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Free tool for employers · Licence fees

Sponsor size checker: small or large sponsor licence fees

Your size sets your licence fee and your Immigration Skills Charge. Check in a minute and see what you’ll pay.

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We’ll tell you which rates apply, show the test, and work out what you’d pay the Home Office for your hires.

In short

How do you know if you’re a small sponsor?

A company is a small sponsor if it meets at least two of three conditions: annual turnover of £15 million or less, a balance sheet total of £7.5 million or less, and 50 employees or fewer. Charities always pay the small rates, including registered, excepted and exempt charities.

You must also qualify under the small companies regime in the Companies Act 2006. Therefore, certain companies, regardless of size or financials, will be charged the medium or large sponsor fee.

Small sponsors pay £611 for the licence and £480 Immigration Skills Charge for each worker’s first year. Medium and large sponsors pay £1,682 and £1,320.

Figures checked against GOV.UK on .

The fees

What sponsorship costs

The Home Office fees by sponsor size

Fees paid by the employer, checked 29 October 2026
FeeSmall or charitableMedium or large
Sponsor licence application (once)£611£1,682
Certificate of Sponsorship (per worker)£525£525
Immigration Skills Charge, first 12 months£480£1,320
Immigration Skills Charge, each further 6 months£240£660
Priority licence decision (optional)£750£750

The worker usually pays their own visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, although some employers cover them. The licence fee, certificate fee and Immigration Skills Charge must be paid by you and can’t be recovered from the worker.

Worked example: Skilled Worker sponsorship for three years

Licence, one certificate and three years of Immigration Skills Charge

Small sponsor

Sponsor licence application
£611
Certificate of Sponsorship
£525
Immigration Skills Charge, first year
£480
Immigration Skills Charge, years 2–3 (4 × £240)
£960
Total
£2,576

Medium or large sponsor

Sponsor licence application
£1,682
Certificate of Sponsorship
£525
Immigration Skills Charge, first year
£1,320
Immigration Skills Charge, years 2–3 (4 × £660)
£2,640
Total
£6,167

Medium or large sponsors pay£3,591 more

Assumes the employer needs a new Skilled Worker sponsor licence and is sponsoring one worker for three years.

Some employers and workers qualify for exemptions or reduced costs. Actual fees depend on the route and circumstances.

After the first year, the Immigration Skills Charge is paid in 6-month periods. The checker works this out for up to 10 workers and 5 years. Visa fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge are extra.

Which figures to use

  • Your latest annual accounts. Turnover and balance sheet total come from your most recent financial year.
  • Employees, not contractors, at the time you assign the certificate.
  • If you’re part of a group, the Home Office may look at the group’s figures rather than yours alone.
  • Public limited companies, banks, insurers, e-money issuers, MiFID investment firms and UCITS fund managers pay the medium or large rates whatever their figures. Other FCA-regulated firms are assessed on size like anyone else.

More free tools for employers

Everything you need to sponsor with confidence

Common questions

Good to know

How is sponsor size decided?

A company is small if it meets at least two of three conditions: turnover of £15 million or less, a balance sheet total of £7.5 million or less, and 50 employees or fewer. Charities always pay the small rates. This includes charities registered in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, excepted and exempt charities, and ecclesiastical corporations set up for charitable purposes.

When don’t we pay the Immigration Skills Charge?

It only applies to Skilled Worker and Senior or Specialist Worker visas. It isn’t due for these research and higher education occupation codes:

Occupation codes the Immigration Skills Charge isn’t due for
CodeOccupation
2111 Chemical scientists
2112 Biological scientists
2113 Biochemists and biomedical scientists
2114 Physical scientists
2115 Social and humanities scientists
2119 Natural and social science professionals not elsewhere classified
2161 Research and development managers
2162 Other researchers, unspecified discipline
2311 Higher education teaching professionals

It also isn’t due for workers switching from a visa that allows study, such as a Student visa, or for visas from outside the UK for less than 6 months. If the worker stays more than 6 months but less than a year, you pay for 12 months.

What does sponsor size change?

The licence fee (£611 or £1,682) and the Immigration Skills Charge (£480 or £1,320 for the first year, per worker). Certificate of Sponsorship fees are the same for everyone.

What if our size changes?

The rate is set when you assign each certificate, so check your size after each set of annual accounts.

Can we ask the worker to pay the sponsorship costs?

No. The licence fee, Certificate of Sponsorship fee and Immigration Skills Charge must be paid by the sponsor, including through clawback clauses. The worker’s own visa fee and health surcharge can be paid by either of you.

Is the Immigration Skills Charge refunded if the worker leaves early?

Sometimes. A refund can be due if the visa is refused, or if the worker leaves early in specific circumstances. Ask us about your case.

Is the priority licence service worth it?

It costs £750 and aims for a decision within 10 working days instead of about 8 weeks. Places are limited, so it helps most when a start date is fixed.

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