From 8 April 2026, sponsoring a worker on a Skilled Worker visa costs more than ever. A first sponsored hire can now total over £6,500 before salary, split between the employer and the worker. Specifically, the rules on who pays which fee changed in late 2024. Therefore, breaching them now puts your sponsor licence at risk.
- Employer pays: licence, CoS, Skills Charge
- Employee pays: visa fee, Health Surcharge
- Combined cost: from £6,500 for three years
- Compliance trap: some fees cannot be recovered
This guide breaks down every fee, who legally pays it, and the total cost for a typical three-year hire.
Table of Contents
Who Pays What on a Skilled Worker Visa?
The Home Office sets a clear legal split between employer and worker. The employer covers the cost of the sponsor licence, the Certificate of Sponsorship, and the Immigration Skills Charge. The worker covers the visa application fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge, and any priority service or biometric fees.
Furthermore, since 31 December 2024, the employer cannot recover the Certificate of Sponsorship cost from the worker by any means. Specifically, the Immigration Skills Charge has always been non transferable. Therefore, breaching either rule is a ground for sponsor licence revocation, regardless of the size of your business.
Who Pays What: Skilled Worker Visa
Employer Pays
- Sponsor Licence fee
- Certificate of Sponsorship (£525)
- Immigration Skills Charge (ISC)
Note: ISC and CoS costs cannot be recovered from the worker.
Employee Pays
- Visa application fee
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
- Biometrics appointment fees
Optional / Flexible
- Priority Service fees
- Legal consultation & support fees
Can be negotiated between employer and employee.
How Much Does an Employer Pay to Sponsor a Skilled Worker?
The employer’s share of the Skilled Worker visa cost starts before the worker even arrives. The licence comes first, then the Certificate of Sponsorship for each hire, then the Immigration Skills Charge for the full sponsorship period.
What Is the Sponsor Licence Fee in 2026?
You cannot hire an overseas worker until you hold a valid sponsor licence. Specifically, the licence lasts four years and lets you sponsor non UK nationals into eligible roles. The sponsor licence fee depends on the size of your business.
From 8 April 2026, the sponsor licence fee is £611 for a small or charitable sponsor and £1,682 for a medium or large sponsor. These rates replaced the previous £574 and £1,579 figures. You qualify as small if you meet two of three tests. Specifically, turnover of £15 million or less, total assets of £7.5 million or less, or 50 employees or fewer.
How Much Is the Certificate of Sponsorship Cost for Skilled Worker?
After your licence is approved, you assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to each worker. Specifically, the CoS is the reference number the worker quotes on their visa application. The Certificate of Sponsorship cost is paid each time you assign one.
The current Certificate of Sponsorship cost is £525 per worker. Furthermore, this figure rose from £239 in April 2025 and has held steady through the 2026 changes. You pay it again every time you reissue a CoS, including for extensions and changes of employer.
What Is the Immigration Skills Charge in 2026?
The Immigration Skills Charge is a separate levy on the employer, paid upfront for the full sponsorship period. Specifically, it funds UK skills training and applies each time you assign a CoS, unless an exception covers the role.
The rates rose sharply on 16 December 2025. For a medium or large sponsor, the charge is £1,320 for the first year and £660 for each further six months. Conversely, for a small or charitable sponsor, the charge is £480 for the first year and £240 for each further six months.
A three year hire by a small sponsor therefore costs £1,440 in Immigration Skills Charge alone. The same three year hire by a medium or large sponsor costs £3,960. Accordingly, sponsor size is the single biggest variable in your total cost.
Also Read: Sponsor Licence Application: Complete Employer Guide
How Much Does the Worker Pay for a Skilled Worker Visa?
The worker’s share covers the visa application itself and the surcharge for NHS access. These fees fall on the applicant by default. However, the employer can choose to cover them as part of a relocation package, although there is no legal duty to do so.
Also Read: Skilled Worker Visa: Eligibility and Application Guide
How Much Is the Skilled Worker Visa Cost?
The application fee depends on two things. First, whether the worker applies from inside or outside the UK. Second, how long the visa runs for. The Skilled Worker visa cost rose on 8 April 2026 across all four bands.
- Outside UK, up to 3 years: £819
- Outside UK, over 3 years: £1,618
- Inside UK, up to 3 years: £943
- Inside UK, over 3 years: £1,865
The previous rates of £769, £1,519, £885, and £1,751 applied before 8 April 2026. Furthermore, the current Skilled Worker visa fee table on GOV.UK shows any further updates. Some roles on the Immigration Salary List attract a lower fee. However, the list itself is set to expire on 31 December 2026.
