How do I sponsor a migrant worker?
Annual allocation of certificates of sponsorship
This page explains how we decide the number of certificates of sponsorship that you can assign each year, when we will review this number, and what happens to unused certificates at the end of the year.
When you apply for a licence online, we ask you to estimate the number of certificates of sponsorship that you expect to assign each year in every tier, category or sub-category for which you are applying. This number must include existing migrants who will apply for extensions of their permission to stay, and any new migrants who you want to sponsor.
You cannot ask for an annual allocation of Tier 2 (General) restricted certificates of sponsorship because you must apply for those only when you need them, using the application feature in your sponsorship management system account.
We appreciate that you may not know exactly how many you will need, but you must give your best estimate. You must also justify your estimate.
If we approve your application, we will set a limit on the number of certificates that you can assign. This may be lower than your estimate of the number of certificates needed, if:
- you are a B-rated sponsor (and have paid the fee for a sponsorship action plan);
- you are a start-up organisation; or
- you have any history of not complying with the Immigration Rules.
We will take into account all the circumstances, including your estimated requirements and other factors such as:
- your previous record in dealing with us (including under the work permit arrangements);
- the type of business that you conduct;
- the extent of the business that you conduct; and
- the length of time that you have been trading.
When we have agreed how many certificates you can assign, you can assign them at any time during the 12 months from the date when your licence started. We call this your 'CoS year'. The only exceptions to this are in Tier 2 (General) and Tier 2 (Intra company transfer) - see below.
If any certificates of sponsorship remain unused at the end of your CoS year, they will be removed from your account on the sponsorship management system (SMS). You cannot carry over any unused certificates to the next year.
At the end of each CoS year, you must tell us how many certificates you will need for the next year. We will ask you to justify your request.
You can ask us to increase your limit if you think it is too low, or if you reach or are approaching your limit. You can do this using the sponsorship management system. We will consider your request using the principles listed above.
We may reduce your limit if:
- your circumstances change (for example, if you downsize), taking into account the factors above; or
- we believe that you pose a threat to immigration control (because, for example, we take action against you for some reason while you are a sponsor).
Restricted and unrestricted certificates of sponsorship
If you are considering how many certificates you may need for Tier 2 (General), you can only have an annual allocation of certificates for the following migrants.
- Migrants who currently work for you under Tier 2 (General) or on a work permit and need to extend their stay in the UK to continue working for you under Tier 2 (General).
- Migrants you wish to recruit from outside the UK at a salary of £150,000 or more.
- Migrants you wish to recruit who are already in the UK under another immigration category and who are allowed to switch into Tier 2 (General). This does not include dependants of migrants who are Tier 4 students.
- Migrants who are Croatian nationals.
These certificates are called unrestricted certificates of sponsorship.
You must apply for a restricted certificate of sponsorship if you want to recruit migrants under Tier 2 (General) who are currently:
- abroad and will be paid less than £152,100 a year and will be applying for permission to come to the UK under Tier 2 (General); or
- in the UK as the dependant of another migrant whose current permission to stay is as a Tier 4 student
If the migrant you want to sponsor is a Croatian national, you do not need to apply for a restricted certificate of sponsorship.
There is an annual limit on the number of restricted certificates that can be assigned, and your initial allocation of restricted certificates will be zero. The Applying for a restricted certificate of sponsorship page contains more information. If you are granted Tier 2 (General) restricted certificates, you must assign them within 3 months or they will be removed from your SMS account.
We allocate unrestricted Tier 2 (General) certificates and all Tier 2 (Intra company transfer) certificates based on financial years. If you are applying for a sponsor licence in one of those categories, you must tell us how many certificates you think you will need to last until the end of the current financial year.
Do it online
Terms explained
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B rating
This term is applied to a sponsor under the points-based system for coming to the United Kingdom to work, train or study. It is the rating awarded by us when a sponsor joins the register of sponsors. A B rating is a transitional rating for a sponsor who is under a sponsorship action plan.