when does the auto renewal of cos allocation happens
The auto-renewal of a CoS allocation usually happens at the end of your CoS year, and the Home Office now grants it automatically for eligible sponsors rather than requiring a manual renewal application.
When it renews
- In the current process, eligible sponsors receive a new annual CoS allocation automatically when the previous allocation is due to expire, as long as the Home Office has contacted them and the sponsor meets the criteria.
- If your allocation expires within three months of when the Home Office contacts you, you still need to apply manually for the next allocation before expiry.
- The renewal date can be different across routes, so the exact timing should be checked in the SMS under the licence summary or key dates.
Who gets auto-renewal
- Auto-renewal applies only if the sponsor is A-rated, licensed in an eligible route, and has an active current annual CoS allocation status.
- Eligible routes include Skilled Worker, GBM routes, Minister of Religion, International Sportsperson, Charity Worker, Creative Worker, Government Authorised Exchange, International Agreement, Religious Worker, and Scale Up.
Practical note
- The number of CoS issued on renewal is based on how many were assigned in the previous 12 months.
- A simple example: if your allocation ends on a certain date and you qualify for auto-renewal, the new yearly allocation is generated around that expiry point without a separate application.
html
<table>
<tr>
<th>Situation</th>
<th>What happens</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Eligible sponsor, expiry more than 3 months away</td>
<td>Automatic renewal applies [web:2]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Expiry within 3 months of Home Office contact</td>
<td>Manual renewal still required [web:2]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Check exact date</td>
<td>Look in SMS licence summary / key dates [web:10][web:7]</td>
</tr>
</table>
If you want, I can also explain how to find the exact renewal date in the Sponsor Management System.