Skilled Worker Visa Cost: What Employers Actually Pay in UK

For UK employers, the Skilled Worker visa is the main route to hiring skilled workers from outside the UK. Understanding the full cost — before you make an offer — is essential, since most fees are non-refundable even if the application is refused.

It is highly recommended that you contact our experienced team of immigration lawyers with extensive knowledge of UK immigration law. Call us on +44 (0)333 305 9375 for immediate help and advice on the cost of the UK Skilled Worker Visa for employers & companies within the UK.

Last modified on April 19, 2026 at 12:44 pm

What Does It Cost to Sponsor a Skilled Worker in the UK?

The costs associated with sponsoring foreign workers depend on various factors, such as the size and financial turnover of the company or the type of workers to be employed.

Larger companies or organisations will be required to pay increased sponsorship fees in order to sponsor a foreign worker to live and work within the UK for the specified time period. If your business or organisation qualifies as a small business, the sponsorship fees are lower, making it easier to afford the cost of recruiting foreign workers.

IAS can provide a host of support and advice for companies looking to employ workers from overseas. Opting for tailored immigration legal advice will help to reduce costs, especially as most visa fees are non-refundable even if the application is rejected.

Sponsor Licence Fees: Small vs Large Business

The financial impact of sponsoring foreign workers can vary depending on multiple factors. If your company or organisation is within the definition of a small business as designated by the Companies Act, you will have to pay the application fee for a small company, which is £611 for a sponsor licence.

Your company is deemed a small company if at least two of the following criteria can be met:

There must be no more than 50 employees at your company or organisation.
Your company must have a balance sheet total of no more than £7.5 million.
Your company must not turnover more than £15 million.

Sponsoring Foreign Workers as a Large Business

Companies that do not fall within the requirements of a small business are required to pay the large business fee of £1,682 for a sponsor licence.

Skilled Worker Visa Application Fees: Inside and Outside the UK

In addition to paying for a sponsor licence, you’d need to pay for the visa application. The cost of this depends on the visa your employee needs. Here, we break down the cost of sponsoring an employee under the skilled worker visa.

Applying from outside the UK:

Up to 3 years: £769 for every applicant
In excess of 3 years: £1,519 for each applicant.

Applying from within the UK (switching, updating, or extending)

Up to 3 years: £827 for each applicant.
In excess of 3 years: £1,636 for each applicant.

Roles on the Immigration Skill List (ISL):

Up to 3 years: £590 for each applicant.
Over 3 years: £1,160 for each applicant.

When applying for a Skilled Worker Visa, you also should ensure that your sponsored worker meets the financial support requirements. They must have at least £1,270 available to show that they are able to support themself when you arrive in the UK. If you are taking care of their costs during their first twelve months in the UK, then you (the employer) have to show proof, not the employee. If the employee has been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months, they could be exempt from this requirement.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) Premium Service: Cost and Eligibility

The UK Government offers premium customer service, which can enhance the level of support and advice for organisations that sponsor and employ workers from overseas.

Each premium customer will have access to their own dedicated account manager, who can provide ongoing updates on the processing of submitted applications.

In order to be able to join the Premium and Fast-Tracked services, your business or organisation must meet certain criteria:

have an A-rating in all tiers of your Sponsor License.
Having no civil penalties from the UKVI in the past 3 years and have paid in full any penalties issued before that.

The cost of the Premium services is £25,000 per year for large or medium organisations. Sponsors who qualify as a charitable organisation or small business and who have paid the lower licence fee are required to pay £8,000 per year. Note that this service is optional.

Get in touch with our expert lawyers for assistance on your immigration application.

Costs For Faster Skilled Worker Visa Processing Times

You may be eligible to pay for a reduced decision time on your Skilled Worker Visa application. This is called the ‘priority service’ and means that you’ll usually receive a decision within five working days. This time starts from either the day of the biometrics appointment if your employee proves their identity in person or the working day after uploading your documents when using the UK Immigration: ID Check app.

If you choose to pay for ‘super priority services’, the visa application will receive a decision within the end of the next working day or soon after. The cost of this is £1,000. If the Home Office requires additional information, the time required to reach a decision could be longer. If the decision takes longer, you are unlikely to receive your money back.

If you are eligible for the super-priority service, you will be able to choose the ‘priority service’ when you apply. This will cost £500 in addition to your application fee.

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Fee: What Employers Pay in 2026

A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is required for all Skilled Worker Visa applicants as part of the process of applying for the UK Visa. Each CoS must include details of the job role, employer contact information, rate of salary and the start and end date of the employment.

The cost of assigning each Certificate of Sponsorship is £525 for the skilled worker visa. It is mandatory each time you recruit a sponsored worker, and you must pay the charge again if you need to reissue a certificate. You may also need to pay the fee when updating the CoS if a sponsored employer changes role or updates their details.

From 31 December 2024, employers are prohibited from recovering the CoS fee from sponsored workers. Attempting to do so — through deductions, repayment clauses, or any other means — is a ground for sponsor licence revocation.

Immigration Skills Charge (ISC): How Much Do Employers Pay?

An Immigration Skills Charge is payable by the employer when the Certificate of Sponsorship is issued. This is payable on an annual basis for each sponsored worker.

From 16 December 2025, the ISC moved to banded fees based on total visa duration. For a 3-year Skilled Worker visa: small sponsors pay £1,440; large sponsors pay £3,960. For a 5-year visa: small sponsors pay £2,400; large sponsors pay £6,600. These rates represent a 32% increase on previous figures — the first rise since 2017.

