UK employers sponsoring overseas workers under certain visa routes will soon face higher costs, as the immigration skills charge (ISC) is set to increase for the first time since its introduction in 2017. The revised rates will take effect from 16 December 2025, following formal confirmation in the Immigration Skills Charge (Amendment) Regulations 2025.
What is the ISC?
The ISC is a non-transferable fee that UK sponsors must pay when assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) under visa routes such as the Skilled Worker and Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker. The charge must be paid in full at the time of CoS assignment and cannot be passed on to the sponsored individual.
New rates from 16 December 2025
The updated ISC rates represent a 32% increase:
| Sponsorship period | Medium/large sponsors | Small/charitable sponsors |
| First 12 months | £1,320 (up from £1,000) | £480 (up from £364) |
| Each additional 6 months | £660 (up from £500) | £240 (up from £182) |
These rates will apply to non-exempt CoS assigned on or after 16 December 2025. CoS issued before this date will continue to attract the current lower rates, regardless of when the visa application is submitted.
Over a five-year sponsorship, the total ISC for a medium or large sponsor will rise from £5,000 to £6,600, while small or charitable sponsors will see an increase from £1,820 to £2,400.
Workers switching from the Student visa route to a Skilled Worker visa remain exempt from the ISC. However, this exemption does not apply to those switching from the Graduate route, which is also due to shorten to 18 months for non-PhD graduates from 1 January 2027.
