Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for NHS doctors
A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is an electronic record — not a paper certificate — that a licensed UK employer issues to a specific overseas worker for a specific job. For doctors, the CoS names the trust, the job, the SOC code, salary and start date. It is required to apply for a Health and Care Worker visa and expires if not used within three months.
Who this applies to
- IMGs accepting an NHS job offer that requires sponsorship.
Key requirements
| What it is | An electronic sponsorship record, not a paper document |
|---|---|
| Contains | Employer, job, SOC code, salary, start date |
| Validity | Three months from assignment |
Steps
1. Confirm the offer in writing
Ask HR to confirm the offer, SOC code and salary before the CoS is assigned.
2. Receive the CoS reference number
You will get the reference by email — you don't get a paper certificate.
3. Cross-check every field
Job title, salary and start date on the CoS must match the visa application.
Common failure points
- Delaying the visa application and letting the CoS expire.
- Wrong SOC code — leads to refusal at the salary threshold check.
Official sources
Every fact above should be confirmed against the controlling source before you act on it.