A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is necessary for migrant workers who are applying for their Tier 2 or Tier 5 Visa. As a UK employer, you will need to hold a valid Sponsorship Licence to apply for the Certificate of Sponsorship for each employee you bring over.

The CoS must be applied for once the job offer has been made and includes detailed information on what your prospective employee will be doing. You must include information on their job role and expected salary on the application. If there is a discrepancy between the CoS and their actual job role, you may have your Sponsor Licence suspended.

The government issues two types of Certificate of Sponsorship – Restricted and Unrestricted. The Restricted CoS has a limit of 20,700 each year so applications must be done correctly the first time to ensure you are able to employ your migrant worker.

How can IAS help?

Our highly-qualified immigration consultants can help you apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship. We offer services to help with applying for a Sponsor Licence, as well as consultancy services to make sure your sponsor duties are followed. To find out more about our services, or for advice on your circumstances, contact us today by calling 0333 363 8577 or make an enquiry online.

Please see our FAQs below for more information.

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FAQs

What does the Certificate of Sponsorship cost?

The cost of the Certificate of Sponsorship will depend on what type you are applying for. Currently, the Tier 2 CoS costs £199 and the Tier 5 CoS costs £21.

You may also have to pay the ‘immigration skills charge’ if you are employing someone via the Tier 2 General or Tier 2 Intra Company Transfer route.

What is a Certificate of Sponsorship?

The Certificate of Sponsorship is not a physical document, it is an electric record. Each CoS has an individual number that must be included with an application for a Work Permit.

It is a necessary document for most applications to work legally in the UK.

There are two types of Certificate of Sponsorship. An Unrestricted CoS is for workers entering the UK to earn more than £159,000 per year. A Restricted CoS is for those who earn less than this.

The Restricted CoS has a limit of 20,700 each year. Ensuring your application is to the highest standard the first time is crucial.

Who needs a Certificate of Sponsorship?

The CoS is necessary for all Tier 2 Visa applicants and most Tier 5 applicants.

This does not include the Tier 5 Youth Mobility route, as an applicant’s country of origin will act as your sponsor for this type of visa.

You will also not need to sponsor those in the UK on a Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa to work for your company.

What services does IAS offer?

For a UK business looking to employ foreign workers, we have a range of corporate immigration services. To help you receive your Certificate of Sponsorship, we will:

  • Assess the role and individual you intend to hire to determine which type of CoS is appropriate;
  • Check all the details of your employee to ensure that they are meeting immigration requirements;
  • Check that the role they will fill is either on the UK Occupation Shortage List or that it has passed the UK Labour Market Test;
  • Support your company’s use of the Online Management System;
  • Make sure you are carrying out your sponsorship duties correctly.

For more advice about your company’s circumstances, get in touch now on 0333 363 8577 or make an enquiry online to speak with an immigration lawyer.

Make an enquiry

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