A job in the UK with visa sponsorship can change your life. That's exactly why scammers target people looking for one. Every year, people lose thousands of pounds, and sometimes years of savings, to fake job offers that promise a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) and a visa.
The good news is that most fake offers share the same warning signs. This guide covers nine of them, explains how to check an employer in a few minutes, and tells you where to report a scam.
This is general information, not legal advice. If you think you've been scammed, report it straight away (see the end of this guide).
1. You're asked to pay for your job or your CoS
This is the biggest warning sign of all. A licensed sponsor must not charge you for your Certificate of Sponsorship, and it must not ask you to cover its own sponsorship costs, such as the CoS fee or the Immigration Skills Charge.
In the UK, recruitment agencies also can't generally charge you a fee just for finding you work.
Scammers use many names for the payment: "processing fee", "CoS fee", "visa guarantee", "security deposit", "training fee", "placement fee". The name doesn't matter. If someone asks you to pay to get the job or the CoS, stop.
The costs you pay yourself are your visa application fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge and any required tests, such as a TB test. You pay these directly to the official bodies, never to the employer or an agent.
2. The company isn't on the sponsor register
Every UK employer that sponsors workers must hold a sponsor licence, and every sponsor is listed on the Home Office register of licensed sponsors.
Search the employer's name on our site, which uses the official register. If the company isn't there, it can't give you a valid CoS.
Remember to search the company's legal name, not just its brand name. Our guide on how to check if a UK company has a sponsor licence walks you through it step by step.
3. The company is real, but the email isn't
Scammers often copy the name of a real licensed sponsor. The company is on the register, but the person emailing you has nothing to do with it.
Check the email address carefully:
- A real employer usually writes from its own domain, such as name@companyname.co.uk.
- Be suspicious of Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo or similar free addresses.
- Look for small spelling changes, such as "rnail" instead of "mail", or an extra letter in the company name.
The safest check is to find the company's phone number on its official website, call them and ask if the job and the person who contacted you are real.
4. There was no proper interview
Genuine UK employers interview candidates, usually by video call and often in more than one round. If you got an offer after a short WhatsApp chat, or without speaking to anyone at all, be very careful.
A real employer wants to know you can do the job, because it has to justify sponsoring you to the Home Office.
5. The offer sounds too good, or the salary is wrong
Be wary of offers with a very high salary for little experience, free accommodation, free flights and a "guaranteed visa".
Salary can also be wrong in the other direction. Skilled Worker jobs have minimum salary rules set by the Home Office. A sponsored job paying far below the usual rate for that role may not be eligible at all, which suggests the offer isn't real. Check the current salary rules on the Skilled Worker visa page.
6. Everything happens on WhatsApp or Telegram
Real recruiters may use WhatsApp to arrange a call. But if the whole process, from offer to "contract", happens only on a messaging app, that's a red flag. Real employers send formal offer letters and contracts from company email addresses.
7. You're rushed
Scammers create pressure: "only two places left", "pay today or lose the job", "the visa window closes tomorrow". A real employer will give you time to read your contract and ask questions. Urgency is a tactic to stop you from checking.
8. You're asked for personal documents too early
At some point a genuine sponsor will need your passport details and qualifications. But be careful about sending copies of your passport, bank statements or ID cards before you've confirmed the employer is real.
Scammers use these documents for identity fraud, or to make their next victim believe the offer is genuine.
9. The "CoS" arrives as a PDF certificate
A Certificate of Sponsorship isn't a paper certificate. It's an electronic record in the Home Office system, and you get a reference number to put on your visa application.
If someone sends you a decorated PDF "certificate" with stamps and signatures, that's a strong sign of fraud. You can't verify a CoS yourself, but the format alone tells you something is wrong.
How to check an offer in five minutes
- Search the company's legal name on the sponsor register.
- Check that its rating is A, not B. See A-rated vs B-rated sponsors.
- Check it holds the right route for your job, such as Skilled Worker.
- Look the company up on Companies House and confirm it's active.
- Call the company on the number from its official website and confirm the job.
- Never pay anyone for the job or the CoS.
If any step fails, don't go further until you have a clear answer.
What to do if you've already paid
Don't feel ashamed. These scams are professional and they catch careful people. Act quickly:
- Stop all payments and contact your bank straight away. Ask if the payment can be stopped or recovered.
- Keep every message, email, receipt and bank record.
- Report the fraud to Action Fraud if you're in the UK, or to the police in your country.
- Report the company or agent to the Home Office through the GOV.UK immigration crime reporting page.
- If you're in the UK and being forced to work or pay off a "debt", call the Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline on 08000 121 700.
Frequently asked questions
Can an employer ask me to pay back sponsorship costs if I leave? A sponsor can't make you pay its CoS fee or Immigration Skills Charge. Rules on other costs, such as training, are more complex. Get advice if your contract includes repayment clauses.
Is every agent a scammer? No. Many recruitment agencies are genuine. But the company that will employ you and pay your salary must hold the sponsor licence, and nobody should charge you for the job.
Can I check my CoS number online? Not directly. Your sponsor assigns it through the Home Office system and you use it in your visa application. If you're unsure, ask the employer to confirm the details and check the employer on the register.
Sources
- Register of licensed sponsors: workers (GOV.UK)
- Skilled Worker visa (GOV.UK)
- Report immigration crime (GOV.UK)
- Action Fraud
- Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline
Last checked November 2026. Immigration rules change, so always check the latest guidance on GOV.UK.
This guide is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules change, so check the official GOV.UK guidance for sponsors and take advice from a regulated adviser before acting. SponsorCheck is not connected to the Home Office.