Need Help with Certificate of Sponsorship?

A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is an approval from the Home Office stating that your employer has the legal ability to hire you. This can only be assigned to someone who holds one of the following visas:

Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa

Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa

Tier 2 (General) visa

If you’re already in the UK and are applying for a change of status, or if you have a different visa, you do not need a certificate of sponsorship. Instead, you’ll need to apply for leave to remain under that other category.

If a potential employee needs to apply for a Tier 2 (General) visa, you will need to apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship for them.

If your potential employee needs to apply for a Tier 2 (General) visa, you will need to apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship for them.

What is the Tier 2 (General) Visa?

The Tier 2 (General) visa route allows employers based in the UK to employ migrant workers from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland, who can fill gaps in the labour market that can’t be filled by a settled worker. The applicant must have at least £945 available in one or more specified bank accounts.

Who Can Apply For A Certificate of Sponsorship?

Direct employers – “Direct” means you’re an organization or business which has its own sponsor licence, i.e., you are not acting as an employment agency; and your business is registered at Companies House with a registered office address in the UK

Employment agencies – You must have a valid sponsor operating licence in order to issue certificates under Tier 2 (General); and be able to demonstrate that you have recruited an individual through one of your employees who have been granted permission under Tier 2 (General), unless there is an exception to this rule

Work permit holders – When applying for an extension of stay under Tier 4, non-EEA students can apply for a certificate of sponsorship if they have earned at least £150 over three months since their original date of entry onto their student visa

Voluntary organizations – If your organization has obtained recognition as a charity from HMRC and you meet other specific criteria set out elsewhere on GOV.UK