David Faulkner-Bryant
Senior Business Immigration Specialist
David brings a unique blend of leadership, strategic insight, and legal expertise to his role. Connect with David on Linkedin. Find out more about our team.
We are currently seeing ongoing oversubscription for Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) allocation requests via the Home Office priority service.
This is affecting employers seeking to increase their annual CoS allocation ahead of planned recruitment activity, particularly where timing is critical.
What is the Priority Allocation Service?
The priority service allows sponsor licence holders to request an increase to their Defined or Undefined CoS allocation outside of the standard processing time frame. Requests are submitted via email and are processed on a first‑come, first‑served basis, with a daily cap on the number of applications considered.
In theory, this allows employers to obtain a decision within a significantly shorter time frame than standard allocation requests.
Current Position
In practice, demand is currently exceeding capacity. Priority slots are being exhausted very quickly after opening, and many requests are not being accepted for consideration.
This means:
- access to the service cannot be relied on,
- repeated attempts are often required, and
- recruitment timelines may be impacted where allocation has not been secured in advance.
Practical Impact for Employers
Employers relying on the priority route to support immediate recruitment should be aware that:
- there is no guarantee of securing a slot,
- delays should be factored into workforce planning, and
- reactive applications are more exposed to disruption.
Our View
Where possible, CoS allocation should be planned proactively, rather than relying on the priority service as a contingency. Where that is not possible, a structured approach to submissions and timing is essential.
Understand Your Options
If your ability to sponsor workers is being affected by CoS allocation limits, it is important to assess your position early. Contact us to understand your options.
