How Much Does UK Sponsorship Cost? Sponsor Licence, CoS & ISC Fees Explained 2026

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From April 8, 2026, 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 from April 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 £1,682, small/charitable sponsors pay £574.
• Sponsorship licence renewal: The same fees apply during renewal.
• Skilled Worker visa fees (for visas of 3 years or less): £885 in-country / £769 out-of-country per applicant
• Skilled Worker visa fees (for visas over 3 years): £1,872 in-country / £1,618 out-of-country per applicant
• Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): Now £525 per certificate.
• Priority and super-priority visa services: £500 and £1000+ respectively.

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.

IHS Fee in 2026: Has It Changed?

• IHS rate in 2026: £1,035 per year for adults; £776 per year for students
• NOT increased in the April 8, 2026 fee update - confirmed unchanged
• Last increase: February 2024, from £624/yr to £1,035/yr
• Health and Care Worker visa holders and their dependants are fully exempt
• Payable upfront for the full visa period - for a 5-year visa, that is £5,175 per person

What This Means for Employers and HR Professionals in 2026

The fee hikes, 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.

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.