A Certificate of Sponsorship, often shortened to CoS, is the document at the centre of most UK work visas. Without it, a person cannot apply for a Skilled Worker visa or a Health and Care Worker visa. It is also the document that scammers sell most often, which is why every applicant needs to understand what it is, who pays for it and how to check it. This guide explains the certificate and the 2026 rules around it.
What Is a Certificate of Sponsorship?
A Certificate of Sponsorship is an electronic record, not a paper certificate. A UK employer that holds a sponsor licence creates it on the government’s sponsorship management system and assigns it to a named worker. The record has a unique reference number. The worker enters that number in the visa application, and the Home Office uses it to check the job details against the visa rules.
The certificate does not give the right to work in the UK. It proves that a licensed employer offers a specific job. The visa is the document that gives permission to enter and work.
What the Certificate Contains
| Item | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Employer name and licence number | Confirms the employer is a licensed sponsor |
| Worker name and passport details | Links the record to one person |
| Job title and occupation code | The code decides the skill level and the going rate for the salary |
| Annual salary | Must meet the general threshold and the going rate |
| Start date and work location | Must match the job contract |
| Sponsorship reference number | The number you enter in the visa application |
Who Pays for the Certificate
The employer pays. The Certificate of Sponsorship fee is £525, and the employer pays the Immigration Skills Charge, which is £1,320 a year for large and medium sponsors and £480 a year for small and charitable sponsors. These costs cannot lawfully be passed on to the worker. The worker normally pays the visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, unless on the Health and Care Worker visa, which has lower fees and no surcharge.
| Cost (from April 2026) | Amount | Who Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Sponsorship | £525 | Employer |
| Immigration Skills Charge | £1,320 a year (large or medium), £480 a year (small) | Employer |
| Skilled Worker visa, up to three years, from outside the UK | £819 | Worker, though some employers reimburse |
| Skilled Worker visa, over three years, from outside the UK | £1,618 | Worker, though some employers reimburse |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £1,035 a year | Worker, except on the Health and Care Worker visa |
Anyone who asks you to pay for the certificate itself is breaking the rules or running a scam.
2026 Rules the Certificate Must Meet
- The general salary threshold is £41,700 a year or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher.
- Lower thresholds apply for new entrants, jobs on the Immigration Salary List, and health and education roles on national pay scales.
- Most new sponsored jobs must be at degree level, known as RQF level 6, with some medium-skilled jobs on a temporary shortage list.
- New applicants need English at B2 level from January 2026.
- The care worker and senior care worker routes have been closed to new applicants from outside the UK since July 2025.
How the Process Works
- You receive a job offer from a licensed sponsor.
- The employer assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship in your name.
- The employer sends you the reference number and a copy of the details.
- You check every detail, then apply for the visa online within three months of the certificate being assigned.
- You pay the visa fee and the health surcharge if it applies, and give your biometrics and documents.
- You receive a decision, usually within about three weeks for applications made from outside the UK.
How To Check Your Certificate
Mistakes on a certificate can cause a visa refusal, so read it carefully:
- Is the spelling of your name and passport number correct?
- Does the job title and the occupation code match your real duties?
- Does the salary equal or exceed the threshold and the going rate for that code?
- Do the start date and work location match your contract?
- Is the employer on the register of licensed sponsors?
If anything is wrong, ask the employer to correct it before you apply. The certificate can only be used once, and a wrong record cannot be fixed after submission.
Can You Verify a Certificate Online?
A worker cannot look up a certificate publicly. The safest check is to confirm that the employer is on the government’s register of licensed sponsors and to ask for a written job offer on company letterhead. Contact the company through its public telephone number and ask the human resources team to confirm the offer. Do not rely on a screenshot sent through a chat app.
What If the Employer Loses Its Licence?
If the Home Office revokes a sponsor licence, workers who hold sponsored visas with that employer may have their permission shortened and will usually be given time to find a new sponsor. Workers outside the UK with an unused certificate cannot use it after revocation. This is one reason to check the employer’s licence rating and history before accepting an offer.
Fake Certificates and Scams
- Sellers who offer certificates for money, often through social media.
- Documents that look like official certificates but are PDFs with no real reference number.
- Agents who claim to “buy” a certificate for you from a licensed employer.
- Fake employers that appear on websites but not on the official register.
A fake certificate leads to a refused visa and can lead to a ban for dishonesty, so the loss is bigger than the money you pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship myself?
No. Only a licensed employer can assign one.
How long is the certificate valid?
You must use it to apply for the visa within three months of it being assigned.
Can I change employers on the same certificate?
No. Each certificate is tied to one employer, one job and one worker. A new employer must assign a new certificate.
Does the certificate guarantee a visa?
No. The Home Office still checks the application, your documents, English, health and character requirements.
Final Thoughts
The Certificate of Sponsorship is the key to a UK work visa, and it is something the employer provides and pays for. Check each detail on it, make sure the job meets the 2026 salary, skill and English rules and verify the employer on the official register. If anyone offers to sell you a certificate, walk away.