What the changes cover
These changes apply through the current sponsor guidance and the Home Office fees table from 8 April 2026. For Skilled Worker salary points, the guidance is explicit that the applicable thresholds depend on the salary option and the occupation code, so the threshold for a job depends on both.
Salary threshold
Standard Skilled Worker cases stay at £41,700 plus the full going rate.
Pay-period checks
Salary now has to stand up in each pay period and over the relevant review window in the guidance.
Licence fees
Worker sponsor licences now cost £611 or £1,682 depending on sponsor size.
Certificate cost
A Skilled Worker Certificate of Sponsorship remains £525.
1. What changed on 8 April 2026
The official sponsor guidance now puts more pressure on sponsors to evidence salary correctly in real time. The Home Office checks not only the stated annual salary, but also whether the worker is paid the required rate in each pay period and across the relevant salary window.
At the same time, the April 2026 fees table increased worker sponsor licence application fees to £611 for small sponsors and £1,682 for medium or large sponsors. The Immigration Skills Charge structure did not change, and the Skilled Worker CoS fee remains £525.
Official sources: sponsor guidance and the 8 April 2026 fees table.
2. How the pay-period rule works
The rule is narrower than summaries that say “salary averaging is over”. The current guidance says sponsors must pay the required salary in pay periods of at least monthly frequency unless the contract says otherwise.
- Salary in each pay period must meet the required hourly going rate for the hours worked in that pay period.
- If the worker is paid monthly or less often, pay over any 3-month period must be at least a quarter of the required annual salary.
- If the worker is paid more frequently than monthly, pay over any 12-week period must be at least 12/52 of the required annual salary.
- For irregular working patterns, the guidance uses a 17-week review window.
The same guidance also says sponsors must not include overtime, bonus pay, or most allowances in the salary figure on the CoS unless a specific transitional provision applies.
3. Salary thresholds to watch
These are the general thresholds in the current sponsor guidance. They do not replace the occupation code going rate. In every case, you still have to test the salary against the relevant going rate and route rules.
| Route / option | General threshold | What still has to be true |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Skilled Worker (Option A) | £41,700 | Must also meet the full going rate for the occupation code. |
| Relevant PhD (Option B) | £37,500 | Must also meet 90% of the going rate. |
| STEM PhD (Option C) | £33,400 | Must also meet 80% of the going rate. |
| Health and Care / salary transitional options (Option F) | £31,300 | Must also meet the full going rate for the occupation code. |
| Health and Care discounted options | £28,200 or £25,000 | Applies only where the worker qualifies for the relevant salary option. |
| Health and education national pay scale roles (Option K) | £25,000 | Must also meet the full national pay scale / occupation rate. |
The Skilled Worker points calculator shows the salary rule for an occupation code.
4. Sponsor fees and immigration costs in April 2026
| Cost item | Fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Worker sponsor licence (small or charitable sponsor) | £611 | From 8 April 2026. |
| Worker sponsor licence (medium or large sponsor) | £1,682 | From 8 April 2026. |
| Skilled Worker Certificate of Sponsorship | £525 | No increase in the 8 April 2026 fees table. |
| Immigration Skills Charge, first 12 months | £480 / £1,320 | Small or charitable sponsor / medium or large sponsor. |
| Immigration Skills Charge, each additional 6 months | £240 / £660 | Small or charitable sponsor / medium or large sponsor. |
The Immigration Skills Charge rules are published separately here: UK visa sponsorship for employers: Immigration skills charge.
5. What the guidance checks
Pay in each pay period
Salary is checked in each pay period. Overtime, bonus pay and most allowances do not count towards the salary on the CoS.
The occupation code
The salary is tested against the going rate for the occupation code on the CoS.
Fees
The sponsor licence fee is £611 for small sponsors and £1,682 for large sponsors. The CoS fee and the Immigration Skills Charge are on top.
6. How ImmigrationGPT helps
Frequently asked questions
What changed for sponsor licences on 8 April 2026?
The April 2026 update tightened how Skilled Worker salaries are assessed, raised sponsor licence fees to £611 for small sponsors and £1,682 for large sponsors, and kept the Immigration Skills Charge structure in place. Sponsors now need to make sure salary meets the required level in each pay period and over the relevant salary window set out in the guidance.
What is the Skilled Worker salary threshold in 2026?
For many standard Skilled Worker cases the general threshold is £41,700 and the worker must also meet the full going rate for their occupation code. Lower thresholds can apply in specific cases such as relevant PhDs, Health and Care salary options, new entrants, or national pay scale roles, but the applicable going rate still matters.
What is the new pay period rule for sponsors?
Sponsors must ensure the worker is paid the required salary in the relevant pay periods. The guidance says salary in each pay period must meet the hourly going rate, with additional checks across any 3-month, 12-week, or 17-week period depending on pay frequency and working pattern.
How much does a UK worker sponsor licence cost in 2026?
From 8 April 2026, a worker sponsor licence costs £611 for a small sponsor and £1,682 for a large sponsor. A Skilled Worker Certificate of Sponsorship remains £525.
How much is the Immigration Skills Charge in 2026?
The Immigration Skills Charge remains £480 for the first 12 months for a small or charitable sponsor and £1,320 for a medium or large sponsor. Each additional 6 months costs £240 for small or charitable sponsors and £660 for medium or large sponsors.