Home office certificate of sponsorship guidance.

• Home office certificate of sponsorship guidance To award these points, you must be satisfied the application meets the requirements in paragraphs SW 5. Please note, guidance only covers the questions which require a specific response from practices, and not the entire application form. 6 April 2015. Guidance If you qualify for the standard rate, because you got your certificate of sponsorship after 4 April 2024, you should look at the “standard Feb 17, 2022 · The Home Office has now updated the Worker and Temporary Worker Sponsorship policy guidance, first published in December 2020. Updated to clarify defined CoS expiry time. Updated screenshots of the sponsorship management system to reflect Oct 19, 2022 · What Is a Defined Certificate of Sponsorship and Who Needs One? A Defined Certificate of Sponsorship is required by a Skilled Worker applying for entry clearance from outside the UK. Applicants under the Skilled Worker route cannot make their visa / permission to stay application without a CoS as the unique reference number must be inputted on the application form. These updates focus on preventing employers from reclaiming specific costs associated with sponsorship from their sponsored employees, thereby reinforcing fair treatment of Apply for a Skilled Worker visa (formerly a Tier 2 General work visa) if you’ve been offered a skilled job with a UK employer - eligibility, fees, documents, extend, switch or update, bring your The applicant must score 20 points for sponsorship. Sponsors need to keep up to date to ensure they are meeting their sponsor obligations and are ready for any Home Office audit. The manual . This guidance does not replace official Home Office sponsor guidance, Aug 8, 2024 · Getting the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for UK businesses that have been approved by the Home Office and want to hire foreign workers is essential. Home Office Crack Down on Immigration Law Breaches and Sponsor Licence Requirements. Once the application is approved, which typically happens within one working day, the defined CoS is made available in the employer’s SMS account, ready to be assigned to the Jan 13, 2025 · At the turn of the New Year, the Home Office made a number of changes to its primary guidance for holders of sponsor licences. The application process involves filling in an online application form and emailing copies of various documents to the Home Office. This latest version introduces specific requirements for sponsors when assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) , applying for a Defined CoS, or requesting any Jan 24, 2025 · The Home Office guidance has also been amended to prevent anyone legally prohibited from being a company director from being key personnel on a sponsor licence, unless a court has given the person permission to act as a director or to promote or form a business and as long their sponsorship role doesn’t contravene this permission. It contains guidance on: • how the sponsor applies for DCoS and makes SpAW submissions important messages posted by the Home Office. The Home Office’s official sponsor licence guidance documentation is extensive and includes detailed information for employers on how to apply for a sponsor licence, their responsibilities as a sponsor, and how to comply with immigration rules when sponsoring workers. Apr 9, 2024 · Certificates of Sponsorship assigned on or after 4 April 2024 must use the SOC 2020 system. At the moment, the fee for a CoS is £239. The overseas worker will need this to support their personal visa application. Sponsors are understandably keen to comply with the Sponsor Guidance and their duties as a sponsor. Phrase Meaning Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) An electronic document with a unique reference number Dec 22, 2022 · The Home Office guidance sets out a sponsor licence holder’s obligations and duties when sponsoring migrant workers. With hours left before the New Year, the Home Office updated its Workers and Temporary Workers guidance for sponsors, making it clear that sponsors could no longer pass on the sponsor licence fee or the cost of assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to sponsored workers, which is Feb 4, 2024 · The Home Office requires that every sponsor get an annual allocation of Certificates of Sponsorship if the employer plans to hire foreign workers from inside the UK. Prohibition on passing fees to sponsored staff May 20, 2024 · Revocation of sponsorship: If a sponsor fails to comply with the duties and responsibilities of sponsorship, the Home Office may revoke the sponsor licence, which can have serious consequences for the employer, including loss of the ability to sponsor future employees. Identify the right documents you will need to send to the Home Office as part of your registration. 