Statutory Instruments
2025 No. 1324
IMMIGRATION
The Immigration Skills Charge (Amendment) Regulations 2025
Made
15th December 2025
Coming into force
16th December 2025
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations with the consent of the Treasury in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 70A and 74(8) of the Immigration Act 2014(1).
In accordance with section 74(2)(ja)(2) of that Act, a draft of this instrument was laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
Citation, commencement and extent
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Immigration Skills Charge (Amendment) Regulations 2025 and come into force on 16th December 2025.
(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Amendment to the Immigration Skills Charge Regulations 2017
2.—(1) The Immigration Skills Charge Regulations 2017(3) are amended as follows.
(2) In regulation 4 (exemptions from the charge), for paragraph (a) substitute—
“(a)in respect of an occupation coming within any of the following codes in version 12 of the Standard Occupational Classification 2020 Index(4)—
(i)2111 (chemical scientists);
(ii)2112 (biological scientists);
(iii)2113 (biochemists and biomedical scientists);
(iv)2114 (physical scientists);
(v)2115 (social and humanities scientists);
(vi)2119 (natural and social science professionals not elsewhere classified);
(vii)2161 (research and development managers);
(viii)2162 (other researchers, unspecified discipline);
(ix)2311 (higher education teaching professionals);
(x)2463 (clergy);
(xi)3431 (sports players);
(xii)3432 (sports coaches, instructors and officials);”.
(3) In paragraph 2 of the Schedule (amount of charge payable by a sponsor), for the table substitute—
| “Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 months or less | £480 | £1320 |
| More than 12 months, but no more than 18 months | £720 | £1980 |
| More than 18 months, but no more than 24 months | £960 | £2640 |
| More than 24 months, but no more than 30 months | £1200 | £3300 |
| More than 30 months, but no more than 36 months | £1440 | £3960 |
| More than 36 months, but no more than 42 months | £1680 | £4620 |
| More than 42 months, but no more than 48 months | £1920 | £5280 |
| More than 48 months, but no more than 54 months | £2160 | £5940 |
| More than 54 months, but no more than 60 months | £2400 | £6600”. |
Mike Tapp
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Home Office
11th December 2025
We consent
Taiwo Owatemi
Stephen Morgan
Two of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury
HM Treasury
15th December 2025
2014 c. 22. Consent of the Treasury is required by section 70A(5). Section 70A was inserted by section 85(2) of the Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19).
Sub-paragraph (ja) was inserted by section 85(3) of the Immigration Act 2016.
S.I. 2017/499, amended by S.I. 2020/1208 and S.I. 2022/1391.
Published by the Office of National Statistics on 16 April 2025. An electronic copy is accessible via: https://www.ons.gov.uk/methodology/classificationsandstandards/standardoccupationalclassificationsoc/soc2020/soc2020volume2codingrulesandconventions. A paper copy of relevant entries can be obtained by emailing economicmigrationpolicy@homeoffice.gov.uk or by writing to the Economic Migration Policy Team, Home Office, 2 Marsham Street, SW1P 4DF.