If you are planning to hire someone from outside the UK this year, the rules have changed and getting them wrong could put your sponsor licence at serious risk. The Skilled Worker visa route has gone through significant updates over the past 18 months, and 2026 has brought further adjustments to salary thresholds, occupation codes, and compliance expectations. Whether you already hold a sponsor licence or you are thinking about applying for one, this guide covers everything you need to know before you issue a Certificate of Sponsorship.
The Home Office has been stepping up compliance activity considerably, and the number of sponsor licence revocations has risen year on year. Getting specialist advice from an employer sponsor license solicitor before you proceed could save your business from a very costly mistake.
Why These Changes Matter for Employers
The UK points-based immigration system puts the legal burden squarely on your shoulders as an employer. If you want to recruit internationally, you need to hold a valid sponsor licence, understand what immigration for skilled workers actually involves in practice, and keep up with your ongoing duties once a worker is in post.
The consequences of falling behind on these obligations are serious. Your licence can be suspended or, in more severe cases, sponsor licence revoked altogether. This not only affects your ability to recruit from overseas going forward but can also impact the workers you already have in the UK.
What Has Actually Changed in 2025 and 2026
The changes have come in several waves. Here is a breakdown of the most important ones you need to be across right now.
Salary Thresholds Were Raised and Have Been Updated Again
The general salary threshold for the Skilled Worker visa was increased to £38,700 per year in April 2024. Since then, going rates for specific occupation codes have continued to be updated in line with the move to SOC 2020 codes. In 2026, further threshold adjustments have been introduced, and the roles that qualify for reduced thresholds through the Immigration Salary List have also been reviewed.
If you are relying on salary figures from your last application without checking what applies now, you could be issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship at the wrong rate. Always verify the going rate for the specific occupation code you are assigning. Our guide to skilled worker sponsorship salary rules goes through the detail of how these rates are calculated and applied.
The Shortage Occupation List Has Been Replaced
The Shortage Occupation List no longer exists. It was replaced by the Immigration Salary List, which works differently. Roles on this list can attract a lower threshold than the standard £38,700 but you still need to pay the going rate for the specific occupation code. The list is reviewed and updated periodically, so what qualified last year may not qualify now. Read our full breakdown of how the immigration salary list works before you assign any Certificates of Sponsorship.
SOC 2020 Codes Are Now Fully in Use
The transition to SOC 2020 occupation codes is now complete. If your HR team is still working from a list of SOC 2010 codes, you need to update your records. Assigning the wrong occupation code on a Certificate of Sponsorship is one of the most common reasons applications run into problems. Our guide on SOC codes and job descriptions explains how to check you have the right code for each role you are sponsoring.
Compliance Visits Are More Frequent
The Home Office has significantly increased the number of unannounced compliance visits to sponsor licence holders. These visits assess whether your business is genuinely operating, whether your HR record-keeping is up to standard, and whether the sponsored workers you have are doing the jobs described on their Certificates of Sponsorship. A comprehensive guide to what to expect from a sponsor licence compliance visit is available if you want to understand exactly what inspectors look at.
Salary Threshold Summary for the Skilled Worker Visa in 2026
The table below gives a general overview of the main thresholds. Always confirm the current going rate for the specific occupation code with the Home Office or an immigration specialist, as that figure may be higher than the general minimum.
| Applicant Category | Minimum Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| General Skilled Worker | £38,700 |
| New entrant (under 26, recent graduate, switching from student visa) | £30,960 |
| Role on the Immigration Salary List | Going rate for the occupation code (may be below £38,700) |
| Health and Care Worker route (eligible roles) | Going rate for the specific role |
| Switching from a Student visa inside the UK | £30,960 (new entrant rate, if applicable) |
What You Need to Have in Place Before You Sponsor Someone
Before you assign a Certificate of Sponsorship, there are several things you should have confirmed. Missing any of these is a common trigger for compliance issues.
- Confirm your organisation holds a valid sponsor licence that covers the correct worker category
- Check that the role meets the required skill level of RQF Level 3 or above
- Verify the salary you are offering meets both the general threshold and the going rate for the specific SOC 2020 code
- Complete thorough right to work checks both before the worker starts and at appropriate intervals
- Make sure the key personnel on your sponsor licence are properly authorised and in post
- Have a process in place to manage situations involving unpaid leave for sponsored workers, as this triggers specific reporting requirements
- Know what business changes trigger sponsor reporting duties, such as a change of address, change of ownership, or restructuring
- Understand the rules if your workers are in multiple locations or working from home, as covered in the guide on multi-site and hybrid working under a sponsor licence
Applying for a Sponsor Licence in 2026
If you do not yet hold a sponsor licence, the application process in 2026 requires thorough preparation. The Home Office expects detailed evidence about your business, your HR systems, and the genuineness of the role you want to fill. A full walkthrough of what is involved in making a sponsor licence application in 2026 is available on the blog.
