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April 2025 UK Visa application, immigration, nationality and sponsorship fee rises

London and UK parliament through London Eye

by Vanessa Ganguin

vanessa@vanessaganguin.com
+44 (0) 20 4551 4787
+44 (0) 7855 817714

by Vanessa Ganguin

vanessa@vanessaganguin.com
+44 (0) 20 4551 4787
+44 (0) 7855 817714

19 March 2025

Most United Kingdom immigration, visa application and nationality fees are increasing on 9 April 2025. If the UK didn’t already have the most expensive immigration system in the world, Britain may well do after 9 April, when most UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) fees are going up by between 5 and 10%. This might not seem like a lot – but the cost of settlement in Britain – applying Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK will now break the £3K mark, costing £3,029 each for applicants, their spouses and dependent children – a cost many migrants rights organisations have long argued is already far too high.

Sponsors don’t escape higher fees, with a notable 120% increase in the cost of a Certificate of Sponsorship to sponsor most migrant workers – up from £239 to £525 next month.

People who cannot afford to pay in country or out of country applications, including child citizenship applications can apply for a fee waiver – you can find the guidance here.

There is no fee for asylum and EU Settlement Scheme applications.

The full set of  immigration fees as of 9 April 2025 can be found below. Please contact us on 0207 033 9527 or at enquiries@vanessaganguin.com if you have any questions.

There are also increases to passport fees from 10 April 2025 (see below.

How much do non-work visa applications made outside the UK cost?

Fees categoryCurrent feeFee from 9 April 2025Fee change
Visit visa – short up to 6 months£115£127£12
Visit visa – long up to 2 years£432£475£43
Visit visa – long up to 5 years£771£848£77
Visit visa – long up to 10 years£963£1059£96
Visiting academic – more than 6 months but no more than 12 months£200£220£20
Private medical treatment visa – more than 6 months but not more than 11 months£200£220£20
Transit visa (direct airside transit)£35£39£4
Transit visit visa (landside transit)£64£70£6
Visa for the purpose of joining a ship or aircraft as a member of the crew of that ship or aircraft£64£70£6
Single-entry visa to replace a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)£154£154£0
Certificate of Entitlement to Right of Abode (outside the UK)£550£589£39
Transfer of Conditions (Vignette Transfer) application made overseas£154£154£0
Other visa£637£682£45
Hong Kong British National (Overseas) for 30 months – main applicant and dependants£180£193£13
Hong Kong British National (Overseas) for 5 years – main applicant and dependants£250£268£18
Route to Settlement£1,846£1,938£92
Route to Settlement – other dependant relative£3,250£3,413£163
Route to Settlement – refugee dependant relative£404£424£20
Indefinite leave to enter the UK as the dependant of an HM Armed Forces service leaver or a member of HM Armed Forces under Appendix HM Armed Forces to the Immigration Rules£2,885£3,029£144
Indefinite leave to enter the UK as an HM Armed Forces service leaver or a member of HM Armed Forces under Appendix HM Armed Forces to the Immigration Rules£2,885£3,029£144
Call out / out of hours fee (per hour/part hour) – service of consular officers£142£142£0
Receiving, preparing and forwarding documents – consular functions£141£141£0
Administrative review£80£80£0
Electronic travel authorisation (ETA)£10£16£6
Indefinite leave to enter the UK as a victim of domestic abuse and dependant children under Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse to the Immigration Rules£2,885£3,029£144

How much do work visa and business immigration applications cost outside the UK?

