In the ever-evolving landscape of immigration and nationality regulations, staying informed about fee changes is crucial for individuals, businesses, and organizations alike. The UK Home Office has recently updated its immigration and nationality fees effective from 4th October 2023.
These changes have implications for various visa categories, sponsorship programs, and premium services. At WestBridge Business Immigration, we believe in providing our clients with up-to-date information and guidance to navigate these changes effectively.
Visas and Applications Made Outside the UK
The updated fee structure introduces changes to several visa categories. Having a thorough knowledge of these updates is vital for anyone looking to move to the UK. Some of the most notable adjustments include:
Visit Visas: For short visits up to 6 months, the fee increases by £15 to £115. Longer-term visit visas, such as those for 2, 5, or 10 years, see varying fee increases.
Other Visas: Fees for other visa categories, including work and study visas, have also been adjusted. For instance, the fee for a Skilled Worker visa, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less, increases by £106 to £637.
Optional Premium Services: The cost of premium services, both inside and outside the UK, has been revised. Notably, the Priority Visa service for settlement outside the UK sees a reduction of £73, bringing it to £500.
Work – Applications Made Outside the UK
For businesses and individuals planning to work in the UK, understanding the fee changes is quite essential. Key adjustments include:
Innovator Founder and Start-up Visas: The main applicant and dependants will see fee increases. For Innovator Founder, the fee rises by £155 to £1,191.
Global Talent Visas: The fee structure for Global Talent visas varies depending on the requirement for an Approval Letter. Those requiring an Approval Letter will pay £192, while those who do not need one will pay £716.
Tier 1 (Investor) Visa: The fee for Tier 1 Investor visas, including main dependants and applicants, increases by £246 to £1,884.
Skilled Worker Visas: The Skilled Worker visa category has seen several adjustments. For those with a certificate of sponsorship issued for three years or less, the fee goes up by £94 to £719. If the certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years, the main applicant and dependants will pay £1,500, an increase of £77.
Study – Applications Made Outside the UK
Students planning to study in the UK will also experience changes in fees. Here are some of the changes that you should know about if you are planning to come to the UK for education:
Student Visas: The fee for the main applicant and dependants increases by £127 to £490.
Short-term Student Visas: The cost remains at £200 for English language courses lasting more than six months but no longer than eleven months.
Optional Premium Services
The availability of premium services can expedite the application process. It’s crucial to be aware of the fee changes for these services:
Priority Visa Service – Non-Settlement: This service remains unchanged at £500.
Super Priority Visa Service: The fee increases by £44 to £1,000, offering applicants a faster processing option.
User Pays Visa Application Service: This service sees a notable increase of £21.50, bringing it to £76.50.
Premium Services in the UK
For those already in the UK, premium services are available as well. The updated fees for these services include:
Super Priority Service: This service, which provides a faster processing option, has seen a significant increase of £200, bringing the fee to £1000.
Expedited Processing – Priority Service: This service, designed to expedite processing times, remains at £500.
On-Demand Service (Mobile Biometric Enrolment): For those requiring mobile biometric enrolment services, the fee is £650 per hour per representative of the contractor providing the service.
Provision of an Immigration Officer for Premium Services: The provision of an immigration officer for premium services to a government department remains at £57.33. Additionally, the fee per hour per officer is £77.40.
Premium Status Checks and Advice: The fees for premium status checks and advice vary based on the officer’s grade. Administrative Officer rates remain at £0.80 per minute, while Executive Officer rates stay at £0.88 per minute during office hours and £1.10 per minute outside office hours.
Higher Executive Officer rates are £0.97 per minute during office hours and £1.23 per minute outside office hours.
Premium Services at the Border
For travelers seeking premium services at the border, the following fees apply:
Registered Traveller (Adult) – Yearly Subscription: The fee for a yearly subscription for registered travelers remains at £50.
Registered Traveller (Child) – Yearly Subscription: For child travelers, the yearly subscription fee remains at £24.
Registered Traveller – Registration of New Documents: The fee for registering new documents under the Registered Traveller program remains at £20.
