Costs 1
Skilled Worker visa costs: yours and your employer's
You pay the application fee and the health surcharge; the employer pays the Immigration Skills Charge and can never pass it on to you.
| Figure | In force | Since | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker fee, inside the UK, up to 3 years | £943 | Skilled Worker visa: How much it costs; Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 (gov.uk) | |
| Immigration Health Surcharge, yearly rate | £1,035 | Start date not verified | Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application: How much you have to pay (gov.uk) |
The costs of a Skilled Worker visa fall on two people: you and the employer that sponsors you. The Workings split them that way, and the figures below come from GOV.UK.
Who pays what, worked out for your case
You pay
Example case: inside the UK, 3 years, medium or large employer.
| Application fee | £943 |
|---|---|
| Immigration Health Surcharge, 3 years | £3,105 |
| You pay in total | £4,048 |
| Savings to hold, unless an exemption applies | £1,270 |
Authority GOV.UK guidance, Skilled Worker visa: How much it costs (gov.uk). The passage relied onYou must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK. Exemption Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 15.1 and SW 15.2 (gov.uk). The passage relied onSW 15.1. If the applicant is applying for permission to stay and has been in the UK with permission for 12 months or longer on the date of application, they will meet the financial requirement and do not need to show funds. | |
Your employer pays
The employer must pay the charge itself and may not pass it on to you.
| Immigration Skills Charge | £3,960 |
|---|---|
| Certificate of sponsorship fee | £525 |
Authority GOV.UK guidance, UK visa sponsorship for employers: Certificates of sponsorship (gov.uk). The passage relied onWorker (except workers on the International Sportsperson visa) £525 | |
| Your employer pays in total | £4,485 |
You pay the fee, the surcharge and savings
The application fee depends on whether you apply from inside or outside the UK, and on how long your certificate of sponsorshipCertificate of sponsorship (CoS) The reference a licensed sponsor gives a worker for one job, used to apply for a Skilled Worker visa. It lists the date the job is due to start. is for. From inside the UK, for the shorter of the two length bands, it is £943 per person.
A job on the Immigration Salary ListImmigration Salary List A list of occupations with their own Skilled Worker salary rule. For a job on it, the pay must be at least £33,400 a year and the full going rate. has a lower fee: £628 per person for the shorter length band. The table gives every band.
| Figure | In force | Since | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker fee, inside the UK, up to 3 years | £943 | Skilled Worker visa: How much it costs; Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 (gov.uk) | |
| Skilled Worker fee, inside the UK, more than 3 years | £1,865 | Skilled Worker visa: How much it costs; Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 (gov.uk) | |
| Skilled Worker fee, from outside the UK, up to 3 years | £819 | Skilled Worker visa: How much it costs; Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 (gov.uk) | |
| Skilled Worker fee, from outside the UK, more than 3 years | £1,618 | Skilled Worker visa: How much it costs; Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 (gov.uk) | |
| Skilled Worker fee, Immigration Salary List job, up to 3 years | £628 | Skilled Worker visa: How much it costs; Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 (gov.uk) | |
| Skilled Worker fee, Immigration Salary List job, more than 3 years | £1,235 | Skilled Worker visa: How much it costs; Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 (gov.uk) |
You also pay the Immigration Health SurchargeImmigration Health Surcharge A charge for UK healthcare paid as part of most visa applications, set as a yearly rate for each year of permission., at £1,035 for each year of the visa.
You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account, unless an exemption applies. You need not show funds if you apply from inside the UK after the permission period in SW 15.1; otherwise an A-rated sponsor can certify your maintenance.
You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.
Your employer pays the Immigration Skills Charge
The Immigration Skills ChargeImmigration Skills Charge A charge a sponsor pays when it sponsors a worker. The employer must pay it; asking the worker to pay it, or any costs of the employer's application, can cost the employer its licence. is the employer’s cost: its sponsor licence may be revoked if it asks you to pay the charge or any costs linked to its application.
A medium or large sponsor pays £1,320 for the first year of the certificate and £660 for each further half year. A small or charitable sponsor pays £480 and £240.
