A sponsor licence is not a one-off certificate. Once you have one, the Home Office expects you to keep records, report changes and pay ongoing charges for each worker you sponsor. Getting compliance wrong can mean a downgrade, suspension or loss of the licence, which puts every sponsored employee at risk.
The Immigration Skills Charge
Employers pay the Immigration Skills Charge for each worker sponsored on most work routes, for the full length of the certificate of sponsorship. The rates rose by about 32% from 16 December 2025:
| Sponsor size | Per worker per year | 3-year certificate | 5-year certificate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small or charitable | £480 | £1,440 | £2,400 |
| Large | £1,320 | £3,960 | £6,600 |
The charge is paid upfront when you assign the certificate. From 28 October 2026, the government has said employer payments of the charge and the certificate of sponsorship fee will not be taxed as a benefit in kind.
Your core duties
- Right to work checks: before employment starts. See right to work checks.
- Record keeping: keep the documents the Home Office specifies for each sponsored worker.
- Reporting: report certain changes through the sponsor management system within set deadlines, such as a worker not starting, long unauthorised absences, or the end of employment.
- Genuine roles and pay: the job and salary must match the certificate, and meet the route’s rules.
- Keep your details current: including key personnel and any changes to your organisation.
Ratings
Sponsors are rated A or B. If the Home Office finds problems, it can downgrade you to B and put you on an action plan. While you are B-rated you cannot assign new certificates of sponsorship.
Coming changes
The government announced in October 2026 that the highest-skilled sponsored workers in highly paid jobs will get up to 6 months to find a new sponsor if their job ends, with implementation in 2027.
Use our sponsor checker to see any organisation’s licence and rating, or read our sponsor licence guide.
Sources: Laura Devine, Immigration Skills Charge increase; Burges Salmon, Budget 2026; GOV.UK sponsor guidance.
Talk to a regulated adviser
Every route has its own traps. A specialist can check your plan before you commit time and money to it.
Business and private client firmsBrowse all solicitorsLast checked: 2 November 2026. General information, not legal advice. See our disclaimer.