Certificate of Sponsorship UK (CoS) for Filipino Citizens

All foreign nationals applying for a sponsored work visa in the UK will need a certificate, except if they are:

• Irish citizens
• People with pre-settled or settled status in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme
• People with indefinite leave to remain in the UK

The UK visas that require a sponsorship certificate are as follows:

• Skilled Worker visa
• Health and Care Worker visa
• Scale-up Worker visa
• International Sportsperson visa
• Minister of Religion visa (T2)

• All Global Business Mobility visas:
  • Senior or Specialist Worker visa
  • Graduate Trainee visa
  • Secondment Worker visa
  • Service Supplier visa
  • UK Expansion Worker visa
• All temporary work visas:
  • Seasonal Worker visa
  • Government Authorised Exchange visa
  • Creative Worker visa
  • Religious Worker visa
  • Charity Worker visa
  • International Agreement visa

Filipino nationals looking to immigrate to the UK via any of the above sponsored work visa routes will, therefore, require a CoS from their UK employers.

How to Get a Certificate of Sponsorship?

Only those employers and businesses who are holding valid sponsor licenses in the UK can issue a CoS to their foreign hires, to enable them to apply for their relevant work visas. Additionally, such employers/businesses must have access to the SMS and hold an A-rated sponsor license to issue new certificates, defined or undefined.

Once a UK company gets their sponsorship license, they will get access to the SMS. Only those employees of the company listed on the SMS as level 1 or 2 users can request and issue a CoS through the system. This process will vary depending on whether a defined or undefined certificate is required.

Issuing a Defined CoS

To issue a defined CoS, the employer will first have to apply for a certificate via the SMS. The level 1 or 2 user in the company will need to:

• Login to the SMS
• Select “Defined CoS” from the “Workers” screen
• Click “Apply for defined CoS” from the “Apply for defined CoS” screen
• Enter the number of defined CoS the company requires
• Enter the details of the employment
• Check the details to ensure the information provided is correct
• Tick the box to agree to the terms
• Click submit

Typically it takes one working day for the application to be processed.

Creating and Assigning a Defined CoS

• Login to the SMS as a level 1 or 2 user
• Select “Granted applications – create and assign defined CoS” from the “Apply for defined CoS” screen
• Select the relevant radio button from the “Granted applications – create and assign defined CoS” screen, and select “Next”

• Review the application summary from the “Granted applications – create and assign defined CoS” screen, and select “Create”
• Enter the foreign worker’s details on the “Create a CoS” screen, and select “Save”
• Select “Assign” from the “Confirmation of saved CoS” screen
• Review the details on the “Confirm CoS details before assigning” screen, read the declaration, and tick the box to agree to the terms
• Select “OK” to proceed with the payment on the “Online payment” screen. You will be redirected to a third party payment service (Worldpay)
• The CoS reference number will be displayed on the “Single CoS assigned” screen once the payment is processed

Creating and Assigning an Undefined CoS

• Login to the SMS as a level 1 or 2 user
• Use the “Select the route” drop-down menu from the “Create and assign CoS” screen to select the route of the CoS you wish to create
• Select “Next”
• Select the radio button next to “Create new single certificate” on the “Create and assign CoS” screen, then select “Next” (you will need to select the radio button next to “Create new batch of certificate(s)” at this stage if you are creating and assigning a batch of undefined certificates instead of a single one)
• Complete the foreign hire’s personal details, details of the job for which they will be hired and other relevant details on the “Create a CoS” screen, then select “Save”
• Select “Assign” from the “Confirmation of saved CoS” screen
• Review the entered CoS details on the “Confirm CoS details before assigning” screen, to confirm they are correct
• Read the declaration and tick the box to agree to the terms. Select “Assign CoS” when done
• You will be redirected to a third party payment service (Worldpay)
• The CoS reference number will be displayed on the “Single CoS assigned” screen once the payment is processed

After creating and assigning a CoS, defined or undefined, the employer will need to provide the CoS ID to their foreign hires, so that they in turn can proceed with their work visa application.