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Key takeaways UK visa fees increase 8 April 2026
- From 8 April 2026, most UK work visa and sponsor licence fees rise by approximately 6–7%, adding to the substantial April 2025 increases. A Skilled Worker entry clearance application (up to 3 years) now costs £819, up from £769, while a large company Sponsor Licence rises to £1,682.
- ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) reaches £3,226 per applicant — a significant retention risk for employers who do not cover settlement costs. A family of four seeking permanent residency now faces a Home Office bill exceeding £12,900, before legal fees.
- The Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) assignment fee stays at £525 for 2026 — unchanged from the April 2025 rise — and Priority/Super Priority processing fees (£500 and £1,000 respectively) are also unaffected by the April 8 update.
April 2026 Main Changes Table Summary
Fee increase is scheduled for April 8, 2026.
Total cost of sponsoring one Skilled Worker (large sponsor, 3-year visa, 2026)
Small sponsors: total drops to approx. £6,009 (ISC at £480/yr).
UK immigration fees 2026: complete employer guide to visa and sponsorship costs
The UK Home Office has confirmed a further round of immigration fee increases, effective 8 April 2026. On top of the significant rises introduced in April 2025 including the Certificate of Sponsorship jumping from £239 to £525 employers now face an additional 6–7% uplift across most work visa categories, sponsor licence fees, visitor visas, and settlement costs.
This guide brings together every relevant fee into a single, employer-focused reference, and explains what the April 2026 changes mean for your hiring budgets, clawback policies, and long-term talent retention strategy.
UK Fees: What changed and when
UK immigration fees have seen two major adjustments in quick succession. The April 9, 2025 changes brought the largest single increase to sponsorship infrastructure costs in recent years most notably the 120% jump in CoS fees (£239 to £525). The April 8, 2026 round applies a broader inflationary adjustment across work visas, visitor categories, and settlement, generally in the 6–7% range.
Important points to note :
The fee that applies to an application is determined by the date of online submission and payment not the date the Certificate of Sponsorship was assigned.
If a CoS was issued before April 8 but the visa application is submitted after that date, the new fee schedule applies.
Updated UK immigration Fees Detailed Breakdown: April 8, 2026
All fees below reflect the position from 8 April 2026. The 'previous fee' column shows the existing rate from April 9, 2025.
UK Standard Visitor and Business Visa Fees 2026
Source: GOV.UK — Home Office immigration and nationality fees,8 April 2026.
UK Skilled Worker Visa Fees 2026 (Outside UK)
Source: GOV.UK — Home Office immigration and nationality fees,8 April 2026.
UK Skilled Worker Visa Fees 2026 (In Country)
Source: GOV.UK — Home Office immigration and nationality fees,8 April 2026.
UK Sponsor Licence Cost 2026 for Employers
For a small-company vs large-company breakdown of what it actually costs to sponsor one worker, see our UK company sponsor visa cost breakdown.
Source: GOV.UK — Home Office immigration and nationality fees,8 April 2026.
UK Certificate of Sponsorship Fee 2026 for Employers
For the complete CoS fee brakdown see our UK Certificate of Sponsorship cost guide
Source: GOV.UK — Home Office immigration and nationality fees,8 April 2026.
What is the UK ILR fee in 2026 and is it increasing?
From April 8, 2026, Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) costs £3,226 per applicant — up from £3,029. Each dependent family member pays the same individually. A family of four applying for settlement faces a total Home Office fee of over £12,900 before legal costs.
UK Settlement , Premium Services and ILR fees 2026
Source: GOV.UK — Home Office immigration and nationality fees,8 April 2026.
IHS fee increase 2026: is the immigration health surcharge going up?
The IHS is not increasing in the April 2026 fee round. It remains at £1,035/year for adults, unchanged since February 2024. The April 8, 2026 changes cover visa application fees, sponsor licence fees, and ILR — not the health surcharge.
UK Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) 2026: how much is it?
The Immigration Health Surcharge is £1,035 per adult per year in 2026 (unchanged from 2024). Students and under-18s pay £776/year. Health and Care visa holders are exempt. See the table below for summary.
Source: GOV.UK — Immigration Health Surcharge: how much you pay
Global Business Mobility (GBM) – Entry Clearance (Outside UK) 2026 Fees
Source: GOV.UK — Home Office immigration and nationality fees,8 April 2026.
Global Business Mobility (GBM) – In-Country (Extension / Switching) 2026 Fees
Source: GOV.UK — Home Office immigration and nationality fees,8 April 2026.
Other UK Employer-Relevant Work Routes 2026 fees
Source: GOV.UK — Home Office immigration and nationality fees,8 April 2026.
What these fee increases mean for employers
Skilled Worker route: cumulative cost pressure
The Skilled Worker visa remains the primary route for international hiring, and the cost of sponsoring a single employee has risen substantially over two years. Consider a straightforward entry clearance application for a 3-year CoS: the visa fee alone has moved from £719 (pre-April 2025) to £769 (April 2025) to £819 (April 2026). When combined with the CoS assignment fee (£525), the Immigration Skills Charge (£1,320/year for large sponsors), and the Immigration Health Surcharge (£1,035/year per adult), the total Day-1 government cost for a 3-year Skilled Worker hire now exceeds £6,800 for large sponsors.
