Certificate of sponsorship services for UK employers
Assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship is a decisive stage in recruiting an overseas worker. The information entered by your organisation must match the role, the worker and the relevant immigration route. An avoidable error can delay recruitment, affect the worker’s visa application or create questions about your wider sponsor compliance.
Hedgley Immigration provides certificate of sponsorship services for employers that want practical, accurate support before using the Sponsor Management System. We help you understand what must be checked, what information should be prepared and how the certificate should be requested or assigned. Our wider work sponsorship support can also assist when the certificate forms part of a broader recruitment or immigration matter.
Support shaped around your recruitment needs
Your business may be assigning its first certificate, recruiting several workers or dealing with an unusual role. Whatever the position, the service is tailored to your organisation rather than delivered as a generic checklist.
We can review the proposed vacancy, candidate details, working arrangements and intended immigration route before action is taken. We can also help your team organise the information needed for the Sponsor Management System, identify inconsistencies and understand any points that should be resolved before submission. This gives key personnel a clearer basis for making accurate sponsorship declarations.
Where the recruitment forms part of a business owner’s own immigration plans, our separate self-sponsorship service may be more appropriate. We will explain the scope of our support at the outset so that you know which matters are covered and what your organisation remains responsible for.
Help before, during and after assignment
Our service can begin before a certificate is requested and continue through assignment and preparation for the worker’s visa application. Depending on your circumstances, support may include:
- Reviewing whether the role appears suitable for the proposed sponsored route
- Checking the intended occupation code, salary information and working hours
- Reviewing candidate and employment details for consistency
- Helping prepare information for a certificate request or assignment
- Identifying possible compliance concerns before the certificate is used
- Explaining the next steps for the sponsor and the worker
- Assisting with queries, corrections or further evidence requests
Hedgley Immigration also provides wider immigration services for employers and individuals. This means we can consider how the certificate fits into the wider application rather than treating it as an isolated administrative task.
Clear advice from a regulated immigration team
Sponsorship decisions often need to be made quickly, but speed should not come at the expense of accuracy. Hedgley Immigration offers straightforward guidance in plain English, with advice focused on the facts of your proposed recruitment.
Our team is regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority, and our service is led by a former UKVI caseworker. We understand how sponsorship information may be assessed and why consistency across the certificate, employment documents and visa application matters.
You will receive practical guidance without unnecessary jargon. Where an issue could affect the proposed assignment, we will explain it clearly and help you consider the appropriate next step. We can work with business owners, HR teams, directors and key personnel responsible for managing the sponsor licence.
Move forward with confidence
A carefully prepared certificate can help your recruitment process move forward on a stronger footing. Whether you need support with one proposed hire or want to improve the way your organisation handles assignments, Hedgley Immigration can provide focused assistance.
Speak to our team before requesting or assigning a certificate, particularly where the role, salary, working arrangements or candidate circumstances require careful consideration. Contact us to discuss your recruitment plans and the support your organisation needs.
FAQs
What do certificate of sponsorship services include?
Certificate of sponsorship services can cover the checks and work required before an employer requests or assigns a certificate through the Sponsor Management System. The precise scope depends on the sponsor, worker, immigration route and proposed job.
Support may include reviewing whether the organisation holds the correct sponsor permission, checking that the vacancy is genuine and suitable for sponsorship, considering the occupation code, reviewing salary and working hours, and checking that the worker’s details are consistent. It can also include guidance on the certificate type, preparation for a Home Office request for further information, and checking how the certificate fits with the worker’s visa application.
A Certificate of Sponsorship is an electronic record rather than a paper document. It contains a unique reference number used for the visa application. Receiving a certificate does not guarantee that the visa will be granted, because the worker must still satisfy the requirements of the immigration route.
When should an employer seek certificate of sponsorship application help?
An employer may benefit from certificate of sponsorship application help when it is unfamiliar with the Sponsor Management System, is assigning its first certificate or is dealing with a role that is not straightforward. Support can also be valuable when salary includes allowances, the worker has unusual arrangements, the occupation code is uncertain or the Home Office requests more information.
