How to Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

The steps to assigning a certificate differ slightly, depending on the type of CoS (defined or undefined). You will be directed to an online form, after logging in, where you will input job and employee details.

Applications for certificates of sponsorship are usually approved within one working day except in cases where further checks are required by the UKVI.

Defined CoS

You must apply for a defined certificate when recruiting a migrant worker under the Skilled Worker route if they will be applying for leave to enter the UK from overseas.

You must also be an A-rated licensed employer. The steps to assigning a defined CoS are contained in the SMS Guide 12 on the UK government website.

The steps, after you have logged in, are as follows:

• From the Workers screen, select ‘Defined CoS’. You will see a ‘Apply for Defined CoS’ screen.
• Select ‘Apply for Defined CoS’.
• Select the category of CoS (e.g Skilled worker) and input the number of CoS (one or more). Then, select ‘Next’
• Enter all details of the employment on the page titled ‘Application for defined CoS – employment details’ which comes up. Then select ‘Next’.
• You will see a confirmation screen where you can check to ensure the details you entered are correct.
• Read the declaration and tick the box to confirm you have read, understood, and agreed to all indicated terms.
• Then, select ‘Submit’. On the ‘Application for defined CoS – submitted’ screen, your request number will also be displayed.

Undefined CoS

Note that if your licence has a provisional rating, you will only be able to assign one certificate of sponsorship which must be assigned to the authorising officer to enable him/her to enter the UK.

You can then proceed to upgrade your licence to an A-rating and request additional certificates of sponsorship using the SMS.

The steps to assigning a defined CoS are contained in the SMS Guide 8 on the UK government website. After logging into the SMS account, the steps are as follows:

• From the Workers screen, select ‘Create and Assign’.
• From the ‘Create and assign CoS’ screen, select the route of the CoS you wish to create from the ‘Select the route’ drop-down menu.
• If you select either Skilled Worker or Global Business Mobility Routes, an additional drop-down menu will be displayed from which you will select the category of CoS you wish to create.
• Select the button next to ‘Create new single certificate’ on the ‘Create and assign CoS’ screen. Then select ‘Next’.
• Enter all details of the employment on the page titled ‘Application for defined CoS – employment details’ which comes up. Then select ‘Save’.
• From the ‘Confirmation of saved CoS’ screen, you can check to ensure the details you entered are correct. If you want to make changes, select ‘Amend’. Then, select ‘Assign’.
• You will see the ‘Confirm CoS details before assigning’ screen where you can check all entered details to ensure there are no errors.
• Read the declaration and tick the box to confirm you have read, understood, and agreed to all indicated terms. Then select ‘Assign CoS’.
• You will be taken to the Online payment screen where you can pay the CoS fee and immigration skills charge using a third-party payment service.
• After making payment, you will be brought back to the SMS and to the ‘Single CoS assigned’ screen where you can see that the CoS has been assigned and given a unique CoS number.

Then, select ‘Submit’. On the ‘Application for defined CoS – submitted’ screen, your request number will also be displayed.