2. Definition of Partner or Close Apr 7, 2014 · 4 December 2024. org. Updated document. What is a Defined Certificate of Sponsorship (DCoS)? Before an application for a Skilled Worker visa can be submitted, the sponsor must provide the applicant with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), containing details of the Employers should thoroughly review the official guidance to ensure they fulfil these eligibility criteria. The priority change of circumstances service allows sponsors to prioritise certain requests each day, by submitting an application via email. are included in separate ISC guidance. Apr 24, 2025 · You apply to the Home Office for a sponsor licence. 1. Nov 16, 2022 · An amendment has been made to allow applicants to start work earlier than the start date listed on their Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). Home Office. 6 April 2014. Sponsorship License: Before issuing a CoS, employers must first apply for a Sponsorship License. The affected guidance includes: Guidance for sponsor part 1: apply for a licence; Sponsor a worker: sponsor guidance part 2; Guidance for sponsors part 3: sponsor duties and compliance; Sponsor a Skilled Worker Nov 22, 2022 · Under the old Home Office guidance, a sponsored worker could not commence their employment with your business until the official start date on the certificate of sponsorship allocated to the worker to enable them to apply for their skilled worker visa or other types of work visa. • reducing the sponsor’s Certificate of Sponsorship allocation (affecting the number of employees from overseas that they can sponsor) • downgrading their licence rating • suspending their licence while the Home Office investigates further • revoking the sponsor’s licence • reporting the sponsor to the police or other relevant The Home Office guidance has also been amended to prevent anyone legally prohibited from being a company director from being key personnel on a sponsor licence, unless a court has given the person permission to act as a director or to promote or form a business and as long their sponsorship role doesn’t contravene this permission. The job must: * be a genuine role Dec 9, 2020 · Guidance updated with a note explaining that we will normally revoke a sponsor licence where a Skilled Worker sponsor seeks to recoup any part of the Certificate of Sponsorship fee from a worker Once your sponsor licence is granted, the Level 1 users will be given access to the Home Office’s online sponsorship management system (SMS). Your responsibilities end 6 calendar months after either: The Key Contact will handle any communications with the Home Office if there are problems with your sponsorship licence. 1 December 2020 Updated version of the guide published. 11 April 2022 Added link to 'Sponsor a Global Business Apr 7, 2014 · Sponsor a worker: sponsor guidance part 2 Workers and Temporary Workers - guidance for sponsors part 1: apply for a licence Sponsorship: guidance for employers and educators Certificates of Sponsorship, immigration requirements, and conditions of stay • Part 3: Sponsor duties and compliance – this contains detailed information about your duties as a licensed sponsor and the action we can take if you fail to meet these duties • any relevant annexes or appendices referred to in the above documents Page 4 of 26 Published for Home Office staff on 11 April 2025 About this guidance This guidance tells caseworkers how to consider applications for defined certificates of sponsorship (DCoS) and sponsor a worker (SpAW) submissions. New guidance on the recouping of certain fees. to SW 5. You must first endorse your prospective employee’s visa through your sponsor licence account by requesting then issuing an electronic ‘certificate of sponsorship’ 3. It enables businesses to manage their sponsor duties and compliance, including issuing certificate of sponsorship UK (COS), conducting right to work checks, and reporting changes to the Home Office. Contacts Apr 9, 2025 · The Home Office will refuse a sponsor licence application or take the appropriate compliance actions if a prospective or existing sponsor is engaging, or has ever engaged, in such behaviour or Apr 9, 2025 · Points type Description Points available; Sponsorship: You must assign a valid Certificate of Sponsorship to the worker for the job you wish to sponsor them for. 10 July 2024. A Defined Certificate of Sponsorship is not assigned from the sponsor’s annual allocation – there are no limits to the number of Certificates available. Certificates of Sponsorship assigned on or after 4 April 2024 must use the SOC 2020 system. We have outlined below a few pertinent changes to the policy guidance impacting UK sponsor licence holders. You’ll get an A-rated licence if your application is approved. Non-compliance with this rule is a mandatory ground for revocation of the sponsor licence. Nov 8, 2024 · 1. 0 • published for Home Office staff on 09 April 2025 Changes from last version of this guidance This guidance has been updated in line with the Spring 2025 Immigration Rules Oct 1, 2013 · Updated guidance for use on or after 24 November. 