What Does a UK Sponsor Licence Cost?
The total cost of holding a UK Sponsor Licence depends on your organisation's size, how many workers you sponsor, and how long you sponsor them for. There are four cost elements to budget for: the Home Office application fee, the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) fee per worker, the Immigration Skills Charge, and — if you instruct a solicitor — professional fees. None of the Home Office fees are refundable if an application is refused or withdrawn.
1. Home Office Sponsor Licence Application Fee
| Sponsor Size | Fee |
|---|---|
| Small or charitable sponsor | £611 |
| Medium or large sponsor | £1,682 |
You typically qualify as a small sponsor if you meet at least two of: annual turnover of £15 million or less, total assets of £7.5 million or less, or 50 or fewer employees. We confirm your correct classification before you apply, since paying the wrong fee can delay your application.
2. Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Fee
| Route | Fee per worker |
|---|---|
| Worker route (e.g. Skilled Worker) | £525 |
| Temporary Worker route | £55 (some categories exempt) |
3. Immigration Skills Charge (ISC)
The ISC applies to most Skilled Worker and Senior/Specialist Worker sponsorship. It is paid up front when the CoS is assigned.
| Period | Small / Charitable | Medium / Large |
|---|---|---|
| First 12 months | £480 | £1,320 |
| Each further 6 months | £240 | £660 |
Worked Example: Small Business Sponsoring One Skilled Worker
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Sponsor licence application fee | £611 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship | £525 |
| Immigration Skills Charge (12 months) | £480 |
| Approximate total (Home Office fees only) | £1,616 |
This excludes the worker's own visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge, which the employer does not pay directly, and any solicitor fees for preparing the licence application.
Other Costs to Budget For
- Priority service — an optional £750 fee that can reduce the decision time to around 10 working days, subject to availability
- Action plan fee — payable if your licence is downgraded to a B-rating and you need to follow a Home Office action plan to be restored to A-rated status
- Ongoing compliance costs — internal HR resource, record-keeping systems, and periodic mock audits
- Solicitor fees — for a solicitor-prepared application, compliance audit, or ongoing SMS support
Britlaw Solicitor Fees
Our fees for a sponsor licence application typically range from £2,000–£4,500 depending on organisation complexity, with separate fixed fees for compliance reviews, mock audits and SMS reporting advice. See our full fees page for the complete breakdown, or get a tailored quote at your consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the sponsor licence application fee refundable if I'm refused?
No. The Home Office application fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome, which is why getting the application right first time matters.
Do I pay the Immigration Skills Charge every year?
The ISC is paid up front for the length of sponsorship in 6-month increments — £480 or £1,320 for the first 12 months depending on sponsor size, then a further charge for each additional 6-month period.
How much do solicitors charge for a sponsor licence application?
Our fees typically range from £2,000–£4,500 depending on the complexity of your organisation and the licence category applied for. See our fees page for full detail.
What's the cheapest way to get a sponsor licence?
There's no way to reduce the Home Office fees, but avoiding refusal is the biggest cost saving — a refused application means losing the fee and facing a cooling-off period before reapplying.