From 8 April 2026, sponsoring a employee on a Expert Employee visa prices greater than ever. A primary sponsored rent can now whole over £6,500 earlier than wage, break up between the employer and the employee. Particularly, the foundations on who pays which charge modified in late 2024. Subsequently, breaching them now places your sponsor licence in danger.
- Employer pays: licence, CoS, Expertise Cost
- Worker pays: visa charge, Well being Surcharge
- Mixed value: from £6,500 for 3 years
- Compliance entice: some charges can’t be recovered
This information breaks down each charge, who legally pays it, and the entire value for a typical three-year rent.
Who Pays What on a Expert Employee Visa?
The House Workplace units a transparent authorized break up between employer and employee. The employer covers the price of the sponsor licence, the Certificates of Sponsorship, and the Immigration Expertise Cost. The employee covers the visa utility charge, the Immigration Well being Surcharge, and any precedence service or biometric charges.
Moreover, since 31 December 2024, the employer can not get well the Certificates of Sponsorship value from the employee by any means. Particularly, the Immigration Expertise Cost has at all times been non transferable. Subsequently, breaching both rule is a floor for sponsor licence revocation, whatever the dimension of your small business.
Who Pays What: Expert Employee Visa
Employer Pays
- Sponsor Licence charge
- Certificates of Sponsorship (£525)
- Immigration Expertise Cost (ISC)
Notice: ISC and CoS prices can’t be recovered from the employee.
Worker Pays
- Visa utility charge
- Immigration Well being Surcharge (IHS)
- Biometrics appointment charges
Non-compulsory / Versatile
- Precedence Service charges
- Authorized session & help charges
Might be negotiated between employer and worker.
How A lot Does an Employer Pay to Sponsor a Expert Employee?
The employer’s share of the Expert Employee visa value begins earlier than the employee even arrives. The licence comes first, then the Certificates of Sponsorship for every rent, then the Immigration Expertise Cost for the total sponsorship interval.
What Is the Sponsor Licence Charge in 2026?
You can not rent an abroad employee till you maintain a legitimate sponsor licence. Particularly, the licence lasts 4 years and allows you to sponsor non UK nationals into eligible roles. The sponsor licence charge is dependent upon the dimensions of your small business.
From 8 April 2026, the sponsor licence charge is £611 for a small or charitable sponsor and £1,682 for a medium or massive sponsor. These charges changed the earlier £574 and £1,579 figures. You qualify as small when you meet two of three exams. Particularly, turnover of £15 million or much less, whole belongings of £7.5 million or much less, or 50 workers or fewer.
How A lot Is the Certificates of Sponsorship Value for Expert Employee?
After your licence is authorized, you assign a Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to every employee. Particularly, the CoS is the reference quantity the employee quotes on their visa utility. The Certificates of Sponsorship value is paid every time you assign one.
The present Certificates of Sponsorship value is £525 per employee. Moreover, this determine rose from £239 in April 2025 and has held regular by means of the 2026 adjustments. You pay it once more each time you reissue a CoS, together with for extensions and adjustments of employer.
What Is the Immigration Expertise Cost in 2026?
The Immigration Expertise Cost is a separate levy on the employer, paid upfront for the total sponsorship interval. Particularly, it funds UK expertise coaching and applies every time you assign a CoS, except an exception covers the position.
The charges rose sharply on 16 December 2025. For a medium or massive sponsor, the cost is £1,320 for the primary 12 months and £660 for every additional six months. Conversely, for a small or charitable sponsor, the cost is £480 for the primary 12 months and £240 for every additional six months.
A 3 12 months rent by a small sponsor subsequently prices £1,440 in Immigration Expertise Cost alone. The identical three 12 months rent by a medium or massive sponsor prices £3,960. Accordingly, sponsor dimension is the only largest variable in your whole value.
Additionally Learn: Sponsor Licence Utility: Full Employer Information
How A lot Does the Employee Pay for a Expert Employee Visa?
The employee’s share covers the visa utility itself and the surcharge for NHS entry. These charges fall on the applicant by default. Nevertheless, the employer can select to cowl them as a part of a relocation package deal, though there is no such thing as a authorized obligation to take action.
Additionally Learn: Expert Employee Visa: Eligibility and Utility Information
How A lot Is the Expert Employee Visa Value?
The appliance charge is dependent upon two issues. First, whether or not the employee applies from inside or outdoors the UK. Second, how lengthy the visa runs for. The Expert Employee visa value rose on 8 April 2026 throughout all 4 bands.
- Outdoors UK, as much as 3 years: £819
- Outdoors UK, over 3 years: £1,618
- Inside UK, as much as 3 years: £943
- Inside UK, over 3 years: £1,865
The earlier charges of £769, £1,519, £885, and £1,751 utilized earlier than 8 April 2026. Moreover, the present Expert Employee visa charge desk on GOV.UK exhibits any additional updates. Some roles on the Immigration Wage Checklist entice a decrease charge. Nevertheless, the record itself is about to run out on 31 December 2026.