What Is the Immigration Health Surcharge for Skilled Worker?
The Immigration Health Surcharge funds NHS access during the worker’s stay. Specifically, the full surcharge must be paid upfront for the visa duration, in a single payment. It applies to the worker and to any dependants.
The current rate is £1,035 per year for adults. A discounted rate of £776 per year applies to children, students, and Youth Mobility visa holders. Therefore, a three year visa costs an adult applicant £3,105 in Immigration Health Surcharge alone. A five year visa costs £5,175.
Are There Other Fees Workers Should Plan For?
A few smaller fees often catch workers by surprise. Specifically, each adds to the personal budget, especially when a family moves together.
- Biometric enrolment: This ranges from £0 to £125 (inside the UK), outside the UK some have £55 service charge.
- Priority service: around £500 for faster processing
- Super priority service: around £1,000 for next day decisions
- Dependants: full visa fee and surcharge for each partner or child
A worker bringing a partner and one child therefore, triples the personal cost of the move. Consequently, the employee cost is rarely the headline visa fee alone.
What Is the Compliance Trap Many Employers Miss?
One rule catches employers out and can cost them the licence entirely. Since 31 December 2024, you cannot recover the Certificate of Sponsorship cost from the worker. Specifically, this applies to deductions from salary, repayment clauses in the contract, or any other recovery method.
The Immigration Skills Charge has always carried the same restriction. Therefore, both fees must be absorbed by the employer in full. Furthermore, a single breach can lead to immediate licence revocation, with all sponsored workers losing the right to remain in the role.
3-Year Cost Comparison
*All figures assume standard role and no priority service.
What Is the Total Cost of a Skilled Worker Visa?
The combined cost is where the Skilled Worker visa cost becomes a real budgeting line for both parties. The figure varies by sponsor size, visa length, where the worker applies from, and how many dependants travel.
What Does a 3 Year Hire Cost a Small Sponsor?
This is the most common pattern for SMEs hiring a single worker. The example assumes a standard role, no priority service, and the worker applying from outside the UK with no dependants.
Employer pays:
- Sponsor licence application: £611
- Certificate of Sponsorship: £525
- Immigration Skills Charge for 3 years: £1,440
- Employer subtotal: £2,576
Worker pays:
- Visa application fee, 3 years from outside UK: £819
- Immigration Health Surcharge for 3 years: £3,105
- Worker subtotal: £3,924
The combined total reaches £6,500 before salary, recruitment, or legal advice.
What Does a 3 Year Hire Cost a Large Sponsor?
A medium or large sponsor pays the higher Immigration Skills Charge rate. The employer’s share rises to £5,096 (£611 licence, £525 CoS, £3,960 ISC), while the worker’s share stays the same at £3,924. Accordingly, the combined total climbs to £9,020 for the same three year hire.
What Does a 5 Year Hire Cost a Small Sponsor?
A longer visa raises both sides materially. The employer pays £611 for the licence, £525 for the CoS, and £2,400 in Immigration Skills Charge over five years, a subtotal of £3,536. The worker pays £1,618 in visa fees and £5,175 in Immigration Health Surcharge, a subtotal of £6,793. Therefore, the combined total reaches £10,329.
Total Cost Scenario Comparison (2026)
Combined upfront employer & worker expenses side-by-side
3-Yr Small Sponsor
Employer Costs: £2,576
Worker Fees (IHS & Visa): £3,924
3-Yr Large Sponsor
Employer Costs: £5,096
Worker Fees (IHS & Visa): £3,924
5-Yr Large Sponsor
Employer Costs: £5,239
Worker Fees (IHS & Visa): £6,595
Alos Read: UK Immigration Changes in 2025 and 2026: What Has Changed
How A Y & J Solicitors Can Help
The Skilled Worker visa cost has risen sharply across 2025 and 2026. Furthermore, the rules on who legally pays which fee now carry real licence revocation risks. Specifically, the prohibition on recovering the Certificate of Sponsorship cost or Immigration Skills Charge from the worker is a trap many employers miss until a compliance visit.
A Y & J Solicitors is SRA regulated, recognised in the Legal 500, and has handled more than 5,000 immigration cases with a 98% success rate. We advise sponsors on Skilled Worker visa costs, sponsor licence applications, and full compliance with the latest Home Office fee rules. Contact us for a free initial consultation.
