to the UK to work in specific roles.
Employees moving to the UK from an overseas branch or subsidiary of the same company are sponsored by employers holding an ICT Sponsorship Licence and are assigned a COS. Depending on the kind of ICT route (e.g., long-term or short-term), different COS may be assigned.
COS allocations for firms looking to sponsor temporary workers in the hotel, agricultural, or creative arts sectors vary depending on the particular plan under the Temporary Worker category.
Certain companies might possess Sponsorship Licences for other particular categories, such as Religious Workers, International Agreement Workers, or Ministers of Religion. These categories’ COS allotments will differ from one another.
Employers are required to make sure that their COS allotment is used sensibly and in accordance with immigration laws. Maintaining the Sponsorship Licence and gaining access to COS allocations requires maintaining accurate records and fulfilling sponsorship duties.
Yes, you can use the SMS system to request a higher CoS allocation if you need to. Once more, you will have to explain why the increase is necessary, and you may be asked to provide more proof.
You must do the following in order to ask for a higher CoS allocation:
You are required to pay a fee for each new CoS that you issue. This is based on the type of CoS being given, which are:
Sponsor licence type | Cost for each CoS issued |
Worker | £239 |
Temporary Worker | £25 |
International Sportsperson: CoS > 12 months | £239 |
International Sportsperson: CoS 12 months or less | £25 |
When sponsoring through the Skilled Worker or Intra-Company Transfer visa pathways, you may also be required to pay the immigration skills charge. The specifics of this price are as follows:
Visa duration | Small or charitable sponsors | Medium or large sponsors |
First-year | £364 | £1,000 |
Each additional 6 months | £182 | £500 |
The actual procedure of assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship can be pretty rapid if you have already applied for and been authorised for your sponsorship licence. A CoS may often be issued within one business day. If there are any unusual situations that may need extra thought, you should always plan for the possibility of delays.
Remember that the application process for your initial sponsor’s licence could take more time than this. While most licensing applications are handled within eight weeks, there is always the possibility that it will take longer if any of the information you have provided is unclear or is not sufficiently supported by your supporting documentation.
The Certificate of Sponsorship must be maintained accurate and up-to-date throughout the duration of the sponsorship. Typically, the right people in HR handle this, and they may record any changes in the sponsorship management system.
In addition to being responsible for reporting any major changes to the company or employee’s activity, a sponsor is also expected to closely monitor the employee’s behaviour and report any violations of their visa and behaviour criteria.
It is necessary to revoke an employee’s Certificate of Sponsorship in the event that they depart, change jobs (to a job outside the current SOC code), or transfer to a different company. Within five days of receiving notification of the change in circumstances, this must be done.
The visa system is designed such that an employee can only have one active certificate at any given time. Therefore, in order to issue a new certificate, the employee’s existing certificate must be cancelled.
Your employee’s or your company’s situation may change over time. As a sponsor, it is your responsibility to document and disclose any such modifications. Remember that you need to let your boss know about these changes within 10 business days. You are given a 20-working-day window to submit the report in the event that your company’s structure or trading operations undergo any modifications.
You should be aware that the modifications you are required to report on can differ substantially based on a variety of factors. However, at a glance, some changes that may effect your employee include salary reductions, unauthorised absences for 10 days in a row or more than four weeks in a year, promotions, or changes in allocated work assignments. If a potential employee does not begin working for you within the allotted 28 days, you are obligated to report this further.
It is common practice for the relevant Level 1 User to report changes through the sponsorship management system.
Kindly be informed that the employee must submit their visa application no later than three months after receiving their Certificate of Sponsorship UK. It is vital to consider the time while issuing a CoS because workers are typically not allowed to apply for their visa more than three months before the projected start date of employment.
You can apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship with the assistance of our highly skilled immigration solicitors. In addition to consulting services to ensure your sponsor duties are fulfilled, we provide assistance with the application process for a sponsor licence. Call us at 02033939272 or send us an online inquiry to learn more about our services or to get guidance on your situation. Our offices are spread over numerous places, including Manchester, Birmingham, and London. We are excited to speak with you.
Several factors that may affect the time it takes to receive a Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) are the particular visa category, the employer’s readiness, and the processing periods of the Home Office. But applicants may expect to hear back within a single business day.
If you want to cancel your sponsor license, ask your sponsor to do it for you by sending a letter or email. They need to cancel the license within 5 working days.
For businesses and employers holding a sponsorship licence, the UK Home Office offers an online platform called the Sponsorship Management System (SMS). It is employed to manage many facets of the sponsorship procedure for foreign workers arriving in the United Kingdom.
Employers who want to sponsor international workers can create and administer COS for those workers using the SMS. This involves creating fresh COS, allocating them to employees, and keeping track of each COS that is issued.
If a family member is eligible for the job and satisfies the visa criteria, their employer may sponsor them to work in the country. Nonetheless, the employer must go through the same procedures as they would for any other worker, which include issuing a CoS and acquiring a sponsor licence.
If your COS is turned down, you should first find out why it was turned down. In some cases, you may need to resolve concerns with your visa application, while in others, your employer may be required to rectify any mistakes and issue a fresh CoS.
An official certificate of sponsorship is not the same thing as a work visa. In order to apply for a work visa, you will need this reference number, which serves as confirmation of the job offer. Once you’ve received your work visa, you’ll be able to legally work in the UK.
We offer a variety of corporate immigration options for a UK company that wants to hire foreign labour. To assist you in obtaining your Sponsorship Certificate for UK visa, we will:
Please call 02033939272 or send an online inquiry to talk with an immigration solicitor for more information about Certificate of Sponsorship Certificate process.
