Home office Certificate of Sponsorship
Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) is an electronic document issued by UK Employers (Sponsor Licence holders) to foreign workers they want to hire. The workers then use the CoS to apply for their work visas.
The CoS is valid for three months for the prospected foreign employee to make their visa application; after which time the certificate will expire.
Their are two types of CoS: Defined CoS and Undefined CoS. The Defined CoS are for prospective employees based abroad, where Undefined CoS are generally for visa extensions, or those that already live in the UK. It is important to note that the CoS is not a work permit, but a self-certifying document indicating sponsorship to apply for a visa.
Certificate of Sponsorship Number
The Certificate of Sponsorship number can be found on the CoS letter issued by your employer. It is essential information for work visa applications in the Worker and Temporary Worker categories, for example Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Senior or Specialist Worker and Scale Up Worker.
How do I get a Certificate of Sponsorship?
If you’re an overseas candidate looking to work in the UK, you’ll need a job offer from a UK company that is on the Sponsor Licence list. Only companies that have a valid Sponsor Licence can issue a CoS. Click here to see the list of registered Sponsors in the UK.
Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship
It is the employer’s responsibility to assign a Certificate of Sponsorship. Employers should allocate a CoS through the Sponsorship Management System (SMS). Employers should have access to the SMS when their Sponsor Licences were granted by the Home Office.
CoS processing time
It usually takes one working day for CoS to be granted by the Home Office. However, it may take longer if the information you provided requires further checks by the Home Office. To make sure submitting the correct information on the CoS application, speak to our expert here.
CoS priority service
If the employer wants to get a CoS granted faster, they can apply for the priority service, the priority service fee is £200.
How can WorkPermitCloud help?
At WorkPermitCloud, we have a team of Immigration experts to guide you through the CoS allocation process. We help organisations with process defined/undefined CoS, managing the SMS, assigning CoS, CoS priority service and corresponding with the Home Office. Your seamless journey starts here.
Contact us today to get your CoS allocation sorted.
