Introduction of the Immigration Skills Charge

Policy effect

Requires UK employers sponsoring non-EEA skilled workers under Tier 2 routes to pay a mandatory skills charge of £1,000 per year per sponsored worker (£364 for small businesses and charities) upon assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship. Phase scope: Entire UK; applies to all Tier 2 / Skilled Worker employer sponsorships with specific statutory exemptions.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

Secretary of State to assign certificates of sponsorship to an individual who is a skilled worker. Obligation to pay a charge 3. A sponsor must pay a charge to the Secretary of State, in the amount specified in the Schedule, each time it assigns a certificate of sponsorship to a skilled worker. Exemptions from the charge 4. The obligation to pay the charge does not apply where a sponsor assigns a certificate of sponsorship to a skilled worker— (a)in respect of an occupation coming within any of the following codes in version 5.1 of the Standard Occupational Classification 2010 Index(10)— (i)2111 … Name Name Two of the Lord’s Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury Date Regulation 3 SCHEDULEAmount of charge payable by a sponsor 1. The amount of the charge payable by a small or charitable sponsor is the amount specified in column 2 of the Table which corresponds to the period of prospective employment in respect of which the certificate of sponsorship is assigned specified in column 1. 2. The amount of the charge payable by a sponsor other than a small or charitable sponsor is the amount specified in column 3 of the Table which corresponds to the period of prospective employment in respect of which the certificate of sponsorship is assigned specified in column 1. Column 1Column 2Column 3 12 months or less£364£1000 More than 12 months, but no more than 18 months£546£1500 More than 18 months, but no more than 24 months£728£2000 More than 24 months, but no more than 30 months£910£2500 More than 30 months, but no more than 36 months£1092£3000 More than 36 months, but no more than 42 months£1274£3500 More than 42 months, but no more than 48 months£1456£4000 More than 48 months, but no more than 54 months£1638£4500 More than 54 months, but no more than 60 months£1820£5000 EXPLANATORY …

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Other United Kingdom changes operative in 2017

• 2017-02-01Commencement of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016
• 2017-03-15The Transfer for Determination of an Application for International Protection (Detention) (Significant Risk of Absconding Criteria) Regulations 2017
• 2017-04-06Immigration health charge exemption extended to Appendix V visitor leave to remain
• 2017-04-06Immigration health charge exemption extended to modern slavery victims
• 2017-04-06The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2017
• 2017-04-06Tier 2 Intra-company Transfer immigration health charge exemption removed
• 2017-08-10Implementation of Article 8 ECHR Exceptional Circumstances and Alternative Income Framework (HC 290)