UK Visa Fees and Sponsorship Licence Cost Increases: What Employers Need to Know (April 2025 Updates)

From April 9, 2025, the UK government introduced a significant round of immigration fee increases affecting employers who hire or relocate international talent to the UK. These updates included higher visa processing fees, a sharp rise in the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) cost, and later adjustments to the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC). Additional priority service fee hikes followed in late 2025. For HR teams and global mobility managers, this has meant elevated compliance costs and ongoing budgeting challenges in workforce planning, even into 2026.

Key Changes Since April 2025 (Current as of 2026)

The UK Home Office revised immigration and nationality fees as part of its cost recovery and migration management strategy. The April 2025 changes (still current for most core fees) and subsequent updates include:

• Sponsorship licence application fee for medium and large sponsors: Increased to £1,579 (from around £1,476 pre-2025; small/charitable sponsors pay £574).
• Sponsorship licence renewal: The same fees apply during renewal (no major change reported post-2025).
• Skilled Worker visa fees (for visas of 3 years or less): £885 in-country / £769 out-of-country per applicant (post-April 2025 rates; lower if on the Immigration Salary List: e.g., £590 out-of-country).
• Skilled Worker visa fees (for visas over 3 years): £1,751 in-country / £1,519 out-of-country per applicant (post-April 2025 rates; lower on Immigration Salary List: e.g., £1,160 out-of-country).
• Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): Now £525 per certificate (increased from £239 in April 2025, a major jump of over 100%).
• Immigration Skills Charge (ISC):Paid by employers: Increased by 32% in December 2025 to £1,320 per year for medium/large sponsors (£480 for small/charitable) for the first 12 months (then half that for extensions).
• Priority and super-priority visa services: Increased in late 2025 (e.g., sponsor licence priority to £750; sponsorship management priority to £350).

These changes apply to both in-country and out-of-country applications. Employers sponsoring multiple workers from outside the UK continue to face a substantial increase in total immigration spend over the hiring cycle.

What This Means for Employers and HR Professionals in 2026

The fee hikes, starting in April 2025 and continuing through late 2025, occur amid tighter budgets, higher salary thresholds, and evolving international hiring strategies. For HR and global mobility leaders, this means:

• Reassessing cost per hire: Updated budgets must factor in the cumulative impact of higher visa fees, CoS (£525 each), ISC (up to £1,320+/year), and the Immigration Health Surcharge (£1,035/year per adult).
• Planning earlier for renewals: Renewal costs for sponsorship licences and work permits now significantly affect quarterly or annual talent allocation budgets.
• Improving compliance and reporting efficiency: With higher stakes and costs, employers should streamline visa management processes to avoid delays or costly errors.

How Jobbatical Helps Reduce Complexity

Managing visa and sponsorship compliance doesn’t have to add administrative burden. Jobbatical’s technology platform automates documentation, sponsorship tracking, and compliance processes for employers hiring globally. Through end-to-end digital workflows, HR teams can reduce manual work, maintain immigration accuracy, and provide faster relocation experiences for employees.

By centralising your company’s visa and mobility operations, you can balance compliance responsibilities with cost control—even amid ongoing policy and cost changes from the UK Home Office.

Stay Ahead of UK Immigration Changes

The April 2025 visa fee rises (plus late-2025 adjustments) are part of a continuing trend of increased immigration costs. Staying informed and automating your compliance processes helps minimise costs and maintain hiring agility.

Jobbatical enables your team to manage sponsorships, visa renewals, and international relocation in one place—ensuring compliance and a seamless experience for your global hires.

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.