How Much Does It Cost To Sponsor An Employee As A Skilled Worker?

If you are considering sponsoring an employee as a Skilled worker, it is important to be aware of the cost from the outset.

Sponsor Licence
If your business does not already have a sponsor licence, you will first need to obtain a sponsor licence to be able to hire migrant workers who require sponsorship.

The Home Office sponsor licence fee will depend on the size of your organization. The fee is divided into two categories depending on whether your organization is classed as a small company or a medium/large company.

According to Companies Act 2006, an organization will be considered a small company if any of the following two apply:

  • The turnover must not be more than £10.2 million
  • The balance sheet total must not be more than £5.1 million
  • The number of employees must not be more than 50

If your organization meets two of the above requirements it will pay the fee for a small company, which is £536. The same fee will be payable if you are a charity.

Businesses that do not meet the criteria of a small company will pay a fee of £1476.

Certificate of Sponsorship
After your business obtains a sponsor licence, it will need to assign a Certificate of Sponsorship. The fee of the Certificate is £199 for each sponsored worker.

Immigration Skills Charge
At the time of assigning the Certificate, the Immigration skills charge will need to be paid for each sponsored worker.

The Immigration skills charge is £364 per year for a small company and £1000 per year for a large company. For example, if the certificate is assigned for 3 years, the Immigration Skills Charge will be £1092 for a small company and £3000 for a large company.

The sponsored worker will be granted leave in accordance with how long the certificate is assigned for.

It is a mandatory requirement that the fee be paid by the Sponsor.

If you are sponsoring someone who is switching from a Tier 4/student visa, you will be exempt from paying the fee. Certain PhD level roles are also exempt.

Skilled Worker Application fee
The visa application fee can be paid by the Sponsor or the individual applicant. The fee will depend on the length of the visa and whether the application is submitted in-country or from overseas.

Standard applications submitted in the UK

£610 – for visa of up to 3 years

£1220 – for visa of more than 3 years

Standard applications submitted from overseas 

£704 – for visa of up to 3 years

£1408 – for visa of more than 3 years

For roles on the shortage occupation list

£464 – for visa of up to 3 years

£928 – for visa of more than 3 years 

The same fee is paid whether the application is submitted in-country or from overseas.

Health and Care Visa

£232 – for visa of up to 3 years

£464- for visa of more than 3 years

The same fee is paid whether the application is submitted in-country or from overseas.

The above fees are per applicant. The same fees will need to be paid for each dependant. For example, if an applicant is submitting a standard application for a 3-year visa from overseas with 2 dependants, the fee will be £1830.

Immigration Health Surcharge
In addition to the visa application fee, the applicant will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is £624 per year. If the applicant is applying for a 3-year visa, the fee will be £1872.

The same fee is payable for each dependant aged 18 or over. For dependants under the age of 18, the fee is £470 per year. For example, an applicant applying with 2 dependants over the age of 18 for a 3-year visa, the fee will be £5616.

The Home Office fees are subject to change and normally the fees are increased every April. 

Skilled Worker Sponsorship: How our immigration lawyers can help

Navigating immigration law can seem like a maze, let our multilingual team at Mulgrave law take the stress out for the application process. Our team of expert immigration lawyers with substantial experience can advise both sponsors and individuals with the entire sponsorship process from obtaining a licence to submitting the visa application. Our fees are fixed and some of the most competitive in London.

Have questions that haven’t been answered above, take advantage of our free 30-minute consultation. Contact Mulgrave Law today.

At Mulgrave law we are noted for hiring some of the best UK lawyers and trusted immigration solicitors in London.

If you are looking for personal immigration services, don’t wait further, our highly skilled team of Personal Immigration Lawyers London & Personal Immigration Solicitors London can help with your application. Obsessed with immigration law and client satisfaction we have a reputation amongst our clientele for being the Top Immigration Lawyers London & Top Immigration Solicitors London. We have worked on complex cases and have helped a myriad of individuals. Please checkout our website to find out more about our Best Immigration Lawyers London & Best Immigration Solicitors London services & more.

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