LONDON, 8 April 2025 — The UK Government has announced sweeping changes to immigration fees and employment-related rules, with most measures taking effect from 9 April 2025 at 9am. These adjustments are set to impact employers, visa applicants, and those navigating the immigration system, particularly businesses that sponsor foreign workers and operate in sectors reliant on gig economy labour.
Key Fee Increases
Following the government’s January 2025 announcement, a broad range of immigration fees will rise by 5–10%, with some notable exceptions:
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Fee: A dramatic increase of 120%, from £239 to £525, will affect sponsors under the Skilled Worker, T2 Minister of Religion, Global Business Mobility, and International Sportsperson routes.
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA): The fee increases from £10 to £16.
Sponsor Licence Application Fee: Now £1,579 for large sponsors (up from £1,476) and £574 for small sponsors (up from £536).
Sponsors are urged to assign Certificates of Sponsorship before 9 April to avoid the new fees, and are reminded that such costs must not be passed on to sponsored workers.
Immigration Rule Changes
The Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules, published on 12 March 2025, includes a series of policy shifts that also take effect on 9 April:
Minimum Salary Thresholds for certain Skilled Worker routes (including health and care, STEM PhDs, and other discounted-rate categories) will increase from £23,200 to £25,000 annually.
Salary Calculations: Employers must ensure that the worker’s salary meets the required thresholds after any deductions for immigration-related repayments. This closes a loophole allowing indirect subsidisation of salaries by applicants.
Care Worker Recruitment: Care providers in England must first seek displaced care workers already in the UK before sponsoring overseas hires. Evidence of this recruitment effort will be required as part of the sponsorship process.
Right to Work Expansion Hits Gig Economy
In a significant policy extension, gig economy employers—including sectors such as couriers, food delivery, construction, and beauty services—will soon be required to carry out right to work checks for their workers. While the implementation date remains unconfirmed, this marks a major shift in compliance responsibility for a wide array of businesses.
Employers who fail to comply risk:
Fines of up to £45,000 per illegal worker for a first offence
Up to £60,000 for repeat offences
Potential business closures, director disqualifications, and even prison sentences of up to five years in cases of criminal breaches
Immigration Enforcement on the Rise
Reinforcing the new policies, Prime Ministerial figures show a surge in immigration enforcement, with over 24,000 individuals returned since the last General Election—the highest in eight years. A Home Office survey released 1 April found that 80% of employers surveyed failed at least one compliance question regarding right to work checks.
Urgent Action Required
Employers are strongly encouraged to:
Review and update right to work processes
Reassess sponsorship strategies and salary structures
Stay informed on gig economy compliance timelinesThe combination of increased fees, tighter rules, and heightened enforcement marks a critical moment for UK businesses, particularly those dependent on skilled international talent and flexible labour markets.
For detailed guidance or legal support related to UK immigration compliance, businesses are advised to consult with accredited LIIE immigration specialists at Email office@liie.co.uk
Source: LIIE IMMIGRATION
