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Certificate of Sponsorship

You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government.

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Can I apply for the UK Skilled Worker visa?

We can help you. It’s what we do.

Overview

You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government. This UK work visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. This category is for all foreign nationals who have been offered a skilled job to fill a gap in the workforce which cannot be filled by an already settled worker in the UK. There are a number of complex scenarios which should be discussed and explored in detail before you can apply.

You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government. This UK work visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. This category is for all foreign nationals who have been offered a skilled job to fill a gap in the workforce which cannot be filled by an already settled worker in the UK. There are a number of complex scenarios which should be discussed and explored in detail before you can apply.

International Sportspersons visa

This category is for highly skilled sportspersons who must be recognised by a governing body as an elite sports person or a sports coach. The applicant must demonstrate that their employment in the UK will encourage the sport to become more elite and prominent in the UK.

To apply for ILR you must have spent continuous period of 5 years in the UK and must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. You must also meet the English language requirement, pass the Life in the UK test and meet the salary threshold requirement of at least £35,800.

Indefinite leave to remain

The skilled worker visa lasts for up to five years. If you want to stay longer, you can apply to extend your, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements. After five years, you may also be entitled to apply for indefinite leave to remain, which gives you the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as you like. You must apply to extend or update your skilled work visa UK if you change jobs or employer.

To apply for ILR you must have spent continuous period of five years in the UK and must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. You must also meet the English language requirement, pass the Life in the UK test and meet the salary threshold requirement of at least £25,600 per year.

What is a Certificate of Sponsorship?

A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is reference to a unique number that is given to a sponsored work visa applicant by their proposed sponsor – this is in the format of an electronic record, rather than a physical document.  

The Certificate of Sponsorship is a compulsory step for visa applications within the Worker and Temporary Worker categories – essentially, it allows the sponsoring employer to hire the skilled individual. The CoS number is also used by the UKVI to assess that visa applicants have a valid and suitable CoS for the visa route they have requested.  

It is crucial that the CoS is applied for once the job offer has been made and includes detailed information on what the prospective employee will be doing as their role. More importantly, it is important that this stage of the process is completed as accurately and in as much detail as possible, as if there is any discrepancy between the CoS and the job role, the Home office may suspend the sponsor licence altogether.   

Who requires a Certificate of Sponsorship?

It is mandatory for all applicants who are looking to apply for a UK leave to enter or remain under UK sponsored work visa categories, including: 

  • Skilled Worker Visa 
  • Global Business Mobility Visa 
  • Scale-Up Visa 
  • Minister of Religion 
  • International Sportsperson 
  • Scale-Up Worker 
  • Creative Worker 
  • Religious Worker 
  • Government Authorised Exchange 
  • International Agreement 
  • Seasonal Worker 

What are the different types of Certificates of Sponsorship?

There are two distinct types of Certificates of Sponsorship available – ‘defined’ and ‘undefined’ certificates of sponsorship.  

A ‘defined’ certificate of sponsorship is issued to Skilled Worker visa applicants applying from overseas. For this type of certificate, employers are expected to apply through the Sponsorship Management System once they have obtained their sponsor licence.  

On the other hand, an ‘undefined’ certificate CoS are required to sponsor Skilled Worker visa applicants already in the UK and applicants for alternative sponsored visa routes.  

Please note, that once you apply for a sponsor licence you will be expected to submit an estimate of how many undefined certificates you require in the first year. If you do use your full allocation with 12 months, you may apply via SMS for additional certificates. 

How do I assign a Certificate of Sponsorship?

To assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), this will typically involve the following steps: 

  • Check eligibility – need to ensure that both your organisation and the prospective skilled worker meets the eligibility criteria for the specific visa category. This also means verifying that the worker’s role links to the job description provided in the CoS.  

 

  • Create a CoS – to generate a CoS for the foreign worker through the Sponsorship Management System (SMS), you will be required to input relevant information such as the respective worker’s job details, the worker’s personal information and the duration of the sponsorship. 

 

  • Assign a CoS to Worker – after creating the CoS, you would then be required to assign the CoS to the worker. This includes providing them with the CoS reference number. 

 

  • Inform the Worker – to ensure that the worker is aware that they have been assigned a CoS and that they have been provided with all the necessary information that they require to apply for a visa.  

 

  • Retain records – maintaining accurate records of the CoS assignment and all relevant documents. Please note, you may be required to provide evidence of compliance with sponsorship duties during Home Office audits.  

 

  • Monitoring and Reporting – to continue with the worker’s compliance regarding visa conditions and report any significant changes or issues to the Home Office as required. 