7 April 2014. Dec 16, 2024 · However, the Home Office enforces strict rules to prevent misuse of the sponsor license system. Home Office Published 16 January 2025. A CoS contains key details about the job and employee, including salary, role, and sponsor information. The lack of clarity and the inflexibility in the previous guidance was a cause for confusion so the measures taken to provide greater certainty for sponsors is a positive step. The Sponsor Management System (SMS) is the Home Office's a migrant under your sponsorship may business at your trading address, where be engaged in terrorism or other criminal activity. This included confirming that from 31 December 2024, the fee for assigning a Certificate Page 3 of 9 Published for Home Office staff on 11 October 2021 About this guidance This guidance tells you about processing change of circumstances applications from A-Rated sponsors who want to use the priority service to either: • add or amend key personnel, except level 2users • add or renew the allocation of certificates of sponsorship Certificates of Sponsorship, immigration requirements, and conditions of stay • Part 3: Sponsor duties and compliance – this contains detailed information about your duties as a licensed sponsor and the action we can take if you fail to meet these duties • any relevant annexes or appendices referred to in the above documents Nov 1, 2024 · This system will be used to apply to sponsor new workers and extend existing workers’ permissions under the GAE route, as well as reporting worker changes. Apr 7, 2014 · Guide updated due to changes to the Sponsor Management System on 24 May 2021 ahead of the launch of the Graduate Route in July. This licence grants businesses the authority to sponsor foreign workers and is a prerequisite for issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). Not all commitments have been included in the updated sponsor guidance documents from 31 Feb 9, 2023 · Assigning a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) is a key part of the sponsorship process. It’s therefore important that sponsors monitor their CoS allocations to ensure that they are able to sponsor overseas nationals as and when needed. It provides information on your duties and expected Dec 1, 2022 · The Home Office has recently made some important changes to their sponsor guidance and to sponsor duties. 6 April 2016. 12 March 2024. A-rating - full sponsor licence. You pay the immigration skills charge for that 2 year period. Feb 6, 2025 · The Home Office guidance has also been amended to prevent anyone legally prohibited from being a company director from being key personnel on a sponsor licence, unless a court has given the person permission to act as a director, or to promote or form a business, and as long their sponsorship role doesn’t contravene this permission. 2: From the Create and assign CoS screen, use the Select the route drop-down menu to select the route of the CoS you wish to Nov 19, 2024 · You can sponsor a worker if the job they’re going to do pays at least the required minimum salary (see Home Office guidance for the most up-to-date minimum salary requirements). You are a small or medium-sized business and you assign a Certificate of Sponsorship to a family member of anyone within the sponsor organisation. naturalisation as a British citizen rising to £1,605. Since 31 December 2024, it is now expressly prohibited for a sponsor to recoup (or attempt to recoup): Any part of the Certificate of Sponsorship fee from the sponsored migrant. The guidance has been updated to reflect a commitment given in the Written Ministerial Statement of 28 November 2024 to prohibit the passing on of Skilled Worker sponsor licence or Certificate of Sponsorship fees to sponsored workers by the end of 2024. Below are the key changes: Prohibition on Passing Costs to Workers. For more information on CoS allocation and to get help and assistance with your situation, call our friendly advisers at 0333 305 9375 . To obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship in the UK, an employer must first secure a sponsor licence from the Home Office. This online platform plays a central role in your interactions with the Home Office, from issuing Certificates of Sponsorship to managing changes in your workforce. Organisations making a Sponsor Licence application must be prepared for potential Home Office compliance visits. Your responsibilities as a sponsor for a scale-up worker start on the date you assign them a certificate of sponsorship. Photo: Getty Images certificate of sponsorship fee rising to £525. These changes are likely to affect many organisations which hold sponsor licences. Breaking Down the Latest Changes to Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence Guidance. Page 9 of 69 Sponsor guidance Part 1: Apply for a licence - version 04/25 Glossary The table below contains a list of terms and phrases commonly used across all parts of the sponsor guidance for employers, and their definitions. What information is included on a Certificate of Sponsorship? A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) contains key details that are required for a migrant worker’s visa application: Mar 14, 2024 · The Home Office has this week updated the ‘Workers and Temporary Workers: sponsor a skilled worker’ guidance for sponsors with new