Immigration skills charge for tier 2 workers introduced

Implementation date: 6 April 2017

The Immigration Skills Charge Regulations 2017 (SI 2017/499) provide that sponsoring employers employing migrant workers under tier 2 of the points-based immigration system must pay a new immigration skills charge at a rate of £1,000 per migrant worker per year, with a reduced rate of £364 applying to small and charitable organisations. The charge is to incentivise employers to reduce their reliance on migrant workers and invest in the training and upskilling of UK workers. The Regulations provide for an exemption from the charge in certain circumstances.