Fees categoryCurrent feeFee from 9 April 2025Fee change
Innovator Founder – main applicant and dependants£1,191£1,274£83
Endorsement fee under Innovator Founder route (payable to endorsing body) excluding VAT£1,000£1,000£0
Contact point meeting with endorsing body under Innovator Founder route (payable to endorsing body) excluding VAT£500£500£0
Start-up – main applicant and dependants£435£465£30
Approval letter from a competent body in respect of an initial application for Global Talent£524£561£37
Global Talent – main applicant – where Approval Letter is required£192£205£13
Global Talent – main applicant – where Approval Letter is not required£716£766£50
Global Talent – dependants only£716£766£50
Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) – dependants only£716£766£50
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) – dependants only£1,191£1,274£83
Tier 1 (Investor) – main applicant and dependants£1,884£2,000£116
Skilled worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for 3 years or less – main applicant and dependants£719£769£50
Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for over 3 years – main applicant and dependants£1,420£1,519£99
Skilled Worker – a job on the Immigration Salary List where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for 3 years or less – main applicant and dependants£551£590£39
Skilled Worker – a job on the Immigration Salary List where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for over 3 years – main applicant and dependants£1,084£1,160£76
Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for 3 years or less – main applicant and dependants£284£304£20
Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for over 3 years – main applicant and dependants£551£590£39
Skilled Worker – a job on the Immigration Salary List – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for 3 years or less – main applicant and dependants£284£304£20
Skilled Worker – a job on the Immigration Salary List – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for over 3 years – main applicant and dependants£551£590£39
T2 Minister of Religion – main applicant and dependants£719£769£50
International Sportsperson, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for 12 months or less – main applicant and dependants£298£319£21
International Sportsperson, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for over 12 months – main applicant and dependants£719£769£50
Temporary Work – Seasonal Worker, Religious Worker, Charity Worker, Creative Worker, International Agreement, Government Authorised Exchange and Youth Mobility Scheme – main applicant and dependants£298£319£21
Representative of an overseas business – main applicant and dependants£719£769£50
Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – up to 3 years – main applicant and dependants£719£769£50
Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – more than 3 years – main applicant and dependants£1,420£1,519£99
Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee – main applicant and dependants£298£319£21
Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier – main applicant and dependants£298£319£21
Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker – main applicant and dependants£298£319£21
Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker – main applicant and dependants£298£319£21
Scale-up – main applicant and dependants£822£880£58
High Potential Individual – main applicant and dependants£822£880£58

How much do Student visa applications made outside the UK cost?

Fees categoryCurrent feeFee from 9 April 2025Fee change
Student – main applicant and dependants£490£524£34
Child Student£490£524£34
Short term student studying English language for more than 6 months but not more than 11 months£200£214£14

How much do premium visa application services outside the UK cost?

Fees categoryCurrent feeFee from 9 April 2025Fee change
Priority Visa service – Settlement£500£500£0
Priority Visa service – Non-Settlement£500£500£0
Super Priority Visa service£1,000£1,000£0
User Pays Visa Application service£76.50£76.50£0
The provision of an immigration officer to provide any premium service relating to entry into or transit through the United Kingdom (per hour per officer)£150£150£0
International Contact Centre – Email Service (per query)£2.74£2.74£0
International Contact Centre – Telephone Helpline (per minute)£0.69£0.69£0

How much do premium visa application services made in the UK cost?

Fees categoryCurrent feeFee from 9 April 2025Fee change
Super Priority service£1,000£1,000£0
Expedited processing – Priority service£500£500£0
On-Demand service (Mobile Biometric Enrolment) (per hour per representative of the contractor providing the service)£650£650£0
The provision of an immigration officer to deliver any premium service, to a Government Department, relating to entry into or transit through the United Kingdom£72.27£72.27£0
The provision of an immigration officer to deliver any premium service, relating to entry into or transit through the United Kingdom (per hour per officer)£150£150£0
Premium status checks and advice – Administrative Officer (per minute)£0.80£0.80£0
Premium status checks, advice or training – Executive Officer (inside office hours) (per minute)£0.88£0.88£0
Premium status checks, advice or training – Executive Officer (outside office hours) (per minute)£1.10£1.10£0
Premium status checks, advice or training – Higher Executive Officer (inside office hours) (per minute)£0.97£0.97£0
Premium status checks, advice or training – Higher Executive Officer (outside office hours)(per minute)£1.23£1.23£0

What is the cost of premium services for applications made at the UK border?

Fees categoryCurrent feeFee from 9 April 2025Fee change
Registered Traveller (Adult) – Yearly Subscription (per year)£50£50£0
Registered Traveller (Child) – Yearly Subscription (per year)£24£24£0
Registered Traveller – Registration of New Documents£20£20£0
Fast Track – Heathrow£10£10£0
Fast Track – Other ports of entry£10£10£0

How much do in-country UK work visa and business immigration applications cost?

