Increase to Immigration Skills Charge confirmed

An increase to the Immigration Skills Charge has been confirmed. Our business immigration experts look into what has changed and how the changes will impact your business.

The Home Office’s intention to increase the Immigration Skills Charge was initially outlined in the white paper on immigration earlier this year. The effective date of this increase has now been formally confirmed in the Immigration Skills Charge (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/1078), laid before Parliament on 15 October 2025.

The Immigration Skills Charge is a fee paid by sponsors when sponsoring overseas workers under either the Skilled Worker route or the Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker visa route. The charge is paid upfront when a certificate of sponsorship is assigned to a migrant worker. The rate depends on the size and type of sponsoring organisation, and there are certain exceptions where the charge is not payable.

The Immigration Skills Charge will increase as of 16 December 2025. The new rates will be as follows:

What does this mean for your business?

Sponsors planning to assign certificates of sponsorship to migrant workers are encouraged to do so before 16 December 2025 to avoid the increased costs. Sponsors should be reminded that certificates of sponsorship can be assigned up to three months in advance of the sponsored migrant’s start date or the date of any extension for existing sponsored workers.

If you have any existing migrant workers, or are planning to assign certificate of sponsorship in the near future and have questions as to the impact of the fees increase, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Our Legal 500-rated employment law & business immigration team are experts in guiding businesses of all sizes and backgrounds through a range of issues that may arise.