Introduction of an Immigration Skills Charge

Last year the Home office announced the introduction of an immigration skills charge for companies wishing to employ migrant workers.   It has been decided that this will come into force in April this year and from April a charge will be applied to all visa applications.

This means that companies who wish to bring migrant workers to the UK under the Tier 2 sponsorship regime or wish to transfer migrant workers from within their group organisations will have to pay an additional charge after April 2017. For large companies the charge will be £1,000 per annum and for smaller companies, charities and universities the charge will be £364 per annum.

No definition of a small company has been given but it is likely to be the same as in the Companies Act 2006 (ss.382-384), namely it must meet at least two of the following criteria;

a) Annual turnover must be not more than £10.2 million.
b) Balance sheet total must be not more than £5.1 million.
c) Average number of employees must be not more than 50

For companies with a requirement for migrant workers, now would be the time to apply for visa applications before the April deadline.

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