Fast Track – Heathrow: The Fast Track service at Heathrow Airport remains at £5.20.
Fast Track – Other Ports of Entry: For fast track services at ports of entry other than Heathrow, the fee remains at £3.00.
Work – Applications Made in the UK
For those already in the UK seeking work-related applications, the fee changes are as follows:
Innovator Founder and Start-up Visas: The main applicant and dependants will encounter fee increases. For Innovator Founder, the fee rises by £155 to £1,191.
Global Talent Visas: The fee structure for Global Talent visas varies based on the requirement for an Approval Letter. Those requiring an Approval Letter will pay £192, while those who do not need one will pay £716.
Graduate Route: The Graduate Route fee for the main applicant and dependants increases by £107 to £822.
Tier 1 (Investor) Visa: The fee for Tier 1 Investor visas, covering the main applicant and dependants, increases by £246 to £1,884.
Skilled Worker Visas: Fees for Skilled Worker visas vary based on the certificate of sponsorship duration. For certificates of sponsorship issued for three years or less, the fee increases by £108 to £827. For certificates of sponsorship issued for over three years, the fee is £1,500, an increase of £77.
Other Work Visas: A variety of other work-related visas, including those for ministers of religion, international sportspersons, temporary workers, representatives of overseas businesses, and more, see fee adjustments. These adjustments range from £39 to £108.
Study – Applications Made in the UK
For students already in the UK, the fee changes are as follows:
Student Visas: The fee for the main applicant and dependants remains unchanged at £490.
Child Student Visas: The fee for child students also remains at £490.
Other Applications Made in the UK
For various other applications made within the UK, fee changes include:
Visitor Extensions: The fee for visitor extensions remains at £1,000.
Leave to Enter for Persons in Immigration Detention: The fee for individuals in the UK who are liable to immigration detention increases by £210 to £1,258.
Leave to Remain – Other: The fee for leave to remain under other categories remains unchanged at £1,048.
Indefinite Leave to Remain: The fee for indefinite leave to remain for the main applicant and dependants increases by £481 to £2,885.
Replacement Biometric Residence Cards and Permits: Fees for replacement biometric residence cards and permits remain unchanged.
Travel Documents: Fees for various types of travel documents, including certificates of travel and convention travel documents, see modest increases.
Life in the UK Test: The fee for the Life in the UK Test remains at £50.
Nationality
For individuals seeking British nationality or related services, fee changes include:
Naturalization (British Citizenship): The fee for naturalization increases by £250 to £1,500.
Nationality Registration: Fees for nationality registration as a British citizen, both for adults and children, see adjustments ranging from £202 to £225.
Citizenship Ceremony: The fee for arranging a citizenship ceremony remains at £80.
Renunciation of Nationality: The fee for renouncing nationality remains at £372.
Certificate of Entitlement Nationality Right of Abode: The fee for obtaining a certificate of entitlement for nationality right of abode remains at £372.
Nationality Review, Status Letter, and Correction: Fees for services such as nationality review, status letters, and corrections remain unchanged.
Sponsorship
For organizations and entities involved in sponsoring individuals, the fee changes include:
Premium Sponsor Service: The annual fee for premium sponsorship services remains unchanged, varying from £8,000 to £25,000 based on sponsor size and type.
Expedited Processing of Sponsorship Management Request: The fee for expedited processing of sponsorship management requests remains at £200.
Sponsor Licenses: Various sponsor licenses, including Worker, Student, and Temporary Worker sponsor licenses, see no fee changes.
Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS): Fees for CoS issuance vary based on the category and type, with some witnessing moderate increases.
Conclusion
These updated UK immigration and nationality fees are part of the UK government’s ongoing efforts to ensure a fair and sustainable immigration system. Staying informed about these changes is essential for anyone planning to enter, stay, or work in the UK, as well as for organizations involved in the sponsorship of individuals.
At WestBridge Business Immigration, we are committed to providing our clients with the latest updates and expert guidance to navigate these changes effectively and make informed decisions about their immigration and nationality applications.