You must pay the immigration skills charge yourself. Your licence may be revoked if you ask the sponsored worker to pay the fee or any costs linked to your application.
The employer also assigns your certificate of sponsorship, and you can read how the Certificate of Sponsorship works before you apply. You must apply within 3 months of getting it. The sponsor pays a fee of £525 for each certificate.
No charge when switching from a Student visa
If you switch to Skilled Worker from a Student visa, the employer does not pay the Immigration Skills Charge, including when you later extend on the new visa. It does not cover a switch from a Graduate visa.
Switch timing is in switching before your course ends, the charge for each size of employer in the Immigration Skills Charge, and every cost in Figures in force.
Whether a given offer meets the salary rules is shown case by case in the salary worked examples.
History
- . Entry updated.
- . Entry first published.
Common questions
Who pays the Skilled Worker visa fee?
The application fee and the health surcharge are charged to you as the applicant. The Immigration Skills Charge is the employer's, and the employer must pay it itself.
Can my employer make me pay the Immigration Skills Charge?
No. The employer must pay the charge itself, and its sponsor licence may be revoked if it asks you to pay the charge or any costs linked to its application.
Do I pay the Immigration Skills Charge if I switch from a Student visa?
The employer does not pay it when you switch from a Student visa to Skilled Worker, including when you later extend on the new visa. This does not cover a switch from a Graduate visa.
How much savings do I need for a Skilled Worker visa?
At least £1,270 in your bank account, unless an exemption applies. For example, an A-rated sponsor can certify your maintenance instead.
Sources
- Skilled Worker visa: How much it costs (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
up to 3 years, £943 per person
more than 3 years, £1,865 per person
up to 3 years, £819 per person
more than 3 years, £1,618 per person
£628 if you’re staying for up to 3 years
£1,235 if you’re staying for more than 3 years
You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.
- Government: Publications (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for three years or less [footnote 2], main applicant and dependants £885 £943 £58
Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for over three years [footnote 2], main applicant and dependants £1,751 £1,865 £114
Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for three years or less [footnote 2], main applicant and dependants £769 £819 £50
Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for over three years [footnote 2], main applicant and dependants £1,519 £1,618 £99
Skilled Worker, a job on the Immigration Salary List where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for three years or less [footnote 2], main applicant and dependants £590 £628 £38
Skilled Worker, a job on the Immigration Salary List where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for over three years [footnote 2], main applicant and dependants £1,160 £1,235 £75
- Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application: How much you have to pay (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
£1,035 per year for all other visa and immigration applications, for example £3,105 for a 3-year visa
- Immigration Rules: Appendix Skilled Worker (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
SW 15.1. If the applicant is applying for permission to stay and has been in the UK with permission for 12 months or longer on the date of application, they will meet the financial requirement and do not need to show funds.
(b) the applicant’s A-rated sponsor must certify that they will, if necessary, maintain and accommodate the applicant up to the end of the first month of their employment, to an amount of at least £1,270.
- UK visa sponsorship for employers: Certificates of sponsorship (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
Worker (except workers on the International Sportsperson visa) £525
- Government: Publications (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
the Certificate of Sponsorship fee, and any associated administrative costs, for a Skilled Worker, where that Certificate was assigned on or after 31 December 2024
- UK visa sponsorship for employers: Immigration skills charge (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
First 12 months £480 £1,320
Each additional 6 months £240 £660
You will not have to pay the charge if they switch to either a Skilled Worker or Senior or Specialist Worker visa and then extend their stay on the new visa.
You must pay the immigration skills charge yourself. Your licence may be revoked if you ask the sponsored worker to pay the fee or any costs linked to your application.
- Skilled Worker visa: Your job (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
You must apply for your visa within 3 months of getting your certificate of sponsorship.
- Skilled Worker visa: Overview (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.
How each figure is checked: Sources and method.
This is general information about the rules, not legal advice. For advice on your own situation, use a solicitor or an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (gov.uk).