A UK Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is an electronic job-sponsorship record, not a visa or a paper certificate. A licensed employer assigns it to a worker, who uses its reference number in a work visa application. It does not guarantee that the application will be approved.
Before relying on an offer, check three separate things: the employer’s licence, the job and CoS details, and who is asking you to pay which fees. This guide focuses on those practical checks, especially for a new Skilled Worker application.
For the broader meaning of employment sponsorship, start with our beginner’s guide to visa sponsorship.
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What does a UK Certificate of Sponsorship actually do?
According to GOV.UK’s CoS guidance, a CoS is an electronic record with a unique reference number. The sponsor creates and assigns it through the Home Office’s Sponsorship Management System. A printout or PDF may show its information, but the document’s appearance alone does not establish that an offer is genuine.
The worker must normally use the CoS to apply for a visa within three months of receiving it. The visa application must also be no more than three months before the job start date shown on the CoS. Ask the sponsor to clarify the dates before applying.
The employer handles the appropriate type of CoS. For example, a Defined CoS is generally used for a Skilled Worker applying from outside the UK; an Undefined CoS is used for Skilled Workers applying from inside the UK and for other relevant work routes. You do not purchase a blank certificate and choose a job later.
Check the employer independently first
Search the official Register of licensed sponsors: workers. Match the organisation’s name and the route for which it is licensed. Check the register’s update date rather than relying on an old screenshot.
A register entry is not a vacancy list or proof of your particular job offer. It does not show that the company has assigned you a CoS or agreed to sponsor your role. Someone can also misuse a genuine employer’s name.
Contact the employer through contact details you find independently on its official website. Ask its HR or recruitment team to confirm the role and sponsorship arrangements. Do not rely only on the phone number in a forwarded message. Our guide to checking an employer’s sponsorship eligibility explains the wider verification process.
Compare the CoS information with your contract
Ask the employer for the CoS reference number and a copy of its information. The official Skilled Worker document guidance explains that the employer provides the reference number and can give you a copy of the CoS.
- Employer: Match the employer name and sponsor licence number with the offer and official records.
- Job: Check the title, actual duties and occupation code. A more impressive title does not make unrelated work eligible.
- Pay: Compare the salary and working hours with the written contract and the current Skilled Worker job and salary rules.
- Dates: Check the employment start and end dates and the deadline for using the CoS.
- Personal details: Check your name, passport details and other identifying information carefully.
Ask the sponsor to resolve a mismatch before you submit the visa application. Keep copies of the offer, the CoS information and any explanation of corrections.
Who pays the CoS fee and Immigration Skills Charge?
Checked on 4 November 2026: the official CoS fee table lists £525 for most Worker certificates and £55 for Temporary Worker certificates. International Sportsperson fees depend on the stated duration. Fees can change, so check the live table for your route.
For a new Skilled Worker CoS, the employer must pay the CoS fee. Under the current sponsor guidance, the sponsor must not recover the relevant CoS fee or associated administrative costs from the worker. Other work routes have their own route-and-date wording in that guidance.
The employer may also have to pay the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) for a Skilled Worker or Senior or Specialist Worker. The listed first-12-month rates are £480 for small or charitable sponsors and £1,320 for medium or large sponsors. Additional six-month periods are charged at £240 or £660 respectively. Exemptions and the employment period can affect the total.
The employer must pay the ISC itself and must not pass it on to, or recover it from, the sponsored worker. A request to reimburse an employer’s mandatory sponsorship charge is not made safe by calling it a deposit or an administration package. Pause and ask for an itemised explanation before paying.
Your personal visa costs are separate
The CoS fee and ISC are different from the worker’s visa application fee, Immigration Health Surcharge and any required maintenance funds. The Skilled Worker cost guidance explains the applicant’s costs. An employer may agree to reimburse some personal costs, but sponsorship does not automatically mean that every expense is employer-paid.
Why a CoS is not visa approval
You still need to apply, prove your identity, supply the required documents and meet the rules for the route. UK Visas and Immigration decides the application. A CoS reference, a signed contract and a sponsor-register listing are not substitutes for that decision.
Do not start work merely because a CoS has been assigned. You need the necessary immigration permission for the work, and the employer must complete the relevant right-to-work checks. Avoid irreversible travel or resignation decisions based only on a promise that approval is certain.
Quick checklist before you apply or pay
- Check the employer and route on the current official sponsor register.
- Confirm the offer directly with the employer using independently found contact details.
- Request the CoS reference and information; match the job, pay, hours, dates and personal details.
- Ask the sponsor to correct errors before applying.
- Separate employer sponsorship charges from your own visa costs; question any demand to pay the employer’s CoS fee or ISC.
- Apply through the official GOV.UK process and wait for the immigration decision.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a Certificate of Sponsorship?
A CoS is assigned by a licensed sponsor for a specific worker and job. It is not a standalone product or a guaranteed route into the UK. For a new Skilled Worker CoS, the employer must not recover the relevant CoS fee or associated administration costs from you.
Can the sponsor register verify my individual CoS number?
No. The public register lists licensed organisations and routes, not individual workers’ CoS records. Get the reference number and information from the employer, then compare them with your offer and application.
Does a licensed sponsor guarantee a genuine offer or visa?
No. A licence listing does not confirm that the person contacting you represents the employer, that a vacancy exists, or that you qualify for a visa. Verify the specific offer and complete the separate visa process.
Does the employer have to pay my visa application fee?
Do not assume so. Personal visa fees and the healthcare surcharge are separate from the mandatory employer-paid sponsorship charges. Check the official route guidance and the employer’s written reimbursement agreement.
Summary
Think of a UK CoS as a digital sponsorship record, not permission to work. Check the licensed employer independently, match the CoS details to the contract, and keep employer sponsorship charges separate from your own application costs. If information or payments do not make sense, resolve the issue before applying or paying. Neither a CoS nor a sponsor licence guarantees a job outcome or visa approval.
Information checked against the linked official guidance on 4 November 2026. Rules, fees and individual eligibility can change; use the current guidance for your route and circumstances.
