Pay your registration fees

Annual registration fees are paid:

• in full (by card) when you renew your registration, or
• in 2 instalments (by Direct Debit) on 1 October and 1 April

Read our fees guidance for full details of the fees we charge.

Pay by Direct Debit

If you have set up a Direct Debit, we will let you know the amount and date of when your registration fee is due via your online account.

We will send you a message before the Direct Debit payment is due, so you can make sure there are enough funds in your account.

Your Direct Debit amount will automatically update each registration year. Read our fees guidance for full details of the fees we charge each year.

Direct Debits are handled by GoCardless

Our Direct Debits are handled by GoCardless, an ISO certified secure solution authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). They will send you an email a couple of days before the money is due to be requested from your account.

Change a Direct Debit

To make a change to your Direct Debit for the 1 October instalment, you need to cancel it and set up a new Direct Debit on your online account.

Your Direct Debit amount will automatically update each registration year. You are not required to change the Direct Debit amount.

Setting up a new Direct Debit

You can set up a new Direct Debit on your online account. If you paid your registration fee in full when you last renewed your registration, your next Direct Debit will be for the 1 October payment.

The deadline for setting up a new Direct Debit for the 1 October payment is 5:00pm (UK time) on 19 September 2025.

Pay by card

If you normally pay your registration fee in full, the next time you will be asked to pay is when you renew your registration. Renewals take place annually from September to December.

Outstanding payments

If your Direct Debit fails, you will receive instructions on how to make a card payment through your online account. You will have until 30 November 2025 to make the registration fee payment. If, after this time, you have not made the payment, you will be removed from the Social Work England register.

If you are unable to pay online, email us at enquiries@socialworkengland.org.uk. Please note that we cannot take payments over the phone.

Voluntary removal

You can submit a request to leave the register through your online account. If you submit a request to leave the register before a payment date, we recommend that you cancel your Direct Debit with your bank. We will not refund any portion of your registration fee regardless of when you leave the register.

The deadline for cancelling a Direct Debit for 1 April payment is 5:00pm (UK time) on 19 March 2025.

If you are removed from the register, you will not be able to practice as a social worker. Read our guidance on leaving the register voluntarily

Contact us

If you believe that there is an error with a payment, please send an email to enquiries@socialworkengland.org.uk with further information and evidence of payment of your registration fees. We will investigate and contact you.

If you need to speak to someone on the phone, please request a call back.

It’s important that you seek support if you are struggling to pay your registration fee. If you do not pay your registration fee, you are at risk of being removed from the register. Read more about organisations that may be able to support you.