A Certificate of Sponsorship is the key link between a sponsor licence and an individual worker’s visa application. Employers must get the CoS type, role details and fee treatment right before assignment.
Reviewed by the Morgan Smith Immigration team — IAA-regulated UK immigration specialists. Last reviewed 2026-07-07.
TL;DR
A Certificate of Sponsorship is an electronic record assigned by a licensed sponsor to a worker. The CoS fee is £525 for Skilled Worker and certain other Worker routes or £55 for Temporary Worker and some other routes; the worker’s maximum stay depends on the visa route, and defined CoS applications are usually approved within one working day.
£525 / £55
CoS fee
3 months
Use after assignment
1 working day
Defined CoS
What is a Certificate of Sponsorship?
A Certificate of Sponsorship, or CoS, is an electronic record with a unique reference number. The worker uses it to apply for their visa, and the sponsor uses it to confirm the job, salary, work location and route details.
Defined CoS are for Skilled Worker applicants applying from outside the UK. Undefined CoS are for Skilled Workers applying from inside the UK and applicants on other sponsored routes.
Sponsors must assign the CoS accurately and pay the correct fee. Home Office guidance also restricts recovery of specified CoS fees from sponsored workers on specified routes.
CoS Types and Requirements
Defined, undefined — and getting the details right.
📄
Defined CoS
Defined CoS are used for Skilled Worker applicants applying from outside the UK. Applications are usually approved within one working day unless further checks are needed.
💼
Undefined CoS
Undefined CoS are used for Skilled Workers applying from inside the UK and for other sponsored routes. Extra undefined CoS requests usually take up to 12 weeks unless priority is accepted.
£
Accurate Assignment
The CoS must reflect a genuine eligible role, salary, start date, work location and route. Errors can delay or harm the worker’s visa application.
What You Can and Cannot Do
What a CoS does — and does not — do.
✓ You Can
- Assign a CoS to a worker where the sponsor has the correct licence route and the job is eligible.
- Request defined CoS for Skilled Worker applicants applying from outside the UK.
- Request extra undefined CoS through SMS where the sponsor needs more allocation.
- Use the CoS reference to support the worker’s visa application.
- Add sponsor notes where appropriate through SMS functions.
✗ You Cannot
- Use a CoS as a visa; it is not permission to work by itself.
- Assign CoS for unsuitable roles that fail salary, skill or route requirements.
- Let workers apply late; they must use the CoS within 3 months of assignment.
- Recover prohibited CoS fees from specified sponsored workers.
- Create settlement rights; settlement depends on the worker’s route and future eligibility.
Costs & Fees
Current fees as of 2026. Set by the Home Office — subject to change.
Fees set by the Home Office and subject to change. Last reviewed: July 2026.
| Item | Cost (2026) |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker CoS | £525 |
| Temporary Worker CoS | £55 |
| Sportsperson over 12 months | £525 |
| Sportsperson up to 12 months | £55 |
| Priority allocation request | £350 |
How to Assign a CoS
Five steps from CoS type to assignment.
Choose CoS Type
Decide whether the worker needs a defined or undefined CoS based on route and where they are applying from.
Check Role Details
Confirm salary, occupation code, work location, start date and route-specific eligibility before assignment.
Request or Use Allocation
Apply for a defined CoS or use/request undefined CoS allocation in SMS.
Assign the CoS
Pay the correct fee and assign the CoS to the worker with accurate details.
Receive Your Decision
Defined CoS applications are usually approved in one working day; extra undefined CoS requests usually take up to 12 weeks.
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Sources
Legal information on this page is based on guidance from GOV.UK, the UK Home Office / UK Visas and Immigration, legislation.gov.uk, and Free Movement. Rules change frequently — speak to our team to confirm current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Certificates of Sponsorship.
What is a Certificate of Sponsorship UK?
A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is an electronic record with a unique reference number that a licensed sponsor assigns to a worker. The worker uses the reference to apply for their visa; it confirms the job, salary, work location and route details.
How much does a Certificate of Sponsorship cost in 2026?
A CoS costs £525 for Skilled Worker and certain other Worker routes, and £55 for Temporary Worker and some other routes. For International Sportsperson, the fee is £525 over 12 months and £55 for 12 months or less.
What is the difference between a defined and undefined CoS?
Defined CoS are for Skilled Worker applicants applying from outside the UK and are requested individually. Undefined CoS cover Skilled Workers applying from inside the UK and other sponsored routes, drawn from the sponsor’s annual allocation.
How long does a defined CoS application take?
Usually one working day, unless UKVI needs to make further checks on the role or the sponsor.
How long does an undefined CoS allocation take?
Requests for extra undefined CoS usually take up to 12 weeks. The priority service, where accepted, decides eligible allocation requests in 5 working days for £350.
How long is a CoS valid once assigned?
The worker must use the CoS in a visa application within 3 months of assignment. A CoS that expires unused means assigning (and paying for) a new one.
Is a CoS the same as a visa?
No. A CoS is not permission to work — it is the sponsorship record that supports the worker’s visa application. The worker still needs their visa granted before starting the role.
What details must a CoS contain?
An accurate description of a genuine, eligible role: occupation code, salary, start date, work location and route. Errors can delay or damage the worker’s visa application and create compliance risk for the sponsor at audit.
Can the CoS fee be charged to the worker?
Not on the specified routes. Home Office guidance restricts recovery of specified CoS fees from sponsored workers, and breaching this can put the sponsor licence itself at risk.
Can Morgan Smith Immigration handle CoS assignments?
Yes. Our IAA-regulated immigration advisers manage defined CoS requests, allocation renewals and assignments — checking occupation codes, salary thresholds and route rules before anything is submitted, so the CoS supports rather than undermines the visa application.
Need Help Assigning a CoS?
Our immigration specialists handle everything from sponsor licence checks to visa approval — for employers and applicants alike.