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The short answer
The Immigration Skills Charge is a fee the sponsoring employer pays, in full, when it assigns a certificate of sponsorship for a Skilled Worker or Senior or Specialist Worker. GOV.UK lists £480 for the first 12 months and £240 for each further 6 months for small or charitable sponsors, and £1,320 and £660 for medium or large sponsors. The worker must not be asked to pay it.
When a UK business sponsors a Nigerian hire, the Skills Charge is often the largest single item on the employer's side, and it is due up front for the whole period. Knowing how it is calculated, who is exempt and when it comes back saves an unpleasant surprise at the certificate stage.
The published rates
| Period | Small or charitable sponsor | Medium or large sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| First 12 months | £480 | £1,320 |
| Each additional 6 months | £240 | £660 |
| Maximum for 5 years | £2,400 | £6,600 |
You pay the full amount for the whole certificate period at once, when the certificate is assigned. If the stay is longer than 6 months but less than a year, you pay for at least 12 months.
Worked examples
- Example: small sponsor, 2-year certificate: £480 + 2 × £240 = £960.
- Example: small sponsor, 5 years: £480 + 8 × £240 = £2,400.
- Example: medium or large sponsor, 3 years: £1,320 + 4 × £660 = £3,960.
- Example: medium or large sponsor, 5 years: £1,320 + 8 × £660 = £6,600.
When it applies
The charge applies to Skilled Worker and Senior or Specialist Worker (Global Business Mobility) visas where the applicant is applying from outside the UK for 6 months or more, or is applying from inside the UK. Your company declares whether it is a small or charitable sponsor or a medium or large one; if you paid the medium or large rate after already telling UKVI you were small or charitable, you may get a partial refund.
Who is exempt
- Occupation codes 2111 to 2115, 2119, 2161, 2162 and 2311 (scientists, researchers and higher education teaching professionals).
- Workers first assigned a certificate before 6 April 2017, in some cases.
- Dependants such as partners and children.
- A worker who switched from a study visa to a work visa and is extending on it.
- Certain EU-national Senior or Specialist Worker transfers of no more than 36 months, with a certificate assigned on or after 1 January 2023.
Nigerian nationals sponsored through the Senior or Specialist Worker route do not fall in the EU-national exemption, so the charge applies to them in the usual way.
If you do not pay, and refunds
If the charge is unpaid or wrong, UKVI contacts you and you have 10 working days to pay, otherwise the worker's application is refused. You get a full refund if the application is refused or withdrawn, or succeeds but the worker does not come to work for you. A partial refund applies if the worker gets less visa time than sponsored, moves to another sponsor after starting, or leaves before the end date of the certificate. Refunds are usually paid within 90 days of the relevant event.
Where Pryme fits
Large up-front fees are easier to plan when the cash is set aside early. A Pryme Business Account holds pounds alongside naira, and the Finance agent can prepare a hiring budget that includes the Skills Charge for a person to approve. For the full cost of a hire, see sponsoring a Nigerian employee as a Skilled Worker and moving staff on the Global Business Mobility route.
Questions people ask
How much is the Immigration Skills Charge?
As published in October 2026: £480 for the first year and £240 per extra 6 months for small or charitable sponsors; £1,320 and £660 for medium or large sponsors.
Can I ask the worker to repay the Skills Charge?
No. GOV.UK says the employer must pay and a licence may be revoked if the worker is asked to pay the fee or related costs.
Is the Skills Charge refunded if the visa is refused?
Yes, in full, and also if the application is withdrawn or the worker never starts. Partial refunds apply in some other cases.
Do dependants attract the Skills Charge?
No. Partners and children are not charged.
Sources
- GOV.UK: UK visa sponsorship for employers, Immigration Skills Charge (page metadata 23 Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.