IMMIGRATION SKILLS CHARGE — CURRENT EMPLOYER GUIDE
Immigration Skills Charge for UK Sponsors
The Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) is paid by a licensed sponsor when assigning certain Certificates of Sponsorship for a Skilled Worker or Senior or Specialist Worker. It normally applies where the worker applies from outside the UK for six months or more, or applies from inside the UK for any length of time, unless an exemption applies.
The sponsor must pay the charge itself. Asking the sponsored worker to pay it, or trying to recover it from them, can put the sponsor licence at risk.
Current Immigration Skills Charge rates
| Sponsor type | First 12 months | Each additional 6 months | Maximum for 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small or charitable sponsor | £480 | £240 | £2,400 |
| Medium or large sponsor | £1,320 | £660 | £6,600 |
The amount is calculated from the work start and end dates on the Certificate of Sponsorship. A period longer than six months but shorter than 12 months is charged as 12 months, and the full charge is paid in one payment.
Use the sponsor licence cost calculator for an estimate, then check the live GOV.UK amount before assigning the Certificate of Sponsorship.
Which routes attract the charge?
The ISC may be due when sponsoring a worker under:
- Skilled Worker; or
- Global Business Mobility — Senior or Specialist Worker.
It is not a general charge for every sponsored route. Route, application location, proposed work period and exemptions must be checked before payment.
When is the charge not payable?
Current GOV.UK guidance includes exemptions where:
- the sponsored occupation is one of the specified science, research or higher-education teaching codes;
- a person switches from a visa that allows study into Skilled Worker or Senior or Specialist Worker and later extends on that work route;
- the person is a dependant rather than the sponsored worker;
- a relevant Certificate of Sponsorship was assigned before 6 April 2017;
- a qualifying EU-linked Senior or Specialist Worker meets all conditions of the trade-agreement exemption; or
- a new Certificate of Sponsorship for an internal job change does not extend the worker’s existing visa period.
The specified occupation-code list and detailed conditions can change. The exemption should be checked against the official list rather than inferred from a job title.
Current specified occupation codes
At the date of review, GOV.UK lists the following occupations:
- 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; and
- 2311 — higher education teaching professionals.
Who must pay?
The sponsor pays the ISC when assigning the Certificate of Sponsorship. GOV.UK states that the sponsor licence may be revoked if the sponsor asks the worker to pay the charge or costs linked to the sponsor application. Cost-recovery clauses and payroll deductions should therefore be reviewed before use.
For a focused review of prohibited cost recovery, see sponsorship cost-recovery clause advice.
Refunds
A full refund may be due where the worker’s visa application is refused or withdrawn, or succeeds but the worker does not start work. A partial refund may be due where less permission is granted than sponsored, the worker changes sponsor, leaves early, or the organisation had already notified UKVI that it had become a small or charitable sponsor.
Refund timing depends on the reason and whether an administrative review is pursued. The sponsor should keep the Certificate of Sponsorship, payment and worker-status records needed to reconcile the amount.
How NA Law Solicitors can help
- Route and exemption check: confirm whether the ISC is due for the worker and proposed application.
- Cost calculation: check sponsor size, sponsorship period and total Home Office charges.
- Certificate review: check dates, occupation code and application strategy before assignment.
- Compliance advice: review cost-recovery wording, payment errors and refund issues.
Frequently asked questions
Can the employer deduct the ISC from salary?
No. The sponsor must pay the charge and should not recover it from the sponsored worker.
Is the ISC the same as the Certificate of Sponsorship fee?
No. They are separate charges. The application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge are also separate.
Is the charge due for a dependant?
No. The ISC relates to the sponsored worker, not their partner or child.
What if the wrong amount is paid?
UKVI may ask for the shortfall, usually within a specified deadline. Failure to pay can lead to refusal of the worker’s application.
Need the ISC checked before assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship? Call 0203 524 5439 or use the enquiry form.
Authoritative guidance
Last reviewed: August 2026. General information only; rates and exemptions must be checked against current GOV.UK guidance before payment.