UK Visa and Immigration for Charity Workers
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
An electronic document with a unique reference number issued by you (the sponsor) to a worker via the Sponsorship Management System, or a confirmation of sponsorship, issued by you (the sponsor) using the successor to the Sponsorship Management System. A CoS confirms the details of the job for which you will be sponsoring the worker.
The worker must have a valid CoS before they can make a successful application for entry clearance, permission to enter or permission to stay.
This guidance provides information for charitable organisations on how to sponsor a person on the Temporary Work – Charity Worker immigration route (the charity worker route’)
Visa routes
This route is for overseas nationals who wish to come to the UK to do unpaid work for a charitable organisation for up to 12 months.
To sponsor a worker, you must hold a valid sponsor licence for the route on which you intend to sponsor them. If you do not already hold the relevant licence, you must apply for, and be granted, one before you can sponsor the worker.
Charity Worker
This is for people who want to come to the UK to do voluntary work with a charitable organisation for no more than 12 months.
When a sponsor is granted a licence, significant trust is placed in them. With this trust comes a direct responsibility to act in accordance with the UK’s immigration laws, all parts of this sponsor guidance, and with wider UK law. This includes:
- UK employment law, such as payment of National Minimum Wage, holiday and sickness pay, maximum working hours, health and safety, and trade union and worker rights
- Preventing illegal working
- Safeguarding children
A valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) must be assigned to the worker so they can make a successful application for permission to enter or stay in the UK.
You’ll have to pay a fee for each CoS you assign. If you are sponsoring a Skilled Worker or a Senior or Specialist Worker, you will normally need to pay the Immigration Skills Charge for each worker you sponsor.
