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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
Source: GOV.UK — Home Office immigration and nationality fees,8 April 2026.
UK Certificate of Sponsorship Fee 2026 for Employers
Source: GOV.UK — Home Office immigration and nationality fees,8 April 2026.
Is the CoS fee changing in April 2026?
No. The Certificate of Sponsorship fee remains £525 for Skilled Worker roles following the April 2025 increase. It is unchanged by the April 8, 2026 fee round.
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.
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.
Strategic actions for HR and global mobility teams
- Update your 2026–2027 mobility budget to reflect the revised visa fees, the increased ISC (£1,320/year for large sponsors from December 2025), and the IHS (£1,035/year). Use the table above to model total cost per hire by visa type and duration.
- Review clawback agreements for completeness. With ILR now at £3,226 and Skilled Worker fees rising, ensure your clawback policy covers all government fees paid, and that the repayment periods are proportionate to the investment.
- Accelerate any pending applications currently being prepared. Applications submitted before 8 April 2026 will be charged at the current fee schedule. For applications close to ready, confirm whether submission before the deadline is feasible.
- Brief your business travel programme on ETA requirements. Ensure travellers from non-visa national countries (EU, US, Canada, Australia, and others) understand the ETA requirement and the updated £20 fee before arriving at UK borders.
- Work with an immigration partner to model the full cost of sponsorship across your workforce pipeline. With fees compounding at both the April 2025 and April 2026 levels, the difference between proactive and reactive budgeting is material.
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 laws and policies change frequently and may vary by country or nationality. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we recommend doing your own due diligence or consulting official sources. You’re also welcome to contact us directly for the latest guidance. Jobbatical is not responsible for decisions made based on the information provided.
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