In some circumstances, this fee may be waived, but you should reach out to an immigration expert for advice on when this exemption would be applied.

Immigration Health Surcharge

The National Health Service (NHS) Immigration Health Surcharge costs £1,035 annually for immigration and visa applications when employing someone over the age of 18 under the skilled worker visa route. The sponsored worker must have paid enough immigration health surcharge to last their stay within the UK before their arrival. For example, for three years, 3 x £1035 = £3,105 for a single applicant.

If the sponsored employee has dependents, they also need to pay the IHS fee for each dependant. The cost for dependants is usually the same as the cost for the main visa applicant.

Total Cost Summary: Skilled Worker Visa for Employers 2026

The table below contains an easy-to-skim view of the breakdown provided above.

Sponsorship Fees for the Skilled Worker Visa

Cost Category	Amount (small sponsors)	Amount (large sponsors)
Sponsor licence application	£611	£1,682
Certificate of Sponsorship	£525	£525
Immigration Skills Charge (per year)	£364	£1,000
Total	£1,139^*	£2,715^*

*: This cost assumes that the skilled worker visa duration is one year. If it is more, add the following for each additional year: £364 (small sponsor) or £1,000 (large sponsor).

Skilled Worker Visa Application Fee

Cost Category	Amount (from outside the UK)	Amount (from within the UK)	Amount (role on ISL)
Skilled worker visa application (up to 3 years)	£719	£827	£551
Skilled worker visa application (more than 3 years)	£1,420	£1,636	£1,084

Others

Cost Category	Amount (variation 1)
Immigration Health Surcharge (per year)	£1,035
Proof of financial capability	£1,270
Priority Processing^*	£500
Super Priority Processing^*	£1,000

*: Optional

If you have any questions about a Skilled Worker Visa UK, our team is happy to assist.

Do You Need Help With Hiring Skilled Workers From Abroad? IAS Can Help

Hiring skilled workers as an employer can be challenging and sometimes overwhelming, especially when trying to understand the associated costs and general requirements.

Sponsoring overseas workers can be time-consuming, so you may want to enlist the support of an immigration lawyer to help make the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible.

If you need assistance with hiring skilled workers from aboard and have questions about the process or requirements, IAS is here to help.

Whether you seek expert guidance on right-to-work checks, applying for a Sponsor Licence, issuing Certificates of Sponsorship, or other Skilled Worker visa costs, contact our team today at +44 (0)333 414 9244 or online.

Get in touch with our team today to learn more about our professional services.

We offer immigration advice sessions as face to face appointments at all of our UK offices, or via the phone.

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Written by Immigration Advice Service

Ono Okeregha

Director - Immigration Advice Service

Ono Okeregha is the director of the Immigration Advice Service. He is a committed human rights and immigration lawyer. He was awarded the IoD North West SME of the year award and commended for his work in equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Legal Disclaimer

The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect the most current legal developments. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, and we do not accept liability in such cases. We recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer at Immigration Advice Service before making any decisions based on the content provided.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Your sponsored employee’s partner and children are able to apply to join them as dependents in UK provided that they are eligible. Sponsored workers can include the following members of their family in their application:

Dependant children under 18
Dependant husband, wife, civil partner, or unmarried partner
Dependant children over 18 if they are already staying within the UK as your dependants and are not married.

You can submit your UK visa application up to 3 months before you are due to start work in the UK. This date can be found in your certificate of sponsorship. The home office may need extra time to review your documents in order to prove your identity. This means you should always allow extra time for the process to be completed.

An employee’s Skilled Worker Visa is due to expire after a certain time period. You can apply to extend your permit if you meet the following requirements:

The job has the same occupation code as when you entered the UK.
You are still employed by the same employer who sponsored your existing application.
You have the same job as when you were first granted your visa

It is possible for individuals who meet the eligibility who meet the eligibility criteria and complete the necessary steps. For example:

Having enough money to support yourself unless your employer agrees to pay your expenses.
Attending a biometrics apportionment.
Obtaining a secure job offer from a UK employer with a skilled worker sponsorship license which meets skill and salary requirements
Being able to meet English language requirements, either through a test or recognised qualification.
Correctly applying online using the relevant documents.
Successfully obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
Paying the Healthcare Surcharge to allow access to the NHS (National Health Service)
Wait for your decision to be approved by the Home Office, processing times can be checked using their website.
Collecting your BRP. If approved, you will need to collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) to confirm your entitlements and immigration status within the UK.

Only some costs. From 31 December 2024, employers cannot recover the sponsor licence fee, CoS fee, or Immigration Skills Charge from workers — doing so is a ground for licence revocation. Employers may still recoup the visa application fee and IHS if they initially covered them, as these costs legally belong to the employee.

Yes. A UK sponsor licence is required before any Certificate of Sponsorship can be issued. Without it, workers cannot apply for a Skilled Worker visa. Small or charitable sponsors pay £611 for a Worker licence; medium and large sponsors pay £1,682. Since April 2024, licences automatically renew every 10 years — there is no longer a need for manual renewal.

The IHS is £1,035 per year for adults and £776 per year for dependants under 18. It must be paid in full upfront for the entire visa duration. For example, a single adult on a 3-year visa pays £3,105 at the point of application. Health and Care Worker visa holders are exempt from the IHS.