Fees related to the skilled worker application process
Fees related to the skilled worker application process
How much do I need to pay to hire a skilled worker from abroad?
This is a question that every employer looking to hire somebody from abroad encounters.
Step 1
First of all, to hire somebody from outside the UK, you’ll need to get a sponsor licence. You can get more information about the process here.
The fees related to the sponsor licence application will depend on whether your business is considered a small/charitable organisation or a large/medium organisation. Check this post for more details.
If you’re hiring through the Skilled Worker route, the sponsor licence will cost you:
- £536 if you’re a small or charitable sponsor
- £1,476 if you’re a large or medium sponsor
Step 2
Once you have a sponsor licence and you’ve identified the right candidate for your business, you should assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to them. They will only be able to apply for a visa once the certificate is issued.
It will cost you £199 to assign a CoS to a skilled worker.
While assigning a CoS through the Sponsorship Management System (SMS), you will also need to pay an immigration skills charge, which will be based on:
- The size of the organisation
- The duration with the worker will work for the company (which will be determined using the start and end dates on the CoS)
A minimum of 12 months is payable. This amount is non-refundable unless paid in error or the sponsored worker fails to take up the post. The charge applies only to the main applicant in the Skilled Worker route and does not apply to their family members (dependants).
The fees are as follows:
| Period | Small or charitable sponsors | Medium or large sponsors |
|---|---|---|
| First 12 months | £364 | £1,000 |
| Each additional 6 months | £182 | £500 |
Step 3
The next step in the sponsoring process is the Skilled Worker visa application – the expenses depend on the candidate’s location (inside or outside the UK), the period of employment, and if the job is in the Shortage Occupation List.
For applicants inside the UK, the fees are as follows:
| Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less—main applicant and each dependant | £719 |
| Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years—main applicant and each dependant | £1,423 |
| Skilled Worker, shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less—main applicant and dependants | £479 |
| Skilled Worker, shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years—main applicant and dependants | £943 |
For applicant outside the UK the fees are as follows:
| Skilled worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less—main applicant and each dependant | £625 |
| Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years—main applicant and each dependant | £1,235 |
| Skilled Worker, shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less—main applicant and each dependant | £479 |
| Skilled Worker, shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years—main applicant and each dependant | £943 |
Immigration health surcharge—£624 for an adult and £470 for a child—should also be paid when the visa application is submitted to the Home Office.
You can also pay for the Priority service—which costs £500 per person—to get a decision within 5 working days.
For example,
If you’re a small organisation that already has a sponsor licence and you’re hiring a skilled worker from outside the UK for 3 years. They don’t have dependents and you’re not buying a priority service.
Then the fees you have to pay are:
- Assignment of a Certificate of Sponsorship – £199
- Immigration skills charge (for 3 years) – £1092
- Skilled Worker visa application (occupation is in the shortage occupation list) – £479
- Immigration health surcharge – £1872
Total: £3642
This may all sound pretty confusing and difficult to navigate, therefore at Nation.better, we provide a complimentary candidate assessment that will help you understand:
- Whether your candidate is eligible
- How much will it cost to you to hire them
- How much time will the visa application process take
Don’t hesitate to contact our legal experts to learn more about how we can help you take the next step in your journey.
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