A Certificate of Sponsorship is an electronic record a licensed UK employer assigns to a worker for a specific job, supporting that worker's visa application. It is not a physical certificate but a reference number confirming the role, salary and sponsorship details.
In one line: A Certificate of Sponsorship is the electronic reference a licensed employer assigns to a worker so they can apply for a sponsored visa.
How a Certificate of Sponsorship works
A sponsor with a valid licence creates the certificate on the sponsorship management system, recording the job title, occupation code, salary and start date. The worker then enters its reference number on the visa application.
For example, an engineering firm sponsoring a Skilled Worker in 2026 assigns a certificate showing a salary that meets the general Skilled Worker threshold of 41,700 GBP per year, which has applied since 22 July 2025 (Home Office, 2026), and the applicant uses that reference to apply.
Each certificate is single-use and time-limited, so it must be used within a set window before it expires. Assigning it does not guarantee the visa, as the worker still has to meet all eligibility rules.
Certificate of Sponsorship vs sponsor licence
The sponsor licence is the employer's overarching permission to sponsor anyone, while a Certificate of Sponsorship is generated under that licence for one named worker and one role.
An employer cannot assign a certificate without first holding a licence, so the two work together: the licence authorises sponsoring, the certificate executes it for a particular hire.
Primary source: Home Office: Sponsorship, certificates of sponsorship (GOV.UK)