 

How much does a Certificate of Sponsorship cost?

The cost of the Certificate of Sponsorship will depend on what type of certificate you are applying for. Additionally, you may also have to pay the immigration skills charge if you decide to employ someone via the Tier 2 General or Tier 2 Intra Company Transfer route. We advise that you speak to a member of our team to discuss the fees involved in more detail, as it will be tailored to the number of certificates of sponsorship you’re interested in, as an employer. This will provide you with a more accurate expectation of costs for obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship.  

How long does it take to get a defined Certificate of Sponsorship?

Generally, to obtain approval for a defined Certificate of Sponsorship can take around one working day – however, please be aware that this can take longer should the Home Office require further clarification of information provided. Additionally, if there are unexpected delays with processing, then this will also affect the time it takes to receive a decision. 

What is the Sponsorship Management System?

Once the organisation has been granted the sponsor licence by the UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration), they are required to use the Sponsor Management System (SMS) to manage as well as administer their sponsor licence. This is crucial to ensure that they are compliant with their sponsor licence duties.  

As a sponsor licence holder, it is important that they adhere to a stringent set of duties and responsibilities – from reporting, recordkeeping, and monitoring with the objective of preventing illegal working.  

Additionally, the SMS allows sponsors to request and assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to sponsored workers and report any changes to the Home Office. It is important to note, that only a selected few (users) are permitted to access and utilise the SMS – these are designated as: 

  • Authorising Officers -this is the most senior member of your organisation who is responsible for hiring foreign skilled workers, as well as fulfilling sponsor obligations.  
  • Key Contact – this is the primary point of contact between the sponsoring organisation and the Home Office. 
  • Level 1 Users – these are accountable for day-to-day sponsorship tasks. 
  • Level 2 Users – they are responsible for day-to-day sponsorship activities, but they have fewer permissions and rights than Level 1 users. 

How can Bridge Partners Immigration help?

Our highly-qualified immigration consultants can help you apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship – we have in-depth experience with dealing with sponsor licence applications. From providing guidance on the Certificate of Sponsorship criteria and checking your eligibility, to ensuring you understand the duties and compliance obligations that comes with obtaining this certificate. 

At Bridge Partners Immigration, we can confidently assist you with assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship and advising you on issuing the right type of certificate. Please do not hesitate to contact us today for any enquiries. 

Frequently Asked Skilled Worker visa​ Application Questions

Someone can be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa if they have a job offer from a sponsoring company in the UK for a job that is on the list of skilled worker occupations. In addition, the skilled worker must have the required skills and experience to undergo the role in the company and have the required level of English language ability.   

The minimum salary for the Skilled Worker visa is either £25,600 per year, £10.10 per hour or the “going rate” for the particular occupation code, whichever is highest. For each job on the Home Office occupation list, there is a “going rate” which details the recommended annual and hourly salary that an individual must earn for the role. The rates are based on a 39-hour week of work. Those applying for the Skilled Worker visa need 50 points to do so. These are gained from sponsorship, skill level and English language requirements. However, 20 further tradable points can be given to those that meet the minimum salary requirement. 

You cannot move to the UK without a job offer from a company that has a UK sponsor licence, unless you apply for the Global Talent visa where this is not a requirement. When you are applying for a Skilled Worker visa you must provide a certificate of sponsorship reference number which proves that you have a job offer and therefore permission to work in the UK with a registered sponsor.  

The general Skilled Worker visa requirements are that you must have a job offer from a company that is a UK-registered sponsor and have a certificate of sponsorship that confirms that you have permission to work in the UK within a specific job role. You must be paid the required minimum salary for the occupation, have the required skill level and English language ability to do the job and have enough funds to support yourself in the UK.   

Once all the correct documentation has been submitted, it takes around 3 weeks for an application for a Skilled Worker visa to be processed by the Home Office when applying outside of the UK. For applications within the UK, the standard processing time is 8 weeks, although this can take around 9 weeks on average.  

For the Skilled Worker visa, you will need to provide a valid passport and proof that you have a job in the UK with details about your job role, salary, and employer information. You will also need the reference number for your certificate of sponsorship which proves that you have an approved job offer with a registered UK sponsor. In addition, you will need to provide bank statements that show you are able to support yourself in the UK and proof of the required qualifications needed for the role such as an English language test and degree certificate.

Yes, you can study whilst on a Skilled Worker visa. There is no restriction on the number of hours you can study as long as it does not interfere with your work. Another requirement is that workers who study must first get an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate for their studies and present it to the education provider.  

Skilled Workers are not allowed to run their own businesses.