Certificate of Sponsorship UK: How It Works and How to Get It

If you’re applying for a Skilled Worker visa or Health and Care Worker visa, one of the most important things you’ll need is a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).

A CoS is not a paper certificate. It is a digital record created by a licensed UK sponsor that confirms the details of your job offer and allows you to apply for an eligible work visa.

In this guide, you’ll learn what a Certificate of Sponsorship is, who can issue one, how the process works, and the common mistakes to avoid.

This guide was last updated 29/04/2026 to reflect the latest UK work visa information.

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Quick Overview: Certificate of Sponsorship UK

A Certificate of Sponsorship is usually needed if you are applying for an eligible sponsored UK work visa.

In simple terms:

• your employer must hold a valid sponsor licence
• your employer assigns the CoS to you
• you use the CoS reference number in your visa application
• the job, salary, and occupation details on the CoS must match the visa rules

Without a valid CoS, you cannot apply under the main sponsored work routes.

I would always check that the employer understands sponsorship properly. A job offer is not the same as a valid Certificate of Sponsorship.

Who This Guide Is For

This guide is for people applying for a sponsored UK work visa who need to understand how the Certificate of Sponsorship process works.

It may help if you are applying for a Skilled Worker Visa, Health and Care Worker Visa, Senior or Specialist Worker Visa, Scale-Up Worker Visa or another sponsored work route.

It is also useful if you have received a UK job offer and want to understand what your employer needs to do before you can apply for your visa.

💡 A Quick Note from Kris: I would treat the CoS as one of the most important parts of the work visa process. Without the correct CoS, even a genuine job offer may not be enough for a successful visa application.

What is Certificate of Sponsorship UK?

A Certificate of Sponsorship, often shortened to CoS, is a digital record created by a licensed UK sponsor for a specific worker and job.

It is not a paper certificate. You do not usually receive a physical document. Instead, your employer assigns the CoS through the sponsorship system and you use the CoS reference number in your visa application.

A CoS usually includes details such as the sponsor name, job title, occupation code, salary, work location, start date, end date and visa route.

The details on the CoS must match the role you are applying for and the visa rules. If the occupation code, salary or job details are wrong, the visa application can be delayed or refused.

You do not receive a physical certificate. Instead, you use the CoS reference number when you submit your visa application.

A wide range of skilled jobs require a Certificate of Sponsorship UK. To qualify for a CoS, the job offered to the worker must meet certain criteria. Jobs listed in the UK’s shortage occupation list may have relaxed salary requirements and higher chances of approval for the CoS. These roles include healthcare professionals, engineers, and care workers.

A CoS allows individuals to apply for the following visas:

• Skilled Worker
• Health and Care Worker
• Scale-Up Visa
• Senior or Specialist Worker Visa

How to get Certificate of Sponsorship UK

If you are asking yourself how do I get a certificate of sponsorship in UK? The first important step is to make sure you are eligible. There are various requirements for a work visa such as occupation and salary.

Companies that sponsor visas UK

The employer must be an approved sponsor by the UK Government. Employers must apply for a sponsorship license to sponsor international workers. The employer will also be required to demonstrate their commitment to complying with UK immigration laws and reporting any changes regarding the sponsored employee.

To sponsor a worker, the employer must:

• hold the correct sponsor licence
• assign the correct type of CoS
• make sure the job is genuine
• make sure the role meets the relevant salary and skill requirements
• comply with sponsor record-keeping and reporting duties

Eligibility for Certificate of Sponsorship UK

You must also must meet the requirements for the specific visa you are applying for. This might include a visa for workers in specific fields like health, engineering, or education, which are all different UK work visas.

The job being offered must:

• Be listed on one of the following; Immigration Salary List UK / Skilled Worker Occupation List / Health and Education Occupation List
• Meet the minimum salary threshold for your specific occupation code.
• Match the skill level requirement set by the UK Government
• Be a genuine role and not created solely for the purpose of immigration.

Documents required for Certificate of Sponsorship UK

Your employer will need accurate information before assigning your Certificate of Sponsorship.

This may include your full name, date of birth, nationality, passport details, job title, salary, work location, start date and occupation code.

For the visa application itself, you may also need documents such as your passport, proof of English language ability, tuberculosis test results if required, evidence of savings if required, and qualifications or professional registration where relevant.

The exact documents depend on your visa route and personal circumstances.

💡 A Quick Note from Kris: I would check every detail carefully before submitting the visa application. Small mismatches between your CoS, passport, job title or salary can create avoidable problems.

A Realistic Note About Getting a CoS

A Certificate of Sponsorship is issued by the employer, not by the applicant.

You cannot usually get a CoS by yourself. First, you need a genuine job offer from a UK employer that has the correct sponsor licence and is willing to sponsor you for an eligible role.

Even if a company has a sponsor licence, it does not mean every job will qualify. The role still needs to meet the visa rules, including salary, skill level and occupation code requirements.