Fees categoryCurrent feeFee from 9 April 2025Fee change
Innovator Founder – main applicant and dependants£1,486£1,590£104
Endorsement fee under Innovator Founder route (payable to endorsing body) excluding VAT£1,000£1,000£0
Contact point meeting with endorsing body under Innovator Founder route (payable to endorsing body) excluding VAT£500£500£0
Start-up – main applicant and dependants£584£625£41
Approval letter from a competent body in respect of an initial application for Global Talent£524£561£37
Global Talent – main applicant – where Approval Letter is required£192£205£13
Global Talent – main applicant – where Approval Letter is not required£716£766£50
Global Talent – dependants only£716£766£50
Graduate Route – main applicant and dependants£822£880£58
Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) – dependants only£716£766£50
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) – main applicant and dependants£1,486£1,590£104
Tier 1 (Investor) – main applicant and dependants£1,884£2,000£116
Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for 3 years or less – main applicant and dependants£827£885£58
Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for over 3 years – main applicant and dependants£1,636£1,751£115
Skilled Worker – a job on the Immigration Salary List where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for 3 years or less – main applicant and dependants£551£590£39
Skilled Worker – a job on the Immigration Salary List where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for over 3 years – main applicant and dependants£1,084£1,160£76
Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for 3 years or less – main applicant and dependants£284£304£20
Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for over 3 years – main applicant and dependants£551£590£39
Skilled Worker – a job on the Immigration Salary List- Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for 3 years or less – main applicant and dependants£284£304£20
Skilled Worker – a job on the Immigration Salary List – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for over 3 years – main applicant and dependants£551£590£39
T2 Minister of Religion – main applicant and dependants£827£885£58
International Sportsperson, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for 12 months or less – main applicant and dependants£298£319£21
International Sportsperson, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for over 12 months – main applicant and dependants£827£885£58
Temporary Worker – Seasonal Worker, Religious Worker, Charity Worker, Creative Worker, International Agreement Worker, Government Authorised Exchange Worker and Youth Mobility Scheme – main applicant and dependants£298£319£21
Representative of an overseas business – main applicant and dependants£827£885£58
Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – up to 3 years – main applicant and dependants£827£885£58
Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – more than 3 years – main applicant and dependants£1,636£1,751£115
Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee – main applicant and dependants£298£319£21
Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier – main applicant and dependants£298£319£21
Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker – main applicant and dependants£298£319£21
Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker – main applicant and dependants£298£319£21
Scale-up – main applicant and dependants£822£880£58
High Potential Individual – main applicant and dependants£822£880£58

How much do in-country student visa applications cost?

Fees categoryCurrent feeFee from 9 April 2025Fee change
Student – main applicant and dependants£490£524£34
Child student£490£524£34

How much do non-work or student UK visa applications cost in-country?

Fees categoryCurrent feeFee from 9 April 2025Fee change
Visitor Extension – main applicant and dependants£1,000£1,100£100
Leave to enter for persons in the UK who are liable to immigration detention£1,258£1,321£63
Leave to remain– Other£1,258£1,321£63
Hong Kong British National (In-country) for 30 months – main applicant and dependants£180£193£13
Hong Kong British National (In-country) for 5 years – main applicant and dependants£250£268£18
Processing an application which is subsequently rejected as invalid£25£28£3
Indefinite leave to remain – main applicants and dependants£2,885£3,029£144
Replacement Biometric Residence Card (issued under the EU Settlement Scheme) which has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed£19£19£0
Replacement Biometric Residence Permit which has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed£19£19£0
Travel Document – Certificate of travel – adult (effective from 10 April 2025)£280£300£20
Travel Document – Certificate of travel – child (effective from 10 April 2025)£141£151£10
Travel Document – Convention travel document – adult (effective from 10 April 2025)£82£94.50£12.50
Travel Document – Convention travel document – child (effective from 10 April 2025)£53£61.50£8.50
Administrative Review£80£80£0
Life in the UK test£50£50£0

How much are UK nationality fees now?

