You have successfully applied for a Skilled Worker licence, what is a defined Certificate of sponsorship?

Once your Skilled worker Licence has been granted and you wish to sponsor a worker under the skilled worker route, you must firstly assign a valid Certificate of sponsorship using the sponsor management system portal. In order to assign the relevant certificate of sponsorship you must ensure the role available meets the requirements.

There are two types of certificate of sponsorship that you can assign for a Skilled Worker;

Defined Certificate of Sponsorship

If your chosen worker is applying from outside the UK for entry clearance from outside the UK, you must apply to the Home Office for a defined Certificate of sponsorship before you can assign it to your worker.

Undefined Certificate of Sponsorship

If your chosen migrant is applying from inside the UK you must assign them an undefined certificate of sponsorship. The Undefined Certificates of sponsorship are made available on an annual basis and you can draw them down from your Sponsorship Management System. If you have run out of undefined Certificates of sponsorship you may apply for an increase in your allocation.

Common mistakes

• If you chose the wrong COS classification you may get refused and therefore your timelines may extend beyond expectations.
• Assigning a defined CoS to a worker for any job other than the one you described in your application for that defined CoS.
• If you assign the wrong type of CoS, or give false information on your application for a defined CoS the UKVI may revoke your Licence. This can cause major issues to your planned recruitment drive.
• Once assigned, failing to use the Certificate of Sponsorship within 3 months will mean the worker no longer has sponsorship, and you will be required to assign a further Certificate of sponsorship.

Genuineness of the role

The sponsorship and employment of an overseas migrant must not be contrived to get an individual to the UK solely for the purpose of gaining permission to stay. There are many measures in place to eliminate this opportunity.

If you need some advise about sponsoring a skilled worker please get in contact our team can advise in many areas of sponsorship whether straight forward or of a more complex nature.