Skilled Worker visas: What are the hidden costs and potential challenges?

When considering sponsorship and the Skilled Worker visa, many related costs beyond the actual application may catch applicants off guard. It is essential for sponsors and applicants to consider the total cost to effectively plan for their application and relocation.

As a potential sponsor or applicant under the Skilled Worker visa route, it is important to consider not only the cost of the sponsorship licence and visa itself, but also the associated costs when preparing the visa application and relocating to the UK.

Applicant considerations

The cost of the Skilled Worker visa application ranges between £284 to £1,636, depending on whether the application is made from the UK or abroad. The cost also varies depending on the type of Skilled Worker visa the applicant is applying for; for example, if the sponsor has already issued a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or if the applicant has a job that is included in the immigration salary list.

There are also additional added fees to consider when applying for a Skilled Worker visa, particularly the immigration healthcare surcharge that applicants must pay per year of leave. This surcharge allows applicants access to the NHS, although they will still have to pay for certain services. A discounted rate is available for students and underage applicants. The full charge for all years of leave must be paid at the time of the visa application (£1,035 per main applicant per year of leave granted or £776 for student and underage applicants per year). 

Certain applicants will have to take the Secure English Language Test (SELT) or have their degree verified by UK ECCTIS when submitting their application, incurring further costs. Some applicants must complete criminal records checks and TB screening tests. Lastly, applicants will have to provide their biometric information during the application process by attending a visa centre and paying the associated fee, which varies between centres.

If an applicant has already secured employment in the UK and must arrive by a certain date, they may opt to pay for expedited processing of their visa application through the priority and super priority services. The priority and expedited processing options are available to both international and UK applicants.

Finally, unless exempt or if employers cover the cost, applicants are usually required to have least £1,270 available in their bank account to support themselves upon arrival in the UK. Applicants whose jobs are listed on the immigration salary list, which can be found here, may qualify for a reduction in their application fees. Likewise, applicants who are health and care workers may qualify for a Health and Care visa, which incurs reduced fees.

Employer considerations

Sponsorship licence application fees operate on a tiered fee system depending on the size and type of organisation . ‘Small’ sponsors, defined as small businesses within the Companies Act or charities, will have to pay £536 for their application. Companies that do not fall under this definition are considered ‘large’ sponsors and will incur a £1,476 charge.

Sponsors may opt to pay to expedite the processing of their sponsor licence, with  a decision will be made within 10 working days. This may be useful to employers who have already found a candidate to fill a role and need him to be in the UK by a certain date.

For every sponsored worker the sponsor must issue a new Certificate of Sponsorship and must pay the related fee of £239. Sponsors must also pay an annual immigration skills charge for every sponsored employee (£1,000 per employee per annum). Small businesses and charities pay reduced sponsorship licence costs and immigration skills charge (£364 per employee per annum).

Relocation considerations

There are also significant costs associated with relocating to the UK after receiving sponsorship. It is important to consider the cost of travel to the UK, including flights and luggage. If you are moving furniture internationally, this can incur substantial costs and the process can take a few months. Often, the company that is sponsoring the applicant will cover some of the relocation costs, such as flights or moving services, but they are not obligated to. As such, it is important to keep in mind the high cost of moving.

Moreover, the UK has one of the highest costs of living. While certain subsidies have been implemented over the past couple of years to alleviate this pressure, they are temporary. The UK is also currently experiencing a housing crisis, which inflates lease and freehold costs, so it is best to begin your home search as early as possible and act quickly, as the market is saturated.

On the other hand, applicants will have access to the NHS, the UK’s universal healthcare system (subject to certain exceptions), and children may attend state schools for free. Therefore, it is important to consider the financial reality of living in the UK and how to manage it. 

Overall, while the application for a sponsorship licence and Skilled Worker visa is relatively expensive, it is vital for applicants to consider the high costs of relocation, prepare a financial plan and begin the relocation process early to mitigate against delays.

How Gherson can assist

Gherson’s Immigration Team are highly experienced in advising on UK visa matters. If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

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