information on the Defined Certificate of Sponsorship (DCoS) application process and the information sponsors must provide when submitting requests. A CoS is essential for sponsoring a non-UK migrant worker and must be allocated correctly to ensure compliance with immigration laws. If you are a licensed sponsor, you must comply with the For more detailed information, refer to the UK government’s official guidance on Certificate of Sponsorship costs. Once they’ve got their visa, you can upgrade your licence to an A-rating and request up to 4 additional certificates of sponsorship using the sponsorship management system (SMS). This increase forms part of… Mar 19, 2025 · Changes to regular working patterns, such as to a hybrid working arrangement, which is defined in the Home Office guidance as applying where “the worker will work remotely on a regular and planned basis from their home or another address, such as a work hub space, that is not a client site or an address listed on your licence, in addition to Mar 19, 2024 · The Home Office has updated the guidance on 19 th March 2024 with the following announcements: “Important information about Certificates of Sponsorship. It tells you the The Home Office guidance has also been amended to prevent anyone legally prohibited from being a company director from being key personnel on a sponsor licence, unless a court has given the person permission to act as a director, or to promote or form a business, and as long their sponsorship role doesn’t contravene this permission. Home Office can also visit sponsor employers at any time during the sponsor licence validity to carry out a post-licence compliance check. While it seems that the announced changes would not involve a significant shift from the Sponsor application log in To log in to sponsor application, enter your user ID and password. You should ensure that you familiarise yourself with Home Office sponsor guidance throughout your recruitment and Jan 7, 2025 · On 31 December 2024, the Home Office published an updated version of the ‘Workers and Temporary Workers Guidance for Sponsors Part 1: Apply for a… Dec 30, 2024 · 1. Employers holding a sponsor licence or those applying for one, should be had a sponsor licence revoked in the last 12 months You’ll need appropriate systems in place to monitor sponsored workers and people to manage sponsorship in your business. The guidance now includes clarification on the need for sponsors to report post-pandemic hybrid and remote working patterns, as well as other updates to sponsor duties. Start Date. On 31 December 2024, Part 1 of the sponsor guidance was updated. It takes up to 8 weeks for the application to be processed – or longer if the Home Office decides to carry out a compliance visit. In many cases, the defined CoS will be granted by the Home Office within one working day but the process can take longer if the Home Dec 9, 2020 · Guidance updated to reflect a commitment given in the Written Ministerial Statement of 28 November 2024 to prohibit the passing on of Skilled Worker sponsor licence or Certificate of Sponsorship Jan 7, 2025 · The Home Office has issued updated sponsor guidance, with a number of key changes to the visa sponsorship regime impacting UK organisations that hold, or are applying for, sponsor licences. 1 December 2020. Apr 9, 2025 · To be eligible for the GAE route, the scheme you wish to sponsor workers on must first be endorsed by a UK government department (or one of its executive agencies) and approved by the Home Office Mar 18, 2025 · 1. Sponsors in the UK should be aware of these changes and take action, where required. Jan 17, 2025 · The Home Office updated its sponsorship guidance recently to further narrow what costs a sponsor can pass on to its sponsored workers. While Authorising Officers may have taken their eyes off the Skilled Worker licence guidance for a moment over new You need to apply online for your licence. The guidance states that the Home Office may be able to check certain information online Mar 20, 2025 · Basic Compliance Assessment key dates: displayed here are your Student Sponsor status start and end dates, as well as your Student Sponsor status renewal opening date; take note of this date as it UK visa sponsorship information for employers - requirements, certificates and licences for Workers and Temporary Workers. The relevant Home Office guidance states that the start date on the CoS must be ‘the date you expect the worker to start working for you’. At the end of November, the Home Office announced a planned ‘crack down’ on businesses found to be in breach of immigration laws and sponsor licence requirements. This date can be difficult to estimate accurately Feb 6, 2025 · The Home Office guidance has also been amended to prevent anyone legally prohibited from being a company director from being key personnel on a sponsor licence, unless a court has given the person permission to act as a director, or to promote or form a business, and as long their sponsorship role doesn't contravene this permission. 