UK Business Visas | 6 min Read

2023 – How to make a successful application of Certificate of Sponsorship for Expansion Worker Visa?

– UK Business Visa Consultant in India & UK

Certificate of Sponsorship UK Expansion Worker Visa

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The UK Home Office included 5 new visas under the Global Business Mobility category, which went into effect in April 2022. The UK Expansion Worker Visa is one of them. A Certificate of Sponsorship UK Expansion Worker Visa is one such mandatory document that permits an outsider business owner to enter the UK and set up a branch of his existing business.

And, to apply for a UK Expansion Worker Visa, the business owner MUST possess a valid Certificate of Sponsorship – also referred to as CoS.

As you read through this blog, you will precisely understand the Certificate of Sponsorship, how to apply for one, its process, and its importance to qualify for a UK Expansion Worker Visa.

How to apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship UK Expansion Worker Visa?

Let’s go one step back. To receive a Certificate of Sponsorship, you first need to apply for a Sponsor Licence.

Allow us to break down the process briefly, step-by-step, of how you can receive a Certificate of Sponsorship –

*This is an e-document. You can issue this certificate for yourself or for someone whom you wish to send to the UK to manage your business operations

What is the importance of a Certificate of Sponsorship?

  • A Certificate of Sponsorship UK Expansion Worker Visa is a self-sponsored or self-certifying document, issued by a Sponsor Licence holder
  • The Certificate of Sponsorship is not a physical document, but rather an e-document with a unique reference number
  • If you want to nominate an expansion worker then you must apply for Sponsor Licence first
  • With the Sponsor Licence, you can then –
    • Issue a CoS for yourself (e.g. if you are a sole proprietor) OR
    • Issue a CoS for a senior employee/specialist worker
  • Having a valid Certificate of Sponsorship will allow the applicant to then make an application for UK Expansion Worker Visa
  • When the Certificate of Sponsorship is issued, the person applying for the UK Expansion Worker Visa has only 3 MONTHS to submit their visa application

What does the Certificate of Sponsorship UK include?

  • Reference number
  • Your full name, work designation, and annual salary which you will earn in the UK
  • The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code for your job role in the UK
  • The details of your business in your home country
  • The Sponsor Licence number
  • Confirmation if your employer is certifying maintenance

What is the cost to apply for a UK Sponsor Licence?

The fee depends on the type of Sponsor Licence you are applying for and what type of organisation you are into.
The UK Sponsor Licence fee (as of January 2023), is

  • £536 for small or charitable firms
  • £1,476 for medium or large companies

What is the cost to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship?

The cost to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship UK depends on the type of Sponsor Licence you have.

Type of Sponsor Licence Cost per certificate
Worker (except workers on the International Sportsperson Visa) £199
Temporary Worker £21

What is the Immigration Skills Charge?

You are also required to pay the Immigration Skills Charge when you issue a Certificate of Sponsorship UK.
The amount you need to pay is based on:

  • The size of your organisation, and
  • The time period you or the nominated employee will work for your business in the UK

This can be calculated using the start and end dates on the Certificate of Sponsorship UK.
The start and end dates refer to when you or your nominated employee will physically commence business operations in the UK.

Time Period Small or charitable firms Medium or large companies
First 12 months £364 £1,000
Each additional 6 months £182 £500

Contact The SmartMove2UK

Need more guidance to understand the UK Sponsor Licence and Certificate of Sponsorship UK?

Our UK Immigration Lawyers advise clients on all matters concerning UK visas and nationality laws.

We hand-hold our clients through each step of starting a business and apply for a Sponsor Licence and Certificate of Sponsorship UK Expansion Worker Visa.

FAQ’s

The majority of applications are processed in under eight weeks. Your company could need to be visited by UKVI. To receive a judgement in less than 10 working days, you could be able to pay an additional £500. Every working day, only a few applications can use this service. The allocation of quicker decisions follows the arrival order of requests (first come, first served). After you apply, you’ll be instructed on how to request a quicker decision.
A cost is incurred when you apply. The cost varies according to the licence type you’re requesting and the nature of your organisation.

Click here to the UK Home Office’s list of licence fee.

The Sponsor has to apply for a sponsor licence (if they already don’t have one). The licence fee depends on the type of licence you’re applying from. It can range anywhere between £536 to £1476 (₹48,212.68 to ₹132,764.78).
There is no cost involved as a certificate of sponsorship is only valid for 3 months and it cannot be extended.
No. You will have to issue a separate CoS as each CoS has a unique identification number, eligible, for the candidate whose name is mentioned. If the employee has changed, you can simply provide another CoS.
The CoS should be assigned not before or after 3 months of making the visa application. As a CoS is only valid for 3 months.

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