AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
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The short answer
International standards say workers should not pay to get a job: the ILO's fair recruitment principles state that no recruitment fees or related costs should be charged to, or borne by, workers. In the UK, employment agencies cannot charge work-seekers for finding them work, and visa sponsors cannot pass on the Immigration Skills Charge, certificate of sponsorship fee or sponsor licence costs. If you paid someone for a care job or a certificate of sponsorship, keep every record, ask for a refund in writing and report it.
Thousands of Nigerians have moved abroad to work in care. Many found jobs fairly. Some paid agents in Lagos, Abuja or abroad large sums for a "job offer" or a certificate of sponsorship, and some of those jobs turned out to have little or no work. If you are being asked to pay, or already paid, the rules below tell you where you stand.
The international standard
The International Labour Organization's General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment set out the "employer pays" principle in one line: "No recruitment fees or related costs should be charged to, or otherwise borne by, workers or jobseekers." The ILO describes these principles as non-binding. They matter because many countries' laws, and many large employers' supplier codes, are built on them. The ILO also published a definition of recruitment fees and related costs in 2019; check it if you want to see which specific costs are covered.
What UK law says
Employment agencies
GOV.UK's guidance on employment agencies and businesses says they cannot charge work-seekers fees for finding them work. They also cannot stop you working elsewhere, withhold your pay or make unlawful deductions, and they must give you key information and written terms before they start looking for work for you. The page lists some exclusions, so check it if an agency claims the rule does not apply to it.
Visa sponsors
| Cost | Who must pay (UK) |
|---|---|
| Immigration Skills Charge | The sponsor. GOV.UK says the licence may be revoked if the worker is asked to pay. |
| Certificate of sponsorship fee | The sponsor, for certificates assigned from 31 December 2024, as reported by Doyle Clayton |
| Sponsor licence fee and admin | The sponsor (same change) |
A certificate of sponsorship is issued by a licensed sponsor. Anyone selling one to you, whether an agent or a manager, is asking you to pay a cost the sponsor must carry. Doyle Clayton reports that the Home Office will normally revoke the licence of a sponsor that recoups or tries to recoup these costs.
Common ways fees are hidden
- A "processing" or "documentation" fee paid to an agent before the job offer.
- A "training" or "induction" course in Nigeria that you must pay for to be put forward.
- A loan from the agent, repaid from your wages abroad.
- Paying for your certificate of sponsorship directly to someone at the care provider.
- An inflated repayment clause in your contract that recovers costs you were never told about. See when an employer wants relocation costs back.
Your own visa application fee and immigration health surcharge are a separate question: these are normally paid by the applicant unless the employer agrees to cover them. Ask the employer in writing which of these it will cover before you accept.
If you already paid
- Collect the evidence. Bank transfer receipts, messages, the agent's details, any invoice, the job offer and the certificate of sponsorship number.
- Ask for a refund in writing. Name the amount, the date and the rule it breaks. Keep the reply.
- Report it. In the UK, report agency fees and sponsor misconduct through the official channels linked from GOV.UK, and fraud to Report Fraud (reportfraud.police.uk, 0300 123 2040) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or Police Scotland on 101. In Nigeria, if the agent is based there, report to the police and keep a copy of the report.
- Protect your status. If a sponsor is found to have acted improperly, UK sponsor guidance says a worker not involved in improperly assigned certificates will normally have their permission shortened to 60 days rather than cancelled. Use that time to find a new sponsor, and get advice from a regulated immigration adviser.
Fear of losing a visa stops many workers from reporting. Get regulated advice on your own position before and after you report, and be truthful in everything you submit to the immigration authorities.
If the money went to an agent in Nigeria
Many fees are paid in naira to an agent in Lagos or Abuja, sometimes through relatives. Write down who paid, from which account, on which date and to whom, and get copies of the transfer receipts from the bank. A clear paper trail helps a police report in Nigeria, a complaint to the employer abroad and any later civil claim. Warn others in your community and on the groups where the job was advertised, sticking to facts you can prove.
Before you pay anyone
- Check the employer is on the official register of licensed sponsors for your destination.
- Ask in writing who pays which costs, and get the answer from the employer, not only the agent.
- Refuse any payment for a job offer or certificate of sponsorship.
- Be wary of urgency and secrecy. Our guide to job scams targeting Nigerians abroad lists other warning signs.
Where Pryme fits
Records are your strongest tool in a refund claim. Any Pryme customer can generate a verifiable statement or receipt through VerifyDoc.ai (receipts and statements), and security features such as an authenticator app and a transaction PIN help protect the account you are paid into.
Questions people ask
Is it legal for an agency to charge me for a care job in the UK?
GOV.UK says employment agencies cannot charge work-seekers fees for finding them work.
Can I be charged for my certificate of sponsorship?
No. UK sponsors must not recover the certificate of sponsorship fee for certificates assigned from 31 December 2024, or the Immigration Skills Charge.
I paid an agent for a care job. Can I get my money back?
Ask in writing with evidence, report it, and get advice. Recovery is not guaranteed, but records make a claim far stronger.
Will reporting my sponsor affect my visa?
UK guidance says workers not involved in improperly assigned certificates normally get 60 days to find another sponsor. Get regulated immigration advice.
Sources
- ILO: 2016 General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Employment agencies and businesses · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Immigration Skills Charge · accessed Oct 2026
- Doyle Clayton: Sponsors beware, clawback clause changes effective 31 December 2024 · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Workers and temporary workers, guidance for sponsors part 2 · accessed Oct 2026
- City of London Police: Report Fraud service goes live · 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.