Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence: New Rules On Pay And Fees

On 9 April 2025, new Immigration Rules under Appendix Skilled Worker came into force.

Further to our article, New Immigration Rules for Skilled Workers: Further Challenges for Self-Sponsorship, the Home Office has updated its guidance for Sponsor Licence holders, including significant changes around investment by sponsored workers, salary deductions, and the payment of sponsor-related fees.

1. Salary Deductions and Investments by Sponsored Workers

The newly updated Skilled Worker caseworker guidance sets out:

Paragraph SW 14.2A sets out how to consider deductions from salaries and money paid by the applicant to the sponsor. Generally, such amounts must be subtracted when considering salaries. This includes (but is not limited to) cases where it appears the applicant is subsidising their own salary or the sponsor's immigration costs. However, such payments should not be subtracted if both of the following apply: