Home Office to hike maximum fee on a range of immigration and nationality products and services
Plans to increase a number of immigration fees were announced by the Home Office today.
Image credit: WikipediaThe draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2025 was laid before Parliament today and the Government says the proposed new fees will be introduced as soon as Parliamentary time allows, assuming the legislation is approved by the Commons and the Lords,
It will allow the Home Office to increase the maximum fee that can be charged on a range of immigration and nationality products and services, as part of efforts to reduce the reliance of the migration and borders system on taxpayer funding.
Employers sponsoring workers on the Skilled Worker and other work visa routes will face a significant fee hike for Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) and the replacement Sponsor a Worker (SaW) process. Current sponsorship fees of £239 will increase to £525, while the £25 fee for temporary workers and some other sub-routes will rise to £55. These changes are estimated to contribute £111 million in additional income by 2025/26.
The maximum fee for the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will rise from £15 to £16. Introduced in Autumn 2023 with an initial chargeable fee of £10, the ETA scheme's fee is expected to align with the new maximum. The increase is anticipated to generate an additional £140 million for the Home Office in the 2025/26 fiscal year.
The cost of applying for British citizenship will increase from £1,500 to £1,605. Fees for naturalisation as a British Overseas Territories citizen will rise from £1,000 to £1,070, remaining within the existing fee maxima. These adjustments are projected to add £18 million to Home Office revenue in 2025/26.
Other nationality-related fees will also see increases, including:
- Renunciation of British citizenship: Maximum fee to rise from £450 to £482.
- Amendments to citizenship certificates: Maximum fee to increase from £400 to £428.
- Review of decisions: Administrative reviews will see the maximum fee rise from £450 to £482.
- Right of abode documentation: Fees to increase from £550 to £589.
These changes aim to generate an additional £1 million in the next fiscal year.
The explanatory memorandum for today's draft legislation has further details on the various planned increases.
The Home Office also announced today that it has introduced a temporary exemption from ETA fees for passengers who transit airside at UK airports, meaning they do not pass through border control. It comes in response to feedback from the aviation industry and will primarily impact Heathrow and Manchester airports, the only UK airports currently offering airside transit facilities. The exemption will remain under review.