4. This date can be difficult to estimate accurately, particularly Nov 22, 2024 · The fee paid must be consistent with the costs set out under the ‘points-based system – sponsorship charges’ section of Home Office immigration and nationality fees and the sponsor’s Page 6 of 45 Published for Home Office staff on 09 April 2025 Publication Below is information on when this version of the guidance was published: • version 36. Get a complete overview of the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). The prohibited The Home Office has taken steps to prevent employers from recouping sponsorship fees from sponsored workers. 19 November 2015. This license allows them to sponsor foreign workers. A CoS is confirmation from you, as a licensed sponsor, that you: wish to sponsor the worker Jan 7, 2025 · In a significant policy shift, the Home Office has introduced new changes to Part 1 and Part 3 of the Skilled Worker Sponsor Guidance, effective from 31 December 2024. What is a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)? A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is an electronic record issued by a UK employer (licensed sponsor) to a foreign national they intend to hire. Page 1 of 37 Sponsor guidance: Appendix A – version 04/25 Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors Appendix A: supporting documents Version 04/25 This guidance is for employers and other organisations who wish to apply for a sponsor licence on the Worker or Temporary Worker routes. In providing ‘Governing Body Registration’ documents, use your CQC registration documents if applicable. a comprehensive troubleshooting section. An A-rated licence lets you start assigning certificates of sponsorship. Pay the Immigration Skills Charge. Page 7 of 65 Published for Home Office staff on 09 November 2022 Overview of the Skilled Worker route This page provides an introduction to the Skilled Worker route. Nov 11, 2022 · The guidance on delays to start dates has been too vague for some time. These updates are designed to ensure compliance, prevent exploitation, and improve the management of sponsor licences. Apr 11, 2025 · However, in December 2024, the Home Office updated its sponsor guidance to include further restrictions on which costs could and could not be passed on to skilled workers with the stated aim of addressing immigration related exploitation of skilled workers. Jan 15, 2025 · Following a change in sponsor guidance in November 2022, sponsors no longer have to notify the Home Office if a sponsored worker starts work before the intended date shown on their Certificate of Sponsorship, provided the new start date is after their visa was approved. Once the Staff Immigration Team are satisfied all the Home Office requirements have been met, a Skilled Worker Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is issued in line with the contract of employment. Sponsor a worker 1. Sponsors must make a specific application to the Home Office for a defined CoS. The relevant Home Office guidance states that the start date on the CoS must be 'the date you expect the worker to start working for you'. Revised Rules on Recovering Sponsorship Costs Employers are no longer allowed to transfer or recover certain sponsorship-related expenses from sponsored employees. 1 August Jan 21, 2025 · The UK Home Office introduced significant changes to its guidance for sponsors of overseas workers on 31 December 2024 and 1 January 2025. These changes impose stricter obligations on sponsor licence holders and aim to eliminate exploitative practices in the sponsorship system, particularly around financial Apr 9, 2025 · published for Home Office staff on 9 April 2025; Guidance on withdrawn Administrative Review applications is set out in Administrative Review. Please see existing guidance for obtaining a sponsor licence –page 10 International recruitment toolkit - March 2024 (skillsforcare. Failure to Cooperate with Home Office Checks. This guidance tells the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) Administration Team how to process all transactions relating to the ISC. Use the SMS to assign an electronic certificate of sponsorship to any overseas worker you wish to employ. Jan 7, 2025 · Before they can apply for a specific Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) via the Sponsorship Management System (SMS), employers must first secure a sponsor licence. Apr 9, 2025 · Guidance and regulation. Jan 17, 2025 · Of the changes announced in Parliament on Thursday 16 January 2025, the proposed increase in the cost of a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from £239 to £525 will be the most significant change for trusts. Invalid applications Depending on the type of application being made, there are specific criteria which must be satisfied in order to make a valid application, including payment of the specified fee. Sponsor Licence May 5, 2022 · A Certificate of Sponsorship (‘CoS') is an electronic certificate which must be assigned for each migrant worker who wishes to apply under a relevant worker route. Suitability checks You and your staff will be checked to make Feb 25, 2025 · The Sponsor Management System (SMS) is an essential online platform for UK employers who hold a sponsor licence UK. As an employer, you need to understand how many CoSs you can assign and the requirements surrounding them. Sponsor guidance updates. Certificate costs Jan 22, 2014 · Link to guidance on Sponsor a Scale-up Worker route added to 'Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors' area of collection page. Undefined CoS Aug 1, 2013 · Updated guidance with new version. Certificate of Sponsorship and Confirmation Jan 12, 2025 · If the Home Office has doubts about your capacity to manage sponsored workers, this could lead to a refusal. The worker must have been assigned a valid Certificate of Sponsorship by the employer specific to the role they are being recruited for. The job must: * be a genuine role Apr 9, 2025 · Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) The Home Office will refuse a sponsor licence application or take the appropriate compliance actions if a prospective or existing sponsor is engaging, or has What is Defined Certificate of Sponsorship? Defined Certificate of Sponsorship are used by those who are applying from overseas. For guidance on applying for a sponsor licence or any Jan 21, 2025 · The Home Office has announced plans to significantly increase the cost of a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), impacting both new visa applications and renewals. Jan 10, 2025 · On the last day of the year, the Home Office made further updates to the sponsor guidance, clarifying who is permitted to pay for certain Home Office fees, as well as a ban on sponsoring workers in a ‘personal capacity’. The worker gets a new job in your organisation and you assign them a new Apply for a Skilled Worker visa (formerly a Tier 2 General work visa) if you’ve been offered a skilled job with a UK employer - eligibility, fees, documents, extend, switch or update, bring your Jan 15, 2025 · The government published a number of significant changes to their guidance for work sponsors on 31 December 2024 and 1 January 2025. A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) must not be assigned by an SMS User to themselves, their partner, or any close relative. The Level 1 User. Without a valid CoS, an applicant cannot proceed with their visa application. Updated guidance. We set out some tips and common pitfalls for sponsors below. Common . Jan 8, 2025 · 1. Jan 30, 2025 · What is a Certificate of Sponsorship? A Certificate of Sponsorship is not a physical document but an electronic record issued by a licensed sponsor) Each CoS has a unique reference number, which the worker must use when applying for their visa. Under proposals laid before Parliament on 16 January 2025, the cost of a CoS is set to rise from £239 to £525, nearly doubling the fee. features a full introduction to SMS as well as . To help sponsors manage their key ; personnel, change their Home Office can visit any UK business to carry out a pre-licence audit before making decision on the sponsor licence application. Apply for a Skilled Worker visa (formerly a Tier 2 General work visa) if you’ve been offered a skilled job with a UK employer - eligibility, fees, documents, extend, switch or update, bring your Jan 8, 2025 · DavidsonMorris offers a complete employer sponsorship licence application and management service, with our team of UK immigration specialists highly experienced in all the documentary and evidentiary requirements vital to a prompt and stress-free process when applying for a sponsor licence. uk). Valid certificate of sponsorship A certificate of sponsorship (CoS) is only valid if certain requirements are met. The guidance is regularly updated, so it is important that licenced sponsors check regularly to ensure they are up-to-date with the compliance requirements of holding a sponsor licence. The Jan 16, 2025 · As we start a new year, the Home Office has updated their primary Worker and Temporary Worker Guidance documents to set out some significant changes following measures outlined in the 28 November 2024 written statement on visa sponsorship to Parliament. use SMS and for what purpose. The ISC came into force on 6 April 2017. This annex tells you how forthcoming changes to the Immigration Rules will affect Certificates of Sponsorship. Jan 23, 2025 · This includes fees for sponsor licence applications and Certificates of Sponsorship issued on or after 31 December 2024. Nov 29, 2022 · The Home Office has recently amended its sponsor guidance for workers, following its last published Statement of Changes and regular policy review. The guidance now states: “A worker can start working in their sponsored employment as soon as they have permission to enter or stay in the UK, even if this is before the start date recorded on their CoS Page 1 of 68 Sponsor guidance Part 3: Sponsor duties and compliance - version 04/25 Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors Part 3: Sponsor duties and compliance Version 04/25 This document forms part of the collection ‘Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors’. The Application Process Obtaining a UK Certificate of