Fees categoryCurrent feeFee from 9 April 2025Fee change
Naturalisation (British citizenship)

(A citizenship ceremony fee of £130 will be added to the application fee)

£1,500£1,605£105
Naturalisation British overseas territory citizens£1,000£1,070£70
Nationality registration as a British citizen – adult

(A citizenship ceremony fee of £130 will be added to the application fee)

£1,351£1,446£95
Nationality registration as a British citizen – child

(A citizenship ceremony fee of £130 will be added to the application fee if the child turns 18)

£1,214£1,214£0
The arrangement of a citizenship ceremony (including the administration of a citizenship oath and pledge at the ceremony).£130£130£0
The administration of a citizenship oath, or oath and pledge where the oath, or oath and pledge, are not administered at a citizenship ceremony or by a justice of the peace.£5£5£0
Nationality registration – British overseas territory citizen, British overseas citizens, British Subjects, British protected persons – adult£901£964£63
Nationality registration – British overseas territory citizen, British overseas citizens, British Subjects, British protected persons – child£810£810£0
Renunciation of nationality£450£482£32
Certificate of Entitlement Nationality Right of Abode (In the UK)£550£589£39
Nationality review£450£482£32
Status Letter (Nationality)£429£459£30
Non-acquisition Letter (Nationality)£429£459£30
Nationality correction to certificate£400£428£28
Nationality – supply of a certified copy of a notice, certificate, order or declaration£400£428£28
Nationality reissued Certificate£400£428£28

What are the latest UK sponsor licence fees?

Fees categoryCurrent feeFee from 9 April 2025Fee change
Premium Sponsor Service (12 months) Worker sponsor and Temporary worker sponsor – large sponsors£25,000£25,000£0
Premium Sponsor Service (12 months) Worker sponsor and Temporary worker sponsor – small sponsors£8,000£8,000£0
Premium Sponsor Service (12 months) Student sponsors£8,000£8,000£0
The expedited processing of a sponsorship management request made by a Worker sponsor or Temporary worker sponsor£200£200£0
Priority service for expedited processing of sponsor licence applications£500£500£0
Worker sponsor licence (large sponsor )£1,476£1,579£103
Worker sponsor licence (small sponsor)£536£574£28
Student sponsor licence£536£574£28
Temporary Worker sponsor licence£536£574£28
Worker and Temporary Worker sponsor licence (large sponsor)£1,476£1,579£103
Worker and Student sponsor licence (large sponsor)£1,476£1,579£103
Worker, Temporary Worker and Student sponsor licence (large sponsor)£1,476£1,579£103
Temporary Worker and Student sponsor licence£536£574£38
Worker sponsor licence (large sponsor), where sponsor currently holds a Temporary Worker and/or Student Sponsor Licence£940£1,005£65
Endorsement fee for a Scale-up sponsor licence under Endorsing Body Pathway (payable to the endorsing body) excluding VAT£1,500£1,500£0
Student sponsor basic compliance assessment£536£574£38
Sponsor action plan£1,476£1,579£103
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or approval under Sponsor a Worker: Skilled Worker, T2 Minister of Religion, Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker£239£525£286
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or approval under Sponsor a Worker – Temporary Worker including Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier and Secondment Worker route, and Scale-up route£25£55£30
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or approval under Sponsor a Worker for International Sportsperson route – Over 12 months£239£525£286
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or approval under Sponsor a Worker for International Sportsperson route – Up to 12 months or less£25£55£30
Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS) for student, child student£25£55£30

What are the fees for assessment of an overseas qualification?

Fees category (all payable directly to the supplier)Current feeFee from 9 April 2025Fee change
For a recognised appropriate level of English language£140£140£0
For a recognised appropriate level of English language with a downloadable digital statement of the outcome£147.50£147.50£0
For a recognised standard of overseas qualification including, if requested, a recognised appropriate level of English language£210£210£0
For  a recognised standard of overseas qualification including, if requested, a recognised appropriate level of English language, with a downloadable digital statement of the outcome£217.50£217.50£0

What are the optional priority fees for assessment of an overseas qualification?

Fees category (all payable directly to the supplier)Current feeFee from 9 April 2025Fee change
Priority service for a recognised appropriate level of English language£124£124£0
Super priority service for a recognised appropriate level of English language£174£174£0

What will a British passport application cost?

Passport fees also increasing from 10 April 2025:

  • the fee for a standard online application made from within the UK will rise from £88.50 to £94.50 for adults and £57.50 to £61.50 for children
    postal applications will increase from £100 to £107 for adults and £69 to £74 for children
  • the fee for a Premium Service (1 day) application made from within in the UK will rise from £207.50 to £222 for adults and £176.50 to £189 for children
  • the fee for a standard online application when applying from overseas for a UK passport will rise from £101 to £108 for adults and £65.50 to £70 for children
  • overseas standard paper applications will increase from £112.50 to £120.50 for adults and £77 to £82.50 for children