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A Certificate of Sponsorship costs £525 per worker on the main Worker routes, but that single fee is only part of what sponsoring a hire actually costs. For HR and People teams budgeting a Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker hire, the real number includes the CoS fee, the Immigration Skills Charge, and the Immigration Health Surcharge. This guide breaks down each one, with the current 2026 figures.
Use the calculator below to total your costs in one go.
What is a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)?
A Certificate of Sponsorship is an electronic record you assign to a worker so they can apply for their visa, such as a Skilled Worker visa or Health and Care Worker visa. It carries a unique reference number the worker uses in their application.
Types of CoS
- Defined CoS: for candidates applying from outside the UK.
- Undefined CoS: for candidates already in the UK or extending a visa.
Getting the right type the first time keeps your sponsorship compliant and avoids delays.
The cost of sponsorship, for the employer
Sponsorship is an employer cost, and it pays to budget it accurately. Here is the breakdown.
Certificate of Sponsorship fee
The CoS fee is £525 per certificate on the main Worker routes, including Skilled Worker. It is a flat fee, the same whether the CoS is defined or undefined, and it does not change with the length of employment. Temporary Worker routes are charged at a lower rate.
Immigration Skills Charge (ISC)
The Immigration Skills Charge applies to most sponsored hires and rose 32% on 16 December 2025. It depends on your size and the length of employment:
- Medium or large sponsors: £1,320 per year, then £660 per six-month extension.
- Small or charitable sponsors: £480 per year, then £240 per six-month extension.
You do not pay the ISC for workers on the Health and Care Worker visa. For a tailored figure, use our visa fees calculator.
Other costs to budget for
- Visa application fee: usually paid by the worker, sometimes covered by the employer.
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £1,035 per year for most applicants, covering NHS access.
- Administrative and compliance costs: including managing the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
Automate Home Office Audits with Borderless
The Borderless platform provides a centralized system for all sponsorships, automating reminders for key tasks and ensuring best practices across your organization, simplifying audit preparation and ongoing compliance.
How to assign a CoS, step by step
Follow these steps for a clean sponsorship process.
Step 1: Hold a valid sponsor licence
Before you can assign a CoS, your organisation needs a valid sponsor licence. See our sponsor licence eligibility guide for the requirements.
Step 2: Set up the Sponsor Management System (SMS)
The SMS is where you assign each CoS. It helps to be clear on the SMS Level 1 User role and who holds it.
Step 3: Assign the Certificate of Sponsorship
Issue the CoS to your chosen candidate through the SMS. Getting the details right at this step avoids delays and extra cost.
What it costs to sponsor a worker
The total cost of sponsoring a worker is more than the licence fee. Budget for each CoS you assign:
- Certificate of Sponsorship fee: £525 per certificate, defined or undefined.
- Immigration Skills Charge (per sponsored worker, per year): £1,320 for medium or large sponsors, £480 for small or charitable sponsors.
- Immigration Health Surcharge: £1,035 per year per applicant.
For a tailored calculation, use our visa fees calculator.
Timelines
Assigning a CoS can take from a few days to several weeks, depending on the route and whether you use a defined or undefined certificate. For more on the wider journey, see our guide to the Skilled Worker sponsorship timeline.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Certificate of Sponsorship in 2026?
£525 per certificate on the main Worker routes, including the Skilled Worker visa. It is a flat fee and does not change with the length of employment.
Who pays for the Certificate of Sponsorship?
The employer pays the £525 CoS fee and the Immigration Skills Charge. The worker usually pays the visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, though employers sometimes cover these too.
Is the CoS fee refundable if the worker leaves early?
No. The CoS fee is not refundable once assigned, even if the worker does not start or leaves early.
How Borderless can help
Sponsorship costs are predictable once you can see them all in one place. Borderless gives you that view and handles the admin and compliance behind each CoS. Book a demo to see how it works.