I would not ask employers for “any sponsorship job.” Focus on roles that match your experience and are likely to meet the visa rules. Sponsorship is much easier to discuss when you are a strong fit for the job.

Defined vs Undefined Certificate of Sponsorship

There is more than one type of Certificate of Sponsorship.

In general:

• a Defined CoS is used for most Skilled Worker applicants applying from outside the UK
• an Undefined CoS is usually used in other sponsored worker situations, including certain in-country cases, where the sponsor has allocation available

The type must match your application route. Using the wrong type can cause delays or refusal.

💡 A Quick Note from Kris: If you are unsure whether your CoS should be defined or undefined, ask the employer or sponsor team before applying. Using the wrong type can delay the whole process.

UK CoS Processing Time

CoS Processing Time

How long it takes to get a Certificate of Sponsorship depends on the route and whether the sponsor already has allocation available.

In many cases, a sponsor can assign a CoS fairly quickly once the job offer is confirmed. But if the sponsor needs extra allocation or if the Home Office carries out further checks, it can take longer.

Defined Certificate of Sponsorship applicants (for Skilled Workers applying from outside the UK) usually are processed within 1-2 working days. It can take longer and up to around 4 weeks if the UK Government requires further checks or information.

Undefined Certificate of Sponsorship applicants (for Skilled Workers already in the UK on other visa types) usually immediately as sponsors have an annual allocation that they can issue directly. However, if the sponsor needs additional allocations from the UK Government, processing can take around up to 10 weeks.

Certificate of Sponsorship UK Cost

A Certificate of Sponsorship involves a fee paid by the sponsor, and there may also be other employer-side sponsorship costs depending on the route.

Because sponsorship and visa fees can change, always check the latest official UK visa fee guidance before applying or accepting an offer.

Other costs associated when applying for a UK sponsor visa you must have enough money to pay for several parts of the process. The costs will depend on your personal circumstances and which work visa you decided to apply for. Each visa has a different application fee, you also have to factor in any dependants, length of stay and if you are switching from another visa type.

Other costs to factor in could be the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). Work visas will require this charge which is £1,035 per year except the Health and Care Worker visa holders who are exempt.

Below are the most common costs when going through your application for a skilled work visa for UK:

• Visa application
• Healthcare Surcharge
• Flights to the UK
• Insurance
• Passport renewal or application
• Short-term accommodation
• Long-term accommodation
• International Shipping
• Pet transport
• Tests such as English Language or Tuberculosis

Certificate of Sponsorship UK Sample

A Certificate of Sponsorship is a digital record, not a physical certificate. Some employers may use internal forms to collect the details they need before assigning a CoS.

A sample form can help you understand the type of information employers may ask for, such as personal details, passport information, job title, salary, work location and start date.

However, the official CoS itself is assigned by the sponsor through the sponsorship system.

Certificate of Sponsorship UK Jobs

If you need a Certificate of Sponsorship, your job search should focus on employers that are licensed to sponsor workers and roles that are likely to meet the visa rules.

Search terms such as “Skilled Worker sponsorship,” “visa sponsorship available,” “Certificate of Sponsorship,” and “Health and Care Worker sponsorship” can help narrow your results.

You can also search on company career pages, NHS Jobs, university job boards, LinkedIn, Indeed and other UK job sites.

If you are still looking for an employer, start with:

👉 List of Companies That Sponsor Work Visas in the UK

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Common CoS problems include:

• using an expired CoS
• assigning the wrong occupation code
• salary figures that do not meet the route requirements
• using the wrong type of CoS
• mismatches between the CoS details and the visa application

💡 A Quick Note from Kris: I would not rush the visa application just because the CoS has been assigned. Check the salary, job title, occupation code, dates and personal details first.

FAQs: Certificate of Sponsorship UK

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

Employers can usually assign a CoS within a few days once they have it available, though requesting a defined CoS can take longer.

❓ Can I change employers with my CoS?

Yes, but you will need a new Certificate of Sponsorship from your new sponsor.

❓ Does every Skilled Worker visa require a CoS?

Yes, a valid CoS is mandatory for all applicants under the Skilled Worker and Health & Care Worker routes.

Unskilled Jobs with Visa Sponsorship UK

If your occupation isn’t listed in any of the three visa occupation lists mentioned earlier, then visa sponsorship opportunities won’t be available to you.

However, there are alternative UK work visas that don’t require a job offer or Certificate of Sponsorship.

If your occupation is not eligible for sponsorship, compare your alternatives in our guide to moving to the UK without a job offer.

Here are the top five most popular UK work visas that do not require a job offer:

Related Guides

A Certificate of Sponsorship is only one part of the sponsored work visa process. These guides may help with the next steps:

👉 Skilled Worker Visa UK
👉 Health and Care Worker Visa UK
👉 List of Companies That Sponsor Work Visas in the UK
👉 Types of Work Visas UK
👉 UK Work Visa from India
👉 How to Work as a Nurse in the UK
👉 UK English Language Requirement
👉 First 90 Days in the UK
👉 Cost of Living in the UK

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