What Is the Immigration Well being Surcharge for Expert Employee?
The Immigration Well being Surcharge funds NHS entry throughout the employee’s keep. Particularly, the total surcharge should be paid upfront for the visa period, in a single fee. It applies to the employee and to any dependants.
The present fee is £1,035 per 12 months for adults. A reduced fee of £776 per 12 months applies to youngsters, college students, and Youth Mobility visa holders. Subsequently, a 3 12 months visa prices an grownup applicant £3,105 in Immigration Well being Surcharge alone. A 5 12 months visa prices £5,175.
Are There Different Charges Staff Ought to Plan For?
A number of smaller charges usually catch employees unexpectedly. Particularly, every provides to the private price range, particularly when a household strikes collectively.
- Biometric enrolment: This ranges from £0 to £125 (contained in the UK), outdoors the UK some have £55 service cost.
- Precedence service: round £500 for quicker processing
- Tremendous precedence service: round £1,000 for subsequent day selections
- Dependants: full visa charge and surcharge for every associate or youngster
A employee bringing a associate and one youngster subsequently, triples the private value of the transfer. Consequently, the worker value isn’t the headline visa charge alone.
What Is the Compliance Entice Many Employers Miss?
One rule catches employers out and may value them the licence completely. Since 31 December 2024, you can’t get well the Certificates of Sponsorship value from the employee. Particularly, this is applicable to deductions from wage, compensation clauses within the contract, or every other restoration methodology.
The Immigration Expertise Cost has at all times carried the identical restriction. Subsequently, each charges should be absorbed by the employer in full. Moreover, a single breach can result in quick licence revocation, with all sponsored employees shedding the fitting to stay within the position.
3-12 months Value Comparability
*All figures assume customary position and no precedence service.
What Is the Whole Value of a Expert Employee Visa?
The mixed value is the place the Expert Employee visa value turns into an actual budgeting line for each events. The determine varies by sponsor dimension, visa size, the place the employee applies from, and what number of dependants journey.
What Does a 3 12 months Rent Value a Small Sponsor?
That is the most typical sample for SMEs hiring a single employee. The instance assumes a typical position, no precedence service, and the employee making use of from outdoors the UK with no dependants.
Employer pays:
- Sponsor licence utility: £611
- Certificates of Sponsorship: £525
- Immigration Expertise Cost for 3 years: £1,440
- Employer subtotal: £2,576
Employee pays:
- Visa utility charge, 3 years from outdoors UK: £819
- Immigration Well being Surcharge for 3 years: £3,105
- Employee subtotal: £3,924
The mixed whole reaches £6,500 earlier than wage, recruitment, or authorized recommendation.
What Does a 3 12 months Rent Value a Massive Sponsor?
A medium or massive sponsor pays the upper Immigration Expertise Cost fee. The employer’s share rises to £5,096 (£611 licence, £525 CoS, £3,960 ISC), whereas the employee’s share stays the identical at £3,924. Accordingly, the mixed whole climbs to £9,020 for a similar three 12 months rent.
What Does a 5 12 months Rent Value a Small Sponsor?
An extended visa raises either side materially. The employer pays £611 for the licence, £525 for the CoS, and £2,400 in Immigration Expertise Cost over 5 years, a subtotal of £3,536. The employee pays £1,618 in visa charges and £5,175 in Immigration Well being Surcharge, a subtotal of £6,793. Subsequently, the mixed whole reaches £10,329.
Whole Value State of affairs Comparability (2026)
Mixed upfront employer & employee bills side-by-side
3-Yr Small Sponsor
Employer Prices: £2,576
Employee Charges (IHS & Visa): £3,924
Whole Mixed £6,500
3-Yr Massive Sponsor
Employer Prices: £5,096
Employee Charges (IHS & Visa): £3,924
Whole Mixed £9,020
5-Yr Massive Sponsor
Employer Prices: £5,239
Employee Charges (IHS & Visa): £6,595
Whole Mixed £11,834
Alos Learn: UK Immigration Adjustments in 2025 and 2026: What Has Modified
How A Y & J Solicitors Can Assist
The Expert Employee visa value has risen sharply throughout 2025 and 2026. Moreover, the foundations on who legally pays which charge now carry actual licence revocation dangers. Particularly, the prohibition on recovering the Certificates of Sponsorship value or Immigration Expertise Cost from the employee is a entice many employers miss till a compliance go to.
A Y & J Solicitors is SRA regulated, recognised within the Authorized 500, and has dealt with greater than 5,000 immigration instances with a 98% success fee. We advise sponsors on Expert Employee visa prices, sponsor licence purposes, and full compliance with the most recent House Workplace charge guidelines. Contact us for a free preliminary session.
