Immigration Skills Charge

Immigration Skills Charge calculator & tracking

Know sponsorship cost before you commit.

Calculate ISC per CoS, forecast spend and track payments before the invoice arrives.

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app.sponsoro.co.uk

Sponsorship cost forecast

Q4 2026 · 12 planned sponsored workers

Sponsorship cost forecast

Q4 2026

12 planned sponsored workers

Expected ISC£24,600
CoS costs£6,300
Potential refunds£3,960
Net forecast£26,940

By month

October£8,400
November£10,200
December£8,340

Finance visibility

Sponsorship costs shouldn't surprise Finance.

The Immigration Skills Charge is paid by the sponsor when assigning a CoS where it applies. The amount can become significant across a growing sponsored workforce — Sponsoro calculates the expected charge from the sponsorship record instead of manual spreadsheets.

Organisation size or charitable statusWorker's sponsorship routeDuration stated on the CoSWhether an exemption appliesChanges that happen later

Before assignment

Calculate the ISC before assigning the CoS.

Before progressing with a Certificate of Sponsorship, Sponsoro calculates the expected Immigration Skills Charge using sponsor category, sponsorship period, versioned rates and exemptions — so HR knows the compliance position and Finance knows the cost.

See the expected cost while you're planning sponsorship.

app.sponsoro.co.uk

ISC calculation

Before CoS assignment · HR and Finance aligned

WorkerAhmed Khan
Sponsor categorySmall sponsor
Sponsorship period3 years
Applicable rateVersioned ISC rate · 2026.08
ExemptionNone identified
Estimated ISC£1,440
View calculation

Versioned rates

Versioned rates, not hard-coded spreadsheets.

ISC rates can change. Sponsoro uses versioned rate data so calculations remain connected to the rate that applied when the CoS was assigned — sponsor size, rate version, assignment date, sponsorship period and calculated charge all retained. Part 2 sponsor guidance updated 3 August 2026.
app.sponsoro.co.uk

Versioned rates

Not hard-coded spreadsheets

Small / charitable

£480 first 12 months · £240 per additional 6 months

Medium / large

£1,320 first 12 months · £660 per additional 6 months

Sponsor size

Small / charitable or medium / large

Rate version

Applicable ISC rates at assignment

Assignment date

When the calculation applied

Sponsorship period

Duration used

Calculated charge

Amount expected

Forecast

Forecast your sponsorship spend.

Turn planned sponsorship into a financial forecast — expected ISC, CoS fees and monthly breakdown by quarter. HR and Finance share a picture of upcoming commitments without a separate ISC forecasting spreadsheet.
app.sponsoro.co.uk

Sponsorship cost forecast

Q4 2026 · 12 planned sponsored workers

Sponsorship cost forecast

Q4 2026

12 planned sponsored workers

Expected ISC£24,600
CoS costs£6,300
Potential refunds£3,960
Net forecast£26,940

By month

October£8,400
November£10,200
December£8,340

Cost lifecycle

Track committed, paid and expected costs.

Every sponsorship cost has a status — forecast, due, paid, refund expected or refunded — giving a complete financial lifecycle instead of a one-off number at CoS assignment.
app.sponsoro.co.uk

Cost lifecycle

Complete financial lifecycle · not a one-off number

Forecast

Expected from planned sponsorship

Status

Due

Calculated and awaiting completion

Status

Paid

Payment recorded

Status

Refund expected

Event may create eligibility

Status

Refunded

Refund received and reconciled

Status

Refunds

Don't leave eligible refunds unnoticed.

Sponsorship doesn't always run for the period originally planned. Depending on circumstances, some or all of the ISC may be refundable — Sponsoro identifies events that may affect the charge and creates a financial follow-up attached to the worker.
app.sponsoro.co.uk

Refund tracker

3 potential refunds · attached to the worker

3 potential refunds

AK

Ahmed Khan

Left employment early

Expected refund £1,320Pending
SA

Sarah Ali

Application refused

Expected refund £2,640Received

Refund eligibility

Events that may create refund eligibility.

Refund workflow

Instead of the refund disappearing between HR and Finance.

Worker leaves early → sponsorship updated → potential refund identified → expected refund calculated → follow-up tracked → refund received → amount reconciled. The refund stays attached to the worker.
app.sponsoro.co.uk

Refund lifecycle

Refund stays attached to the worker

Worker leaves early

Sponsorship record updated

Potential ISC refund identified

Expected refund calculated

Follow-up tracked

Refund received

Amount reconciled

Reconciliation

Track what you expected against what you received.

Refund management shouldn't end with 'UKVI should refund us.' Sponsoro retains original payment, expected refund, status, amount received, difference and relevant event — a clear audit trail around sponsorship expenditure.
app.sponsoro.co.uk

Refund reconciliation

Expected vs received · clear audit trail

Original ISC payment£2,640
Expected refund£2,640
Refund statusPending
Amount received—
Difference—
Relevant eventEmployment ended early

Finance dashboard

Give Finance a sponsorship cost dashboard.

ISC paid this year, forecast next quarter, potential refunds, refunds received, planned sponsorship and average ISC per worker — sponsorship spend visible before somebody asks why the cost suddenly increased.
app.sponsoro.co.uk

Finance dashboard

Sponsorship spend visible before costs spike

ISC paid this year£48,200
Forecast next quarter£26,940
Potential refunds£3,960
Refunds received£2,640
Planned sponsorship12 workers
Average ISC per worker£2,050

Sponsoro calculates, tracks and manages the financial record around the Immigration Skills Charge — it does not pay the charge on your behalf. Official payment remains part of the Home Office sponsorship process. Current rates (September 2026): £480 + £240 per additional 6 months for small/charitable sponsors; £1,320 + £660 for medium/large.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the Immigration Skills Charge?

The Immigration Skills Charge is a charge that sponsors may need to pay when assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship to a worker applying under certain sponsored work routes.

How is the Immigration Skills Charge calculated?

The charge depends on factors including the sponsor's size or charitable status and the length of employment stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship.

What are the current Immigration Skills Charge rates?

Current rates differ between small or charitable sponsors and medium or large sponsors. Sponsoro uses versioned rate information so calculations can apply the relevant rate at the time of CoS assignment.

Can the Immigration Skills Charge be refunded?

In certain circumstances, yes. Full or partial refunds may be available depending on events such as a visa refusal, withdrawal, the worker not starting employment or the worker leaving earlier than expected.

Does Sponsoro pay the Immigration Skills Charge?

No. The official payment remains part of the Home Office sponsorship process. Sponsoro calculates, tracks and manages the financial record around it.

Can Sponsoro forecast future ISC costs?

Yes. Planned CoS assignments can feed into sponsorship cost forecasts so HR and Finance can see expected upcoming expenditure.

Turn sponsorship costs into something Finance can actually plan.

Calculate before assignment. Forecast what's coming. Track what you've paid. Identify potential refunds. Reconcile what comes back.

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