Home Office details October UK immigration and nationality fee rises
 | vanessa@vanessaganguin.com +44 (0) 20 4551 4787 +44 (0) 7855 817714 |
| vanessa@vanessaganguin.com +44 (0) 20 4551 4787 +44 (0) 7855 817714 |
15 September 2023
The Home Office has finally published its dreaded UK visa, immigration and nationality price hikes announced by the Prime Minister in July. They will apply from 4 October 2023 and we would advise anyone affected by the bigger rises to get their applications in before. Advice from an immigration solicitor will ensure applications are more likely to succeed the first time. To speak to one of our UK immigration experts contact us on 0207 033 9527 or at enquiries@vanessaganguin.com for a free initial consultation.
- There is a bit of good news in that sponsor licence fees for employers will remain the same, though Certificates of Sponsorship are increasing by 20%.
- Settlement applications are set to rise by 20% too.
- Fees for most work and visit visas generally increase by 15% (6% increase only for visitor visas for under two years).
- Student and child student applications from overseas will go up by 35% to £490 to bring them in line with applications in country (which thankfully are not increasing.)
- The fees for expediting applications in and out of country are being aligned. Priority service (within five working days) for applications will now cost £500, super priority service (one working day) goes up to £1,000.
The rise in fees that the Home Office charges for visas, extensions and nationality applications is well beyond the rise in general inflation and follows a controversial announcement by PM Rishi Sunak who attempted to link the increase in costs to his current pay disputes with public servants.
For context, when I was practicing 20 years ago, the Home Office charged nothing at all for visa extensions, work permits or settlement.
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) – the compulsory charge to be able to use of the National Health Service – is also set to increase too by about 66%: from £624 to £1,035 per year, with the discounted rate for students, children and youth mobility visa holders increasing from £470 to £776 per year. It has already tripled since it was introduced in 2015 when it cost £200. To put this into context, an adult on a five year visa will need to pay a total of £5,175 over the course of their stay before paying their visa application fees – which are set out below. A family of two adults and two children will need to pay £18,110 over the course of a five year visa (up from £10,940). The IHS increase is expected to kick in at some point later, possibly in the early months of next year.
Adult and child citizenship applications are both set to increase despite the furore over child registration fees and the vulnerable state this can leave those whose parents haven’t been able to afford them.
Applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) now costs £2,404. In October this will increase to £2,885 each. A family of four would be looking at paying £11,540. (ILR applications can take six months, but if you want a faster decision that price is also going up to £1000 for each family member if they want to pay for the Super Priority service, raising costs even further.)
People who cannot afford to pay in country or out of country applications, or for 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 October 2023 immigration fee increases can be found below. Please contact us on 0207 033 9527 or at enquiries@vanessaganguin.com if you have any questions.
4 October Home Office immigration and nationality fee increases
Visas and applications made outside the UK
| Fees category | Current Fee | New fee from 4 October 2023 | Fee Change |
| Visit visa – short up to 6 months | £100 | £115 | £15 |
| Visit visa – long up to 2 years * | £376 | £400 | £24 |
| Visit visa – long up to 5 years | £670 | £771 | £101 |
| Visit visa – long up to 10 years | £837 | £963 | £126 |
| Visiting academic – more than 6 months but no more than 12 months | £200 | £200 | £0 |
| Private medical treatment visa – more than 6 months but not more than 11 months | £200 | £200 | £0 |
| Transit visa (direct airside transit) | £35 | £35 | £0 |
| Transit visit visa (landside transit) | £64 | £64 | £0 |
| Visa for the purpose of joining a ship or aircraft as a member of the crew of that ship or aircraft | £64 | £64 | £0 |
| Electronic Visa Waiver | £30 | £30 | £0 |
| Single-entry visa to replace a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) | £154 | £154 | £0 |
| Certificate of Entitlement Nationality Right of Abode (outside the UK) | £388 | £388 | £0 |
| Transfer of Conditions (Vignette Transfer) application made overseas | £154 | £154 | £0 |
| Other visa | £531 | £637 | £106 |
| Hong Kong British National (Overseas) for 30 months – main applicant and dependants | £180 | £180 | £0 |
| Hong Kong British National (Overseas) for 5 years – main applicant and dependants | £250 | £250 | £0 |
| Route to Settlement | £1,538 | £1,846 | £308 |
| Route to Settlement – other dependant relative | £3,250 | £3,250 | £0 |
| Route to Settlement – refugee dependant relative | £388 | £404 | £16 |
| Indefinite leave to enter the UK as the dependant of a member of the armed forces under Appendix Armed Forces to the Immigration Rules | £2,404 | £2,885 | £481 |
| Indefinite leave to enter the UK as a foreign or Commonwealth citizen discharged from HM Forces under paragraph 13 of Appendix Armed Forces to the immigration rules | £2,404 | £2,885 | £481 |
| 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 |
Work – applications made outside the UK
| Fees category | Current Fee | New fee from 4 October 2023 | Fee Change |
| Innovator Founder – main applicant and dependants | £1,036 | £1,191 | £155 |
| Endorsement fee under Innovator Founder route (payable to endorsing body) excluding VAT | £1000 | £1,000 | £0 |
| Start-up – main applicant and dependants | £378 | £435 | £57 |
| Approval letter from a competent body in respect of an initial application for Global Talent | £456 | £524 | £68 |
| Global Talent – main applicant – where Approval Letter is required | £167 | £192 | £25 |
| Global Talent – main applicant – where Approval Letter is not required | £623 | £716 | £93 |
| Global Talent – dependants only | £623 | £716 | £93 |
| Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) – dependants only | £623 | £716 | £93 |
| Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) – dependants only | £1,036 | £1,191 | £155 |
| Tier 1 (Investor) – main applicant and dependants | £1,638 | £1,884 | £246 |
| Skilled worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants | £625 | £719 | £94 |
| Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants | £1,235 | £1,420 | £185 |
| Skilled Worker – shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants | £479 | £551 | £72 |
| Skilled Worker, shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants | £943 | £1,084 | £141 |
| Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less ** – main applicant and dependants | £247 | £284 | £37 |
| Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years ** – main applicant and dependants | £479 | £551 | £72 |
| Skilled Worker – Shortage Occupation – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less ** – main applicant and dependants | £247 | £284 | £37 |
| Skilled Worker – Shortage Occupation – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years ** – main applicant and dependants | £479 | £551 | £72 |
| T2 Minister of Religion – main applicant and dependants | £625 | £719 | £94 |
| International Sportsperson where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for 12 months or less – main applicant and dependants | £259 | £298 | £39 |
| International Sportsperson where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over 12 months – main applicant and dependants | £625 | £719 | £94 |
| Temporary Work – Seasonal Worker, Religious Worker, Charity Worker, Creative Worker, International Agreement, Government Authorised Exchange and Youth Mobility Scheme – main applicant and dependants | £259 | £298 | £39 |
| Representative of an overseas business – main applicant and dependants | £625 | £719 | £94 |
| Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – up to 3 years – main applicant and dependants | £625 | £719 | £94 |
| Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – more than 3 years – main applicant and dependants | £1,235 | £1,420 | £185 |
| Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee – main applicant and dependants | £259 | £298 | £39 |
| Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier – main applicant and dependants | £259 | £298 | