.svg)
.webp)
- 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 increased significantly across multiple categories. These changes followed earlier rises to Skilled Worker salary thresholds in January 2025 and remain in effect in 2026. They impact employers hiring foreign workers under the Skilled Worker route, as well as those applying for sponsor licences, Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS), and temporary work visas.
These updates are part of a broader tightening in immigration policy, including efforts to reduce net migration and shift more costs away from UK taxpayers. Additional related increases (e.g., to the Immigration Skills Charge) took effect in December 2025. If your company is relocating or sponsoring international talent in the UK, these fee updates—and ongoing policy reforms—may affect your 2026 hiring budgets, timelines, and compliance planning.
Current fees (as of 2026)
Here’s a breakdown of the key fees for UK employers hiring international professionals (unchanged since April 2025 increases):
Find the complete list of immigration and nationality fees on GOV.UK.
What These Fees Mean for Employers
For companies hiring international skilled workers, the cost of immigration sponsorship has risen notably—especially for long-term hires, high volumes of candidates, or those subject to the higher Immigration Skills Charge (now £1,320/year for large sponsors). Combined with salary threshold increases and other rules (e.g., B2 English requirement from January 2026), these add pressure on budgets.
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 current visa fees, the increased ISC, healthcare surcharge (£1,035/year), and any priority service needs.
- Plan ahead: Submit complete, accurate applications the first time to avoid delays, refusals, or repeat fees. Stay informed on ongoing reforms like settlement changes.
- 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 these 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—including navigating 2026 updates.
Talk to our local team to explore how we can support your global mobility needs.
.png)
.svg)
