The Role of the Sponsor:

A certificate of sponsorship is not an actual certificate or paper document, but is a unique reference number, which holds information about the job and your personal details.

Your sponsor will give you your certificate of sponsorship reference number. They will also need to give you some of the information they used to assign the certificate for you to use the point-based calculator and apply, for example, the wage of the job.

Having a certificate of sponsorship alone does not mean you will be successful in applying to come or stay in the United Kingdom. You must meet the requirements of the Tier and category you are applying under as well.

Live certificate of sponsorship:

Sponsors assign certificates using the sponsorship management system, and you can only have one live certificate of sponsorship in the system at any one time. A live certificate of sponsorship is one that the sponsor has assigned to you, but that you have not used yet to apply.

If you have given your personal details to a prospective sponsor and that sponsor assigns a certificate of sponsorship to you, then no other sponsor can assign a certificate of sponsorship to you during the time the certificate gives you permission to come or stay. So it is very important that you only give your personal details to a sponsor you intend to work for.

What your certificate of sponsorship must show:

Your certificate of sponsorship must:

• Have the same details as in your passport;
• Be assigned to you by your sponsor no more than three months before the date you apply;
• Has not been withdrawn by your sponsor or UKBA.

The certificate of sponsorship will run out if it is not used by you to apply within three months of the sponsor assigning it to you. If you apply using a certificate of sponsorship that has run out, your application will be refused. You must get a new certificate of sponsorship from your sponsor.

Certificates of sponsorship in the creative sector:

In the creative sector, sometimes a migrant is needed to perform a number of engagements at various venues. If a sponsor is sponsoring a single migrant and there are no more than 14 calendar days between each engagement, sponsor can assign a single certificate of sponsorship to cover the whole period. If there is a gap of more than 14 calendar days between engagements, the migrant will have to leave the UK and apply for permission to enter again.

If the migrant is sponsored by the individual venues, producers or promoters, each sponsor can assign a certificate of sponsorship to cover its own show. These certificates of sponsorship must not overlap. If there are no more than 14 calendar days between each engagement, UKBA will give the migrant permission to enter the UK to cover the whole period. If there is a gap of more than 14 calendar days between engagements, the migrant will have to leave the UK and apply for permission to enter again.

These certificates of sponsorship can include any rehearsal periods required. Sponsor must make sure that they assign certificates of sponsorship only for the period required. If UKBA find that a certificate has been assigned wrongly, they will take appropriate action against the sponsor.

Group certificates of sponsorship:

Under the creative and sporting category of Tier 5, sponsor must give each individual migrant a certificate of sponsorship number. Then sponsor must link all of the individual certificates to a group in the sponsorship management system. Membership of a group may include:

• The migrant's entourage - this can include people whose work is directly related to the employment of an entertainer, cultural artist, sportsperson or a dramatic production, if they have proven technical or other specialist skills; and/or
• All the members of a unit company such as a ballet company or other dance group, circus troupe, orchestra or other group of musicians, or theatre group who want to come to the UK to fulfil a contractual obligation to perform as a group there.

Sponsor will only have to pay for one certificate of sponsorship.

Multiple entry certificates of sponsorship:

Multiple entry certificates of sponsorship may be assigned under any category of Tiers 2 or 5. These allow migrants who are based overseas to enter the UK on a regular basis within the time given on the certificate, to work for the same sponsor.

This means that, if a migrant has been given permission to enter or stay for more than six months, sponsor will not have to assign them a new certificate of sponsorship each time they need to work in the UK. This type of certificate is not needed by a migrant who wants to travel overseas for leisure or domestic purposes, or who is based in the UK and has to travel overseas on business.