Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) route to UK work visas

The Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) serves as a unique electronic document, complete with its distinct reference number, enabling the employee to initiate their visa application process. Before a foreign employee can be sponsored by an employer (sponsor), the employer must provide them with a certificate of sponsorship, which signifies that the employee meets the prerequisites for the specific visa pathway. Once granted a certificate of sponsorship, the employee can proceed with their sponsorship visa application.

The certificate of sponsorship must be utilized within a span of three months from its issuance. However, the application cannot be submitted earlier than three months prior to the job’s specified start date, as outlined in the CoS.

Who Requires a Certificate of Sponsorship? Individuals seeking employment in the UK under a work visa are mandated to possess a certificate of sponsorship for entry or continuation. Upon receiving the CoS reference number, the worker becomes eligible to apply for their visa. To be sponsored, a worker must meet the eligibility criteria corresponding to the role they are seeking.

Certain groups are exempt from sponsorship, including:

• Irish citizens.
• Individuals with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
• Individuals with indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

Obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship A Certificate of Sponsorship is generated through the Sponsor Management System (SMS). Sponsors possessing a valid license, categorized as either Level 1 or Level 2 users, can assign a CoS. To obtain a sponsor license, the employer must:

1. Determine their business’s eligibility, avoiding:
   • Criminal convictions related to immigration offenses or specific crimes.
   • A revoked sponsor license within the last year.
2. Confirm the suitability of the job for sponsorship.
3. Select the type of license they intend to apply for, with options being:
   • Worker license
   • Temporary Worker license
4. Appoint a person within the organization to manage sponsorship.

Types of Certificate of Sponsorship There are two distinct types of certificates of sponsorship: defined and undefined.

1. Defined Certificates of Sponsorship:

   • Issued to workers applying from outside the UK.
   • Employers apply for this type of certificate via the sponsorship management system (SMS) after obtaining a sponsor license.

2. Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship:

   • Intended for workers applying from within the UK.
   • Employers predict the number of undefined certificates needed for Workers and Temporary Workers in the first year upon applying for their sponsor license.

Annual CoS Allocation Upon securing a sponsor license, employers must specify the quantity of undefined certificates they intend to assign during their first year for each licensed route. Each year, employers must submit an annual CoS allocation request. Certificates of sponsorship remain valid for a period of one year.

Switching Jobs and CoS Requirement When a worker switches jobs with a new employer, a fresh certificate of sponsorship is essential. Each CoS must be utilized within three months, during which time the employee cannot be assigned another one. To obtain a new CoS, the worker should request their current sponsor to revoke the existing CoS before a new employer can issue a new one.

Certificate of Sponsorship Costs Employers are responsible for paying a fee when assigning a certificate of sponsorship to an employee. The fee varies based on the type of sponsor license held by the employer.

• Worker License: £199
• Temporary Worker License: £21
• International Sportsperson (CoS assigned for over 12 months): £199
• International Sportsperson (CoS assigned for 12 months or less): £21

Countries with Exempt CoS Fees Sponsors from the following countries are exempt from CoS issuance fees:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czechia
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• North Macedonia
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Turkey

Certificate of Sponsorship Processing Time Typically, the approval process for a certificate of sponsorship takes one working day. However, in cases where the Home Office requires additional information about the worker’s application, the process might take longer. Approved certificates are viewable in the employer’s SMS, ready to be assigned to the respective worker.