Certificates of sponsorship
This section explains how you issue certificates of sponsorship under the points-based system, including the number of certificates you can issue and how to cancel a certificate.
Full details of all requirements are in the sponsor licensing guidance at Section B - Managing the sponsor's account and applying for or allocating certificates of sponsorship - paragraphs 80 to 93.
Tier 1 migrants do not need a sponsor. Migrants coming to the United Kingdom in tiers 2 to 5 must provide a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor when applying.
If a certificate of sponsorship is issued for a migrant, and they are refused permission to enter, then the certificate of sponsorship cannot be re-issued to another migrant. We will not refund the fee for the certificate of sponsorship.
You can apply for certificates of sponsorship when we start accepting applications from people in each of the tiers later in the year.
Issuing certificates of sponsorship and confirmation of acceptance of studies
A certificate of sponsorship given to students is known as the confirmation of acceptance of studies. When we refer to certificates of sponsorship, we also mean confirmation of acceptance of studies.
A certificate of sponsorship is not an actual certificate or paper document like a work permit, but is a unique reference number which you issue to the migrant to enable him or her to apply for entry clearance (if outside the United Kingdom) or leave to remain (if inside the United Kingdom) for work or study with you.
Before issuing a certificate of sponsorship to a migrant worker, you must satisfy certain criteria depending on the tier or category or sub-category under which you are applying. This includes details of how the job either satisfies or is exempt form the resident labour market test.
Both sponsors considering issuing a certificate of sponsorship and migrants considering submitting an application need to be aware of how the migrant's current immigration status may affect their application for leave due to the switching rules.
Once a certificate of sponsorship has been issued, you give the number to the migrant, who will then use it when applying.
Immigration requirements
Before you can issue a certificate of sponsorship to a migrant worker, certain criteria must be satisfied. These depend on the category under which you want to issue the certificate.
Further details of these requirements will be published in the migrant statements of intent for tiers 2, 4 and 5.
See also
Terms explained
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Licensed sponsor
An organisation that is licensed by us to sponsor migrants to come to the United Kingdom under the points-based system.
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Resident labour market test
This is the process an employer must follow before employing a person who is not a permanent resident of the United Kingdom if he/she is first required to show that no resident worker could be found to take a job.
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Tier 1
A category of the points-based system for coming to the United Kingdom to work, train or study. It applies to people who are looking for highly skilled employment in the United Kingdom, or are self-employed or setting up a business.