The current application fee is £536 for small or charitable sponsors and £1,476 for medium and large organisations. On top of that, you will need to budget for the Immigration Skills Charge, which is currently £1,000 per year per sponsored worker for medium and large businesses, or £364 per year for small sponsors and charities. Our sponsor licence costs guide covers all the fees you should be prepared for, including the healthcare surcharge that sponsored workers pay as part of their visa application.
Once you hold a licence, it needs to be actively maintained and eventually renewed. For more on this, see the guide on sponsor licence renewals and extensions.
Certificates of Sponsorship: Getting the Detail Right
Every worker you sponsor must have a Certificate of Sponsorship. There are two types: a defined CoS for workers applying from outside the UK, and an undefined CoS for those switching from another UK visa category.
The information on the CoS must be accurate. Errors in the job title, occupation code, salary, or work location are a common cause of delays and refusals. The full guide to certificates of sponsorship explains what each field must contain and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
If the person you want to sponsor is already in the UK on a different visa, they may be able to switch. This depends on the visa they currently hold and how much time remains on it. See the guides on switching to a skilled worker visa and switching routes into skilled worker sponsorship for full details.
Your Ongoing Sponsor Duties
Sponsoring a worker is not a one-off task. You have continuing obligations that run for the entire time your worker holds their visa and remains in your employment. The detailed breakdown of what these involve is covered in the guide to sponsor duties and compliance.
At a minimum, you are expected to monitor attendance, report absences and changes in employment circumstances to the Home Office promptly, keep records that the Home Office could inspect at any time, and ensure you are not paying workers below the level stated on their Certificate of Sponsorship.
What Happens If Your Licence Is Suspended or Revoked
If the Home Office finds you are not meeting your duties, it may suspend your licence while it investigates, or revoke it entirely. A suspension means you cannot assign new Certificates of Sponsorship. A revocation has much more serious consequences: it affects every worker you currently sponsor, who may then need to leave or switch to another visa category within a very short timeframe.
If you are already facing a suspension or revocation, getting advice from experienced immigration solicitors quickly is critical. There may be grounds to challenge the decision, or steps you can take to demonstrate compliance and get your licence reinstated. The guide on sponsor licence reinstatement after suspension covers what your options are.
The Self-Sponsorship Route: Is It Right for You?
If you are a business owner or director who wants to come to the UK and work in your own company, the self sponsorship visa uk route is worth understanding. This involves incorporating a UK company and using that company to sponsor yourself as a Skilled Worker. The Home Office scrutinises these applications carefully, but the route is legitimate and has been used successfully by many entrepreneurs.
This is distinct from the expansion worker visa, which is designed for overseas companies that want to establish a presence in the UK for the first time, without necessarily being set up here yet.
What Comes After the Skilled Worker Visa: Settlement and Citizenship
For sponsored workers thinking about the long term, the Skilled Worker visa can be a pathway to permanent settlement in the UK. After five years on this visa, workers are generally eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. The process for skilled workers is set out in the guide to ILR settlement for skilled workers.
After holding settled status for at least twelve months, many workers will be eligible to apply for naturalisation as a British citizen. Working with a british citizenship lawyer gives sponsored workers the best chance of making a successful application at that stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sponsor a worker if my licence has been suspended?
No. A suspended licence means you cannot assign any new Certificates of Sponsorship until the suspension is resolved. Existing workers may also be affected. You should seek legal advice immediately.
Does my business need to be a certain size to apply for a sponsor licence?
No. Businesses of any size can apply. However, the Home Office will assess whether your business is genuine and whether your HR systems are capable of meeting your sponsor duties.
What is the Immigration Skills Charge and is it mandatory?
In most cases, yes. It is currently £1,000 per year for medium and large businesses, or £364 per year for small businesses and charities, per sponsored worker. It is paid by the employer, not the worker.
What if a sponsored worker wants to bring their family to the UK?
In many cases they can. Eligibility and conditions depend on the specific visa and circumstances. See the guide on skilled worker visa dependants for a full breakdown.
What if I pay a worker below the threshold stated on their Certificate of Sponsorship?
This is a compliance breach. The Home Office can suspend or revoke your licence and the worker’s visa status may be put at risk. This includes reductions in pay due to unpaid leave or unauthorised deductions.
Can a worker change jobs while on a Skilled Worker visa?
They can change roles within certain limits, but moving to a new employer generally requires a new Certificate of Sponsorship and a new visa application. Your reporting duties as the original sponsor continue until the worker formally leaves your employment.
Get Professional Advice Before You Sponsor Staff
The Skilled Worker visa is one of the most complex areas of UK immigration law and the cost of getting it wrong is high, both financially and in terms of your workforce. Garth Coates Solicitors is a specialist immigration law firm based in London, advising businesses of all sizes on sponsor licences, compliance, and everything in between.
Whether you are applying for a licence for the first time, dealing with a compliance concern, or helping a sponsored worker plan their route to settlement, our team is here to help.
Call us on +44 (0)20 7799 1600 or request a consultation today.