The ISC is charged in six-month blocks with several exemptions, our Immigration Skills Charge 2026 guide breaks down rates, refunds and who's exempt.
ILR: the retention cost no employer can ignore
From April 8, 2026, ILR costs £3,226 per applicant. For a family of four, the total Home Office fee for settlement exceeds £12,900 before legal costs.
For international employees who have been with your company for 5 years and are eligible to apply for permanent settlement, the Home Office fee alone is a significant financial hurdle. Employers who include ILR cost support in their total reward packages are increasingly at a competitive advantage in retaining global talent.
If your mobility policy does not currently address ILR funding, now is the time to review it both in terms of budget and clawback agreement scope.
Sponsor Licence: maintenance cost rising
The cost of maintaining a Sponsor Licence is now £1,682 for large companies (up from £1,476 in 2024). While this is a one-time cost per renewal cycle, it contributes to the overhead of maintaining hiring infrastructure. Small and charitable sponsors pay £611, up from £574 in April 2025. Companies with licences due for renewal in mid-2026 should confirm whether applying before April 8 produces any savings, though the overall impact is modest.
ETA: compliance risk for short-term visitors
The Electronic Travel Authorisation fee rises from £16 to £20 a nominal increase, but the compliance risk is unchanged. EU and US nationals attending business meetings, client visits, or short-term engagements must obtain an ETA before arrival. HR teams managing frequent inbound business travel should ensure traveller briefings are up to date.
Total cost of sponsoring by visa route (2026)
The tables above break the fees down by type. Here's how they stack up per route for a single applicant under a small sponsor, using April 8, 2026 fee levels. Figures exclude ancillary costs (biometrics, legal fees, dependants, optional priority service) and, where a route is unsponsored, the employer share is £0.
1. Skilled Worker Visa skilled roles (RQF Level 3+)
The primary sponsored route. Employer assigns a CoS; the 2025–2026 salary threshold of £41,700 applies but is payroll, not a Home Office fee.
2. Innovator Founder Visa : innovative startups
Endorsement-based, no minimum investment and no CoS or ISC. Costs fall on the founder, not an employer.
3. Global Business Mobility (GBM), intra-company transfers
Sub-routes for existing overseas staff; maximum stays are capped and there is no settlement path. Costs differ sharply between the Senior/Specialist and Expansion Worker sub-routes.
4. Scale-up Visa, high-growth firms
For businesses with 20%+ growth: 2 years sponsored, then 3 unsponsored. Salary threshold £41,700. The unsponsored phase is why total cost stays modest despite the 3-year IHS.
Cost comparison across routes (3-year single applicant, small sponsor)
How Jobbatical Can Help
Jobbatical helps global employers manage UK immigration costs without losing hiring momentum. Our platform combines expert immigration case management with automated compliance tracking so you always have an accurate, up-to-date picture of your sponsorship costs, renewal timelines, and fee exposure.
We support HR and global mobility teams with Skilled Worker visa applications, Sponsor Licence management, Certificates of Sponsorship, ILR preparation, and employee relocation backed by OISC-regulated advisers and a technology platform built for scale.
Disclaimer: Immigration rules change quite frequently; please verify with official sources or contact us for the latest info before making any decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions About UK Immigration Fees for Employers (April 2026)
When do the April 2026 UK visa fee increases take effect?
The new UK visa fees apply from 8 April 2026.
The applicable fee depends on the date the visa application is submitted and paid online, regardless of when the Certificate of Sponsorship was issued.
Is the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) fee changing in April 2026?
No. The Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) fee remains £525 in April 2026.
This follows the increase in April 2025 and is not being updated further for 2026.
Are Priority and Super Priority visa processing fees increasing?
No. Priority (5 business days, £500) and Super Priority (next business day, £1,000) processing fees remain unchanged.
What is the UK Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) in 2026?
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is £1,035 per year for most adult applicants.
It is paid upfront for the full visa duration and is separate from visa application fees.
What is the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) for sponsors in 2026?
The Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) is £1,320 per worker per year for large sponsors and £480 for small sponsors.
It is paid by the employer at the point of CoS assignment and must be included in total hiring costs.
How is a small sponsor defined for UK visa fees?
A company qualifies as a small sponsor if it meets at least two of these criteria:
- Annual turnover of £10.2 million or less
- Total assets of £5.1 million or less
- 50 employees or fewer
Charitable organisations also qualify regardless of size.
Does the UK ILR fee apply per applicant?
Yes. The £3,226 ILR fee applies per applicant.
Dependants pay the same fee individually, which significantly increases total settlement costs for families.
Does the Immigration Health Surcharge apply to all visa applicants?
The IHS applies to most work and family visa routes.
Health and Care visa holders are exempt. The IHS is paid by the applicant, while the ISC is paid separately by the employer.
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