Certificates of Sponsorship

What is a Certificate of Sponsorship?

A CoS is an electronic document issued by a sponsor to enable an applicant to apply for a visa under a category of the Points-Based System, such as the Skilled Worker, Intra Company Worker, or Temporary Worker route.

There are two types of Skilled Worker CoS:

1. Defined Certificates of Sponsorship (“DCoS”)
2. Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship (“UCoS”).

The type of CoS that a company requires will depend on the migrant worker’s circumstances and the vacancy that the migrant will fill.

Under the Skilled Worker route, a Defined CoS is needed for an applicant who is applying from outside the UK. An Undefined CoS is used for anyone applying in the UK.

How do you obtain a Defined CoS?

An application for a DCoS can be submitted at any time, and it will usually be assessed within 48 hours. However, UKVI is increasingly requesting additional information following a DCoS request, and it is therefore vital to be prepared to provide this information on request. This is likely to include details of how the candidate was identified or recruited.

Applications for a CoS are made via the Home Office’s Sponsor Management System. Once a CoS is approved, it needs to be assigned within three months.

Annual CoS Allocation

Every year, the Home Office allows companies holding a Skilled Worker sponsor licence to apply for an allocation of Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship. The application requires the company to justify the number of CoSs they are requesting.

Applications for an annual allocation of CoSs are made via the Home Office’s Sponsor Management System. The allocation will then be available for a year.

If a company uses up its full allocation, they can request additional CoSs during the year.

For more information about us and our Corporate Immigration services, please contact a member of the XT 24 team who can answer any questions and guide you through the process.