There is no single published COP 119 certificate cost UK buyers can look up, because the certification bodies we checked quote after scoping your business. Your total has two parts: the certification body’s fees (application, audit time and ongoing audits) and your own preparation, whether that is internal time or consultancy support.
This guide explains what moves each part, what the NSI, Amtivo and ForeFront actually say about pricing, and how to get quotes you can compare. It follows our step-by-step guide on how to get a COP 119 or BS 10119 certificate, and sits under our COP 119 hub.
Why this article has no price list. We checked the public COP 119 and BS 10119 pages of NSI, Amtivo and ForeFront Certification in October 2026. None publishes a fee schedule or an audit day rate. Rather than quote a number we cannot source, we show you what drives the price and how to make bodies quote like for like.
In this guide
How much does a COP 119 certificate cost in the UK?
It depends on your size and scope, and the bodies say so themselves. Amtivo states that the cost of BS 10119:2026 certification varies with the size and structure of your organisation, the number of workers supplied, the complexity and scope of your labour provision activities and the level of risk in your operations. Its COP 119 page adds location and sector.
Bucket 1: certification body
Paid to the independent body that audits you and issues the certificate: application, the certification audit, ongoing audits and any extra visits.
Bucket 2: preparation
Your own time, or paid support, to get worker files, payroll evidence, policies and supplier controls ready before the auditor arrives.
A realistic COP 119 certificate cost UK budget therefore needs both buckets, plus a margin for the hidden costs below. ESC Support only works on the second bucket. We prepare your business; the certification body makes the independent certification decision.
What do certification bodies charge for?
Expect the proposal to cover some or all of the lines below. Because bodies do not publish rates, the useful question is which lines your quote includes, not just the total.
| Cost line | What it covers | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Application and scoping | Confirming your legal entity, sites, labour model and standard | Is it a separate charge or built into the quote? |
| Certification audit | The independent assessment of your labour provision, including file sampling | How many audit days, and what is assumed about worker numbers? |
| Ongoing audits | Amtivo describes periodic surveillance audits to maintain certification | How often, and is the fee annual or per visit? |
| Transition to BS 10119 | NSI says existing holders get a transition audit at the next scheduled audit | Is extra audit time charged for it? |
| Extra visits and travel | Follow-up visits for findings, or travel to your sites | When are they charged and at what rate? |
| Payment terms | Amtivo says you can pay monthly or all at once | Does a monthly plan change the total? |
What drives audit time and cost?
Amtivo and ForeFront both say assessment duration depends on the number of workers, because some of the assessment is proportionate, for example sampling of screening files. More workers means more files to sample, and more audit time is the likely result.
- Headcount: the number of workers you supply sets the size of the file sample.
- Sites and locations: a second office, depot or payroll function can add audit scope.
- Supplier chain: if you buy in labour from other providers, your controls over them are assessed too.
- Quality of your evidence: messy files cost time during the audit and can lead to findings that need follow-up.
- Extra standards: ForeFront offers COP119 (Security) Plus, which adds assessment against BS 7858 screening and BS 10800 security services, so the scope and fee differ from COP 119 alone.
What does preparation cost?
Preparation is a separate cost or a time commitment, not part of the certification body’s quote. Amtivo lists a preparation or gap review as an optional step before the audit, and most labour providers have to do some version of it.
Doing it internally
The cost is staff time: a gap analysis against the code, checking every worker file against the COP 119 requirements, and writing or updating procedures. It is cheapest in cash terms but easy to underestimate.
Fixing worker files
The largest hidden preparation cost is usually remedial work: completing BS 7858 screening gaps, re-checking right to work, finding payroll evidence and tidying contracts. Each missing item is time per worker, so the cost grows with headcount.
Using a consultancy
ESC scopes preparation support after a conversation about your size, sites, current evidence and deadline, then agrees the deliverables in writing. See our COP 119 consultancy and BS 10119 consultancy pages, or book a free initial consultation to find out where you stand first.
What hidden costs should you plan for?
- Re-audits and follow-up visits. If the auditor raises serious findings, closing them may need more time. Ask in advance whether additional visits are charged.
- Management time. Someone must gather files, host the auditor and close actions. For a small provider this is often the owner.
