Hiring one Skilled Worker for five years costs a small UK startup £3,536 in Home Office fees: £611 for the sponsor licence, £525 for the Certificate of Sponsorship and £2,400 for the Immigration Skills Charge. The worker's visa fee and health surcharge come on top, and many employers cover some of them. Every figure below was checked against GOV.UK on 21 October 2026.
Being a startup founder, You have finally found the right team member,
A developer, data scientist, or AI specialist whose skills are exactly what your startup needs. They understand your product, move fast, and could genuinely change the trajectory of the business.
Then comes the catch.
They will need a skilled worker visa. To hire them, you need to sponsor them.
This is usually the moment where founders pause. Not because sponsorship is impossible, but because the cost feels unclear.
Before you make a decision, you need a realistic view of what hiring a Skilled Worker will actually cost your startup, both for the business and for the individual you want to bring in.
In short
- A medium or large sponsor pays £8,807 in Home Office fees for the same five-year hire.
- Priority processing of the licence costs an extra £750.
- The worker pays £1,618 for a visa of more than 3 years from outside the UK, or £1,865 from inside, plus £1,035 a year for the health surcharge (GOV.UK).
- Unless you certify maintenance, the worker must show £1,270 in savings.
How much does it cost to hire a migrant Skilled Worker?
All figures below are based on official GOV.UK guidance and the Home Office fees table. These figures reflect the immigration costs of sponsoring a Skilled Worker only. They exclude salary, legal fees, ongoing compliance costs, HR systems, internal resources, and any other employment related expenses.
Fees checked against GOV.UK on 21 October 2026.
What you pay as the UK employer?
These are the non-negotiable costs of being a sponsor. You cannot pass these on to the sponsored worker.
Sponsor licence application fee
You only pay this once, when you apply for your licence (GOV.UK licence fees).
If you are a small or charitable sponsor: £611
If you are a medium or large sponsor: £1,682
Are you a "small" sponsor? Generally, you qualify as a small sponsor if you meet two of the following criteria: your annual turnover is £15 million or less, your total assets are £7.5 million or less, or you have 50 or fewer employees.
Most first time sponsors fall into the small sponsor category, so we will use that example first.
Priority processing for the sponsor licence (optional)
If you need the licence decision faster, you can request priority processing for £750.
This does not guarantee approval. It only speeds up the decision once your application is submitted. Spaces are limited each working day, so availability is not guaranteed.
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
Every time you sponsor a worker, you must assign a Certificate of Sponsorship.
Cost per Skilled Worker CoS: £525
This is paid for each worker and again for any future extension.
Immigration Skills Charge (ISC)
This is usually the largest cost for employers. You pay it upfront when you assign the CoS, based on the length of sponsorship (GOV.UK immigration skills charge).
For a small or charitable sponsor:
£480 for the first 12 months
£240 for each additional 6 months
Maximum for 5 years: £2,400
For a medium or large sponsor:
£1,320 for the first 12 months
£660 for each additional 6 months
Maximum for 5 years: £6,600
Note: There are exemptions for certain roles, such as scientists and researchers, and for workers switching from a Student visa.
Example: small sponsor hiring for 5 years
Let us take a common scenario. You are a small UK business hiring one Skilled Worker for a full 5 year visa.
Employer costs:
Sponsor licence: £611
Certificate of Sponsorship: £525
Immigration Skills Charge for 5 years: £2,400
Total employer cost for this hire: £3,536.
If you also use priority processing for the licence, add £750, bringing the total to £4,286.
This is the full Home Office cost you must budget for as the employer.
Example: medium or large sponsor hiring for 5 years
Now the same 5 year hire, but for a medium or large sponsor.
Employer costs:
Sponsor licence: £1,682
Certificate of Sponsorship: £525
Immigration Skills Charge for 5 years: £6,600
Total employer cost for this hire: £8,807.
Again, add £750 if you choose priority processing for the licence.
What does the worker usually pay?
These are visa related costs. Many employers still choose to cover some or all of them, especially for senior roles or hard to fill positions.
Skilled Worker visa application fee
The fee depends on where the worker applies and the visa length.
For a visa of more than 3 years, such as a 5 year visa (GOV.UK Skilled Worker fees):
Applying from outside the UK: £1,618
Applying from inside the UK (switching or extending): £1,865
Each dependant pays the same fee again.
For a visa of up to 3 years, the fee is £819 from outside the UK or £943 from inside the UK.
Visa Priority Services
For a faster decision on the visa application, the employee can opt for premium services.
Priority Service (for a faster decision): £500
Super Priority Service (for a decision usually by the end of the next working day): £1,000
Immigration Health Surcharge
The health surcharge is charged per year, per person.
£1,035 per year
For a 5 year visa, this is:
£5,175 for the main applicant
£5,175 for each dependant
This is often the biggest cost shock for workers, especially those moving with family.
Maintenance funds
Unless you certify maintenance on the CoS, the worker must show £1,270 in savings.
For what the Home Office checks before it grants the licence itself, read our guide to sponsor licences for startups.
This is not paid to the Home Office, but it is something employers often choose to cover indirectly by certifying maintenance to reduce friction in the application.
What costs do employers often forget?
The Home Office fees are only part of the picture. In practice, many employers also spend money on:
Legal or advisory support.
Internal time spent on compliance, reporting, and right to work checks.
Relocation support, temporary accommodation, or flights.
Document translation or qualification verification.
These costs vary, but they are worth factoring in early so sponsorship does not feel more expensive than expected later.
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