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★ KEY TAKEAWAY
A UK Skilled Worker Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) costs £239 per certificate in 2026. Defined CoS are for applicants outside the UK applying for entry clearance; Undefined CoS are for in-country switchers and extensions. The cap on Skilled Worker CoS was removed in December 2020, and each CoS is valid for 3 months from assignment to apply. |
A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), abbreviated across sponsor-licence guidance as CoS, is the digital reference generated by a UKVI-licensed sponsor through the Sponsorship Management System (SMS) portal on gov.uk, acting as the unique identifier that links a specific job role and named worker to the Skilled Worker visa application made via gov.uk, with the fee at £239 per certificate assigned from 9 April 2025 under the UKVI fee schedule. Two variants apply on the Skilled Worker route: Defined CoS are required for applicants applying from outside the UK for entry clearance, and Undefined CoS are used for in-country switchers, extensions, and changes of employment. Both cost the same £239 and cover the same 3-month validity window from the date of assignment in SMS, within which the sponsored worker must submit their visa application. The Defined CoS requires individual allocation from UKVI before assignment, following a request submitted through SMS that includes the job title, Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code, salary, and location; Undefined CoS are drawn from an annual allocation granted to the sponsor at licence application or renewal. The annual cap on Skilled Worker CoS, a feature of the predecessor Tier 2 (General) route, was removed in December 2020 as part of the post-Brexit immigration reforms, replacing the competitive monthly panel with a direct allocation mechanism that gives sponsors faster and more predictable access to sponsorship capacity.
What is a Defined CoS?
A Defined CoS is the variant used for applicants applying for a Skilled Worker visa from outside the UK as entry clearance, per the UKVI Sponsor Guidance on gov.uk. The sponsor requests a Defined CoS from UKVI through the SMS portal by providing job details (title, SOC code, salary, location, start date) and the named individual. UKVI reviews the request and, if approved, adds the CoS to the sponsor's allocation for assignment.
Defined CoS requests are typically approved within 1 to 10 working days for straightforward cases. Complex cases (unusual SOC codes, salary queries, high-risk sectors) can take longer. Once approved, the sponsor assigns the CoS to the worker via SMS, and the worker has 3 months from assignment to submit the Skilled Worker visa application from outside the UK.
What is an Undefined CoS?
An Undefined CoS, sometimes called an unrestricted CoS, is used for in-country applications including Skilled Worker extension, change of employment, and switching from another in-UK visa category, per UKVI Sponsor Guidance. Undefined CoS are drawn from the sponsor's annual allocation granted at licence application or renewal based on anticipated needs, and do not require individual UKVI approval per certificate.
The annual allocation is requested by the sponsor in the licence application with a reasoned estimate of likely volumes over the 4-year licence period. UKVI grants a working allocation and can increase it on request through SMS with evidence of growing sponsorship need. Sponsors exhausting their Undefined allocation during the year can request additional capacity without waiting for renewal.
What does the £239 CoS fee cover?
The £239 fee per CoS covers the assignment of the certificate through the SMS portal and its attachment to a specific named worker. The fee is non-refundable once the CoS is assigned, even if the worker does not proceed to apply or withdraws the application, per the UKVI fee schedule effective 9 April 2025 on gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table.
Separately, the sponsor pays the Immigration Skills Charge at £364 per year (small or charitable sponsors) or £1,000 per year (medium or large sponsors) per CoS assigned. A 5-year CoS for a medium sponsor carries a £5,000 Immigration Skills Charge on top of the £239 CoS fee. The worker pays their own visa application fee (£769 or £1,519 depending on certificate length) and Immigration Health Surcharge separately.
What if the CoS is cancelled or expires unused?
Sponsors can cancel an unused CoS within the SMS portal before the 3-month validity expires. Cancellation does not refund the £239 fee but returns the CoS slot to the sponsor's allocation for reuse, per UKVI Sponsor Guidance. CoS that expire unused are automatically returned to allocation at the end of the 3-month window.
If a CoS has been used in a visa application that is subsequently refused or withdrawn, the CoS is recorded as used and cannot be reassigned. The sponsor must request a fresh Defined CoS or draw from the Undefined pool for any replacement candidate. Sponsors should budget for 5 to 10 per cent CoS wastage across the licence cycle as a realistic operating assumption.
How do Defined and Undefined compare?