Sponsorship involves several steps: a. 16 July 2014. Jan 17, 2025 · The new year 2025 had hardly begun when the Home Office introduced some significant changes to its sponsor guidance. This requires submitting an application, along with the relevant documentation, to demonstrate that the employer is a legitimate organisation and meets the necessary requirements. Mar 26, 2025 · Navigating the process of hiring foreign workers in the UK can be complex, especially when it comes to the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) allocation. These duties include monitoring and reporting certain activities about sponsored workers and assigning certificates of sponsorship (CoS) to sponsored visa workers. important messages posted by the Home Office. New version of sponsor guidance Jan 27, 2025 · As of 31 December 2024, the Home Office introduced significant changes to UK sponsorship rules, its guidance for employers sponsoring Skilled Workers and Temporary Workers. This will Jan 7, 2025 · The new Home Office guidance says the Home Office will normally revoke your licence if: You assign a certificate of sponsorship to a sponsored employee on or after 31 December 2024 and you have asked the employee to pay some (or all) of the certificate of sponsorship fee, or you have recouped, or attempted to recoup, some (or all) of the fee Feb 17, 2025 · To employ skilled workers from overseas under certain sponsored work routes, most UK employers will need a valid sponsor licence. Feb 5, 2025 · Prohibited charges include the cost of a sponsor licence, the cost of assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) and any applicable Immigration Skills Charge (ISC). About the service. This is an SMS user with more restricted access than a level 1 user, for example they cannot withdraw a certificate of sponsorship. Jan 16, 2025 · While the Home Office guidance does not specify the definition of ‘associated administrative costs of the sponsor licence’, we have received confirmation from the Home Office that administrative costs would include: any priority or premium service fee for the licence; Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) assignment fee; priority CoS allocation fee Apr 9, 2025 · The Home Office will also look to determine if the vacancy and employment are genuine, ie that the sponsoring organisation has a genuine need for the job. The explicit prohibition in the guidance illustrates the level of concern within the Home Office about this issue. Certificate of Sponsorship Requirement Feb 19, 2025 · The duration between these dates is significant as it both determines the Home Office costs and the length of the migrant's visa. Feb 3, 2025 · On 22 January 2025, the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) published a detailed Compliance Casework Guidance, offering critical insights into how the Home Office handles compliance cases for sponsor licence holders. What is a CoS? Dec 16, 2024 · Maintaining these records - including the employee's attendance at work and their contact details - is important, and Level 1 Users will be able to report necessary updates to the Home Office via the SMS. Sponsors must apply to the Home Office for each defined CoS, and details of the specific job and salary will need to be provided. The changes announced in Parliament on Thursday 16 January 2025 include a proposed increase in the cost of a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). Mar 19, 2024 · For any UK employer holding a Sponsor Licence, using the Sponsorship Management System (SMS) correctly is vital. Apr 7, 2025 · If you submit your Health and Care Visa application from 11 March 2024 with a Certificate of Sponsorship for 6145 – Care workers and home carers, or 6146 – Senior Care Workers, you will be Oct 28, 2024 · For detailed guidance, see the government’s list of Skilled Worker Going Rates. Employers are now prohibited from transferring any costs related to the sponsor licence or the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to their sponsored Sep 10, 2024 · On 8 October, the Home Office released updated guidance for sponsors of care workers and senior care workers (occupation codes 6135 and 6136) under the Skilled Worker visa route. The Home Office's Key Contact will usually receive any requests for information and facilitate the delivery of any data. As well as the announcement of Sponsor UK, Appendix D, and parts 1, 2 and 3 of the sponsor guidance were also updated on 24 October. The Skilled Worker route is for European Economic Area (EEA) nationals and non-EEA nationals who are sponsored to do a specific skilled job for a Home Office licensed sponsor. Screenshots in pdf version updated. Unless an exception applies, it is payable each time a sponsor assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to a worker on the Feb 14, 2025 · The duration between these dates is significant as it both determines the Home Office costs and the length of the migrant’s visa. For the full Home Office guidance on supporting documents please click here and also see Section L7 Part 1 of the sponsor guidance 3. Jan 4, 2023 · published