Before a certificate is requested or assigned, the sponsor should be satisfied that the job is genuine, the route is suitable and the information is accurate. The certificate should align with the employment contract, job description, salary records, working pattern and details later used in the visa application. Differences may cause delay.
Professional support does not replace the sponsor’s responsibility for the information submitted. It helps the organisation identify risks, prepare evidence and make an informed declaration. Employers should seek advice early where they are unsure, rather than correcting avoidable errors after assignment.
What is a defined certificate of sponsorship?
A defined certificate of sponsorship is used for a person applying for entry clearance as a Skilled Worker from outside the UK. A licensed sponsor must request this type individually through the Sponsor Management System before assigning it to the proposed worker.
The request normally includes details about the job, occupation code, salary, working hours and immigration route. UKVI usually decides a defined certificate request within one working day, although it can take longer where further checks or evidence are required. Approval places the certificate in the sponsor’s account, but the sponsor must still assign it and pay the relevant fee.
The sponsor should ensure that the role and salary stated in the request remain accurate when the certificate is assigned. It should not be used for a materially different role from the one approved. Where circumstances change, the sponsor should take advice before proceeding because a new request may be necessary.
What is the difference between defined vs undefined certificate of sponsorship?
The main defined vs undefined certificate of sponsorship distinction is based on the worker’s immigration route and, for Skilled Worker applications, whether the person is applying from outside or inside the UK.
A defined certificate is generally required for a Skilled Worker applying from outside the UK. The sponsor requests it for a particular vacancy and assigns it after approval. An undefined certificate is used for Skilled Workers applying from inside the UK and for applicants on other sponsored work routes.
Sponsors are normally asked to estimate their need for undefined certificates when applying for or renewing their licence. If the available allocation is insufficient, the organisation can request more and may need to provide evidence explaining the recruitment need. Standard additional allocation requests can take longer than defined certificate requests.
Using the wrong type can affect the visa application and raise compliance concerns. Sponsors should confirm the route and application location before assignment.
What is the certificate of sponsorship cost UK employers must pay?
The certificate of sponsorship cost UK employers pay depends on the sponsor licence and immigration route. Under the current government fee structure, assigning a Worker certificate generally costs £525, while a Temporary Worker certificate costs £55. For an International Sportsperson, the fee is £525 when the certificate covers more than 12 months and £55 when it covers 12 months or less.
The certificate fee is separate from the sponsor licence fee and the worker’s visa charges. An employer assigning a certificate for a Skilled Worker or Senior or Specialist Worker may also have to pay the Immigration Skills Charge, unless an exemption applies. That charge depends on factors including the sponsorship period.
The sponsor must pay the certificate fee itself for routes covered by the prohibition on passing sponsorship costs to workers. Asking a worker to pay prohibited fees or related application costs can place the licence at risk. Employers should confirm applicable charges before assignment because fees and exemptions can change.
What happens if a Certificate of Sponsorship is incorrect, unused or expires?
A worker must normally use the Certificate of Sponsorship reference to apply for the relevant visa within three months of assignment. The worker must also avoid applying more than three months before the job start date recorded on it. If the certificate is not used in time, the sponsor may need to assign another one.
Where information is incorrect, the appropriate response depends on the nature and timing of the error. Some minor matters may be addressed through a sponsor note, while significant changes may require the certificate to be withdrawn and replaced. A sponsor should not assume that a note can correct a different role, unsuitable occupation code, incorrect salary or another material issue.
An incorrect certificate can contribute to a visa refusal, delay recruitment or prompt questions about the sponsor’s compliance systems. The employer should review it before the worker submits the visa application and keep records explaining the recruitment decision. Where an error is discovered, seek advice promptly and avoid submitting inconsistent information.
Let’s simplify your sponsorship journey. Get in touch for tailored, expert assistance with self Visa Sponsorship and UK Work (Permit) Visa Sponsorship. We’re here to provide trusted immigration support for individuals and businesses alike.
Sean: 07704 909490
Lydia: 07587145994