- A lapsed or wrong certificate. NSI states it is mandatory for NSI approved companies to use only labour providers holding approval to the British Standard. If you supply NSI-approved contractors, missing the transition can cost contracts.
- Paying twice for the wrong route. Some bodies’ certificates are not UKAS accredited. ForeFront states this plainly about its COP119 certificates. Confirm your customer accepts the scheme before you pay.
COP 119 vs BS 10119: do you pay twice?
Not necessarily. BS 10119:2026 was published by BSI on 30 June 2026 and replaces the NSI code NCP 119. NSI says that if an approved company wants to continue certification it will conduct a transition audit as part of the next scheduled audit, and NCP 119 is withdrawn after the 12-month transition period. Amtivo says existing COP 119 certificates stay valid until 30 September 2027, subject to scheduled audits and continued conformity.
None of these pages states whether the transition costs extra, so ask your body to confirm in writing. Our guide to BS 10119:2026 covers the timeline, and our page on COP 119 to BS 10119 transition support explains how we help you prepare.
Worked examples: a 15, 60 and 200-worker labour provider
These show which components grow with size. They are not price quotes, and the direction of change is our practical expectation, not a published rate.
| Cost component | 15 workers | 60 workers | 200 workers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worker files to review and sample | Few; most or all can be checked | A sample of a larger pool | A larger sample; evidence gaps repeat across files |
| Audit time (body quote) | Lowest of the three | Mid-range | Highest; ask about multiple sites |
| Preparation effort | Owner time; short gap analysis | Dedicated compliance time | Often a compliance role or consultancy support |
| Main risk to cost | One person doing everything | Inconsistent files across recruiters | Systemic gaps found late in the audit |
How do you get comparable quotes?
To pin down your own COP 119 certificate cost UK figure, give every body the same information and ask the same questions. The structure matters more than the headline figure.
- Which standard is quoted (COP 119, NCP 119 or BS 10119:2026), and which transition rules apply to you?
- How many audit days are assumed, and for how many workers and sites?
- What is charged for the application, the certification audit and each ongoing audit?
- Is a transition audit charged separately?
- What is charged for follow-up visits, travel and re-audits?
- Is the certificate UKAS accredited, and will your customer accept it?
- Can the fee be paid monthly, and does that change the total?
What mistakes make certification cost more?
- Choosing on price alone. A cheaper quote with fewer audit days or no transition cover can cost more later.
- Applying before fixing the files. Findings on basic screening and right-to-work gaps are avoidable.
- Not checking customer acceptance. Confirm the scheme and body in writing before paying.
- Forgetting transition. Leaving BS 10119 until the final months puts audit scheduling under pressure.
Frequently asked questions
Is BS 10119 more expensive than COP 119?
No certification body we checked publishes separate prices, so we cannot say. NSI and Amtivo describe BS 10119 as the replacement for their existing COP 119 and NCP 119 schemes, and your quote will depend on the same factors: size, scope and risk.
Do I pay again to move from COP 119 to BS 10119?
NSI says it will carry out a transition audit at your next scheduled audit. Whether extra time is charged is not stated publicly, so ask your body to confirm the cost in writing before the audit is booked.
Are surveillance audits charged every year?
Amtivo describes periodic surveillance audits, and NSI refers to scheduled audits. The frequency and fee structure are in your proposal. Ask whether ongoing fees are annual, per visit or bundled.
Can a small labour provider afford certification?
Audit time is proportionate to the number of workers, so a small provider generally has less to sample. Amtivo also offers monthly payment. Doing the preparation properly before the audit is the best protection against extra visits.
Why don’t certification bodies publish their prices?
Their pages say the price depends on your size, structure, location, sector and scope, so they quote individually. That is why comparing like-for-like proposals matters.
Sources: NSI technical bulletin 0072; NSI specialist services; Amtivo BS 10119 certification; Amtivo: what is COP 119; Amtivo transition guidance; ForeFront Certification COP 119. Last checked: October 2026.
Know what you are paying for before you request quotes
ESC Support prepares your worker files, payroll evidence and controls so the certification audit goes smoothly. The certification body makes the certification decision. Book a free initial consultation to scope your preparation.