To work in the UK, your employer must hold a Sponsor Licence (£574-£1,579) and issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship. The minimum salary is £41,700/year — and total costs over 5 years to settlement exceed £8,700.
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UK Sponsorship — Quick Answer (2026)
🏢 Sponsor licence: £574 (small) / £1,579 (medium+)
📋 Certificate of Sponsorship: employer issues
💰 Salary: £41,700/year minimum (or going rate)
💸 Visa fee: £769-£1,618 (increasing April 8)
🏥 IHS surcharge: £1,035/year
⏱ Processing: 3-8 weeks
🏠 ILR: After 5 years (£3,226-£3,226)
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Unlike Canada's Express Entry, the UK Skilled Worker visa requires an employer to sponsor you. You cannot apply on your own. Here's how the sponsorship system works.
How sponsorship works
1. Employer gets a sponsor licence. The employer applies to the Home Office and pays £574 (small business) or £1,579 (medium/large). Processing takes approximately 8 weeks.
2. Employer issues you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). This is an electronic record — not a physical document — with a reference number. The employer pays £525 for the CoS.
3. You apply for the visa using the CoS reference number. You must apply within 3 months of receiving the CoS.
All sponsorship costs (licence + CoS) are paid by the employer, not you. Your costs are the visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Are there enough sponsors?
As of March 2026, there are 121,074 employers approved to sponsor Skilled Workers in the UK. You can search the full register of licensed sponsors on gov.uk to check if a specific employer is approved.
This includes companies of all sizes — from the NHS and major banks to small restaurants and care homes. If your employer isn't currently on the list, they can apply for a licence, but budget 8 weeks for processing.
Salary requirements
Your salary must meet both of these:
- At least **£41,700 per year** (the general threshold)
- At least the **going rate** for your specific occupation code
Whichever is higher applies. Each occupation has its own going rate — check the going rates table on gov.uk with your 4-digit occupation code.
When you can earn less
Several groups qualify for reduced salary requirements (minimum £33,400):
- **Under 26 or recent graduate:** 70% of going rate
- **STEM PhD holder:** 80% of going rate (min £33,400)
- **Non-STEM PhD holder:** 90% of going rate (min £37,500)
- **Postdoctoral in science/higher education:** 70% of going rate
- **Job on the Immigration Salary List:** standard going rate, but lower visa fees
If you have a STEM PhD, you could qualify at a significantly lower salary than someone without one. Your product should flag this automatically.
What your employer needs to know
Many employers — especially smaller ones — don't know how sponsorship works. Here's what you can tell them:
- **Cost to them:** £574-£1,579 (licence) + £525 (CoS) = approximately £1,100-£2,100 total
- **Time commitment:** The licence application takes about 8 weeks. After that, issuing a CoS is quick.
- **Their obligation:** They must keep records, report changes (like if you stop working), and comply with sponsor duties. It's not complicated, but there is administrative responsibility.
Processing time
Once you apply:
- From outside the UK: **3 weeks** for a decision
- From inside the UK: **8 weeks** for a decision
Priority processing is available: £500 for 5 working days, £1,000 for 1 working day (super priority).
The total cost to you
| Item | 3-year visa | 5-year visa |
|---|---|---|
| Visa application fee | £769 (increasing to £819 on Apr 8) | £1,519 (increasing to £1,618 on Apr 8) |
| IHS (£1,035/year) | £3,105 | £5,175 |
| **Total (single)** | **£3,874** | **£6,694** |
For a family of three on a 3-year visa: approximately £11,600+ (3x visa fee + 3x IHS).
All data verified from gov.uk official sources, March 2026.
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Is UK Sponsorship Worth the Cost?
✅ Worth it if: Your employer handles the licence and fees, your salary is well above £41,700, and you specifically need UK-based opportunities (London finance, NHS, specific industries).
❌ Choose Ireland instead if: You just want English-speaking + fast PR. Ireland costs €1,300 total, gives Stamp 4 in 21 months, no health surcharge. [Ireland CSEP →](/blog/ireland-critical-skills-permit-2026-guide)
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*UK fees increase April 8, 2026. If you're applying, submit before then to save £50-£197 per person.*