for Home Office staff on 9 April 2025; Certificate of sponsorship. The key changes are set out below. Office, the Home Office cannot legally keep the fee and it must be reimbursed. In addition, this manual explains who should . The minimum . Jan 13, 2025 · The January 2025 guidance introduces several transformative updates that redefine the responsibilities of sponsor licence holders. A worker has a visa from 1 January 2021 to 1 January 2023. This could be frustrating for sponsoring employers and overseas Mar 13, 2024 · This information will help the Home Office to confirm the stated salary meets the Skilled Worker salary requirements. Guidance on what constitutes a valid application is set out in the To hire workers through the Skilled Worker route, employers must first apply for a sponsorship licence. Employers will welcome some of the changes covered in this update, including those on reporting of start dates and unpaid absences, and a future new exemption from the Immigration Skills Charge for some EU applicants. Our guide explains what it is, the types of CoS, how to apply and the costs involved. Jan 16, 2025 · Guidance and regulation. Home Office will announce when these changes come into effect – when it does, the cost of a sponsorship fee will be £525. How to Withdraw a Certificate of Sponsorship? Jan 7, 2025 · New rules on recouping sponsorship fees from employees. Once you have selected a candidate, they must make a visa application to work in the UK 2. Once you’ve finished the online application, you need to send in: the submission sheet at the end of the application Oct 17, 2024 · If you need help applying for a sponsor licence to obtain a Sponsor management system (SMS) account for purposes which include assigning certificates of sponsorship to your workers, contact us today on +44 (0)333 414 9244 or chat with us online. Start Date . uk) and Becoming a Visa Sponsor - Help Sheet for ASC Providers (skillsforcare. Here we summarise key changes, and would encourage you to review your processes to ensure you remain compliant. The Home Office has not yet confirmed when these changes will come into effect. 7. Updated version of the guide published. Detailed guidance for Home Office decision makers handling applications for entry clearance and Page 8 of 77 Sponsor guidance Part 2: sponsor a worker - version 04/25 SOC 2020 occupation code This means the relevant 4-digit code in the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 2020 system, published by the Office for National Statistics. But an employer may receive partial refunds of the ISC direct from UK Visas and Immigration if a worker departs the organisation with at least six months’ sponsorship remaining. To help sponsors manage their key ; personnel, change their Apr 9, 2025 · Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence. Applications are usually processed within 24-48 hours unless further information is requested by the Home Office. This comprehensive guide equips Sponsor Compliance Teams (SCT) with the necessary instructions to assess and manage compliance Apr 28, 2023 · The Home Office has recently updated its sponsor guidance on employer duties, following its last published Statement of Changes and Spring policy review. Jul 9, 2024 · Step Instruction: 1: From the Workers screen, select Create and assign. All sponsors Manual 2; Managing your licence. The Sponsorship policy guidance is divided into numerous sections, covering all aspects of the sponsorship process. The Skilled Worker CoS can be issued for either up to 3 years or up to 5 years in the first instance. Level 1 Users will use the sponsor management system (SMS) to assign or cancel sponsorship certificates. While Authorising Officers may have taken their eyes off the Skilled Worker licence guidance for a moment over new year, the Home Office updated its Guidance for Skilled Worker Sponsor licences with immediately effective changes. Sponsor pays top-up after write-out. If you already have a sponsor licence and want to perform your sponsorship duties, you can log into sponsorship management system (SMS) , using the link at the footer of this page. Skilled Worker Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Once the company has been registered as a licenced sponsor, a ‘restricted’ or ‘unrestricted’ Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) should be obtained to allow for employees to be taken on instantly: Feb 24, 2025 · As a licensed sponsor you are subject to a number of strict duties to ensure compliance with the UK Immigration Rules and to prevent illegal working. 3. To help sponsors manage their key ; personnel, change their Oct 1, 2013 · Changes to the guidance to reflect the initial phase of the new sponsorship service for selected Government Authorised Exchange sponsors, and to make some other minor amendments and clarifications Apr 9, 2025 · Points type Description Points available; Sponsorship: You must assign a valid Certificate of Sponsorship to the worker for the job you wish to sponsor them for. qnarvu cxbaf gdlwt iqzbxw pqp bww ujrlu amv zsbixj dviynkuft ffojccq owei npfs idyb djg