Certificate of Sponsorship application process
Initial Certificate of Sponsorship application process
Before applying to the Work Permits Desk for a Certificate of Sponsorship, departments must satisfy themselves that the migrant meets the Tier 5 points criteria.
Migrants must obtain 40 points from the following attributes:
| Requirement | Points |
| Sponsorship - possession of a letter from a funding body confirming the level and dates of funds and allowances payable to the migrant. Funding must meet the UK National Minimum Wage. | 30 |
| Maintenance - (a) the equivalent of £900 of personal savings held in the account at all times for at least three months prior to the date of the visa application, plus additional savings (£600) for each accompanying dependant OR (b) confirmation from the host department/college that it will, if necessary, maintain and accommodate the migrant for the first month of the visit. Departments/colleges cannot certify the maintenance of the dependants of a Tier 5 migrant. | 10 |
In order to apply for a CoS you will need to complete the Tier 5 initial CoS application form 
(29kb) and return it to the Work Permits Desk along with the documentation listed at the end of the form.
Departments and colleges are advised to submit Certificate of Sponsorship applications for initial applicants to the Work Permits Desk approximatley three months before the migrant is due to commence their employment/ visit.
Tier 5 (Government Authorised Exchange) Certificates of Sponsorship can be issued for a maximum of 24 months.
Certificate of Sponsorship extension application process
The Work Permits Desk will, where possible, send a reminder to departmental administrators three months before a migrant's leave to remain (visa) expires. It is the responsibility of the department and of the migrant to ensure that, if an extension is required, it is applied for in plenty of time before the migrant's current leave to remain expires.
If you wish to extend a migrant's right to remain as a temporary worker you will need to apply for another Certificate of Sponsorship using the Tier 5 CoS extension application form (27kb) and return it to the Work Permits Desk along with the necessary documentation. The migrant will still be required to meet the points requirements for sponsorship and maintenance.
To obtain an extension, migrants must be continuing in the same job, within the same department. If there are any significant changes to the role, or the migrant is taking up a different role altogether, the migrant will need to return to their home country and apply for a new visa under Tier 5 (Government Authorised Exchange).
Departments and colleges are advised to submit Certificate of Sponsorship applications for extension applicants to the Work Permits Desk approximately eight to twelve weeks before the migrant's current visa is due to expire.
Migrants may only extend their visa in the UK to take them up to a maximum of 24 months stay.