The main operational difference is the per-certificate UKVI approval step for Defined CoS, which adds working days to the assignment timeline for overseas hires. Undefined CoS for in-country workers can be assigned immediately from the sponsor's allocation, supporting faster response to extension and switching deadlines.
What happens if the sponsor licence is suspended or revoked?
If a sponsor licence is suspended during compliance review, the sponsor cannot assign new CoS until the suspension is lifted. CoS already assigned before the suspension remain valid for the 3-month window, and workers can still use them to apply. If the licence is revoked, CoS already assigned but not yet used become invalid.
Sponsored workers on a revoked sponsor typically have 60 days to find new sponsorship or leave the UK, per UKVI Sponsor Guidance and the general framework in Part 9 of the Immigration Rules. This 60-day cure period is designed to protect workers from sudden displacement while maintaining the sponsor compliance regime. A new sponsor can assign a fresh CoS during this window to rescue the worker's status.
What CoS data does the Home Office publish?
The Home Office publishes Skilled Worker route statistics including CoS issuance volumes in its quarterly Immigration Statistics on gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release, with breakdowns by SOC code, sector, and applicant nationality. Annual CoS volumes have grown substantially since the 2020 reforms, reflecting the removal of the cap and the broadening of eligible occupations.
Sector-level analysis from CIPD on cipd.org and Migration Observatory at Oxford on migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk adds analytical context. FOI releases periodically publish CoS refusal data and SOC-code-level salary compliance patterns. Sponsors benchmarking their allocation needs and worker pay-ins-of-going-rate compliance should consult the most recent quarterly release for current market context, alongside any sector-specific Migration Advisory Committee commentary on Shortage Occupation List changes announced at Budget or through periodic MAC reports published throughout the year on gov.uk alongside the Office for National Statistics international migration estimates.
| ★ EDITOR'S VERDICT A Certificate of Sponsorship at £239 per certificate is the digital bridge between a licensed sponsor and a Skilled Worker visa application. Defined CoS serve outside-UK applicants and require per-certificate UKVI approval adding 1 to 10 working days; Undefined CoS come from the sponsor's annual pool and support fast in-country switching and extension. The cap removal in December 2020 transformed availability, and the post-Brexit framework has grown CoS issuance substantially. Sponsors should build 5 to 10 per cent CoS wastage into their operating model and maintain close SMS portal hygiene across the 4-year licence cycle. |
| This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or immigration advice. Always verify with official sources before making decisions. |
Frequently asked questions
How much is a CoS?
£239 per certificate for both Defined and Undefined variants, under the UKVI fee schedule effective 9 April 2025. The fee is non-refundable once assigned.
How long is a CoS valid?
3 months from the date of assignment in SMS. The worker must submit their visa application within this window or the CoS expires unused.
Is there still a cap?
No. The annual cap on Skilled Worker CoS was removed in December 2020. Sponsors draw from their Undefined allocation or request Defined CoS as needed.
What does the Immigration Skills Charge cost?
£364 per year for small or charitable sponsors, £1,000 per year for medium or large sponsors, per CoS assigned. Paid upfront for the full duration of the CoS.
Can I cancel an unused CoS and get a refund?
You can cancel, but the £239 fee is not refunded. The CoS slot returns to the sponsor's allocation for reuse on a fresh candidate.
What happens if my sponsor is revoked?
Sponsored workers have 60 days to find a new sponsor or leave the UK. A new sponsor can assign a fresh CoS during this window to rescue the worker's status.
Can I use a CoS for a different job?
No. The CoS is tied to a specific SOC code and job. A change of role requires a new CoS, paid separately. Minor variations within the same role are handled through the SMS update process.
Sources
- Home Office, UK visa sponsorship for employers, gov.uk/uk-visa-sponsorship-employers — accessed April 2026.
- UKVI, Sponsor Guidance Parts 1, 2, 3, gov.uk — CoS assignment and duties.
- UKVI, Visa fees revised table, gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table — effective 9 April 2025.
- Home Office, Skilled Worker visa: Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker, gov.uk — accessed April 2026.
- Home Office, Quarterly Immigration Statistics, gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release — CoS data.
- Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, cipd.org — sector analysis.
- Migration Observatory, Oxford, migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk — independent commentary.
Related reading on kaeltripton.com: UK Skilled Worker salary threshold 2026, UK sponsor licence application 2026, UK Skilled Worker cooling-off 2026.