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- Immigration fees for UK Skilled Worker visas, sponsor licenses, Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS), and temporary work visas have increased, marking a significant rise in costs for employers hiring foreign workers. For example, the CoS fee increased from £239 to £525 (+120%) and Skilled Worker visa fees rose by around 7-15% depending on the visa type and duration. This reflects a broad fee hike across immigration categories.
- These fee increases add financial pressure on employers sponsoring international talent, especially those managing multiple sponsorships or long-term hires. Higher costs affect hiring budgets and may require HR and global mobility teams to reassess recruitment expenditures.
- Employers are advised to budget carefully to accommodate the new fees, plan ahead to submit accurate and complete visa applications to avoid extra costs and delays, and consider working with immigration experts or platforms like Jobbatical for support in navigating the changed landscape efficiently.
- The government frames these fee hikes as part of tightening immigration policies designed to reduce system costs for UK taxpayers, indicating a broader strategic shift in immigration enforcement and cost recovery. Employers should stay updated as further policy adjustments and potential fee changes, such as the upcoming Immigration Skills Charge increase in December 2025, continue to evolve.
Starting April 9, 2025, immigration-related fees in the UK have increased across multiple categories. These changes come after increases to Skilled Worker salary thresholds in January. They’ll impact employers hiring foreign workers under the Skilled Worker route, as well as those applying for sponsor licenses, Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS), and temporary work visas.
These updates are part of a broader tightening in immigration policy. The government has framed these changes as part of an effort to reduce the cost of the immigration system for UK taxpayers. If your company is relocating or sponsoring international talent in the UK, these fee updates may affect your hiring budgets and timelines.
What are the new fees?
Here’s a breakdown of the most relevant fee increases for UK employers hiring international professionals:
Find the complete list of immigration and nationality fees on GOV.UK.
What Increased Fees Mean for Employers
For companies hiring international skilled workers, the cost of immigration sponsorship has gone up, especially for those sponsoring long-term hires or high volumes of candidates. But these changes don’t have to slow down your hiring plans.
Here’s how to approach it:
- Budget wisely: Review and update your mobility budget to reflect the new costs across application routes.
- Plan ahead: Submitting complete, accurate applications the first time avoids delays and repeat fees.
- Work with a partner: With experts like Jobbatical, you can stay ahead of policy changes while keeping your hiring process fast, compliant, and cost-effective.
How Jobbatical Can Help
At Jobbatical, we support global employers in adapting to changes like this without losing momentum in international recruitment. Our services combine expert human support with a powerful automated platform to help you manage visa applications, relocation, and compliance in one place.
Talk to our local team to explore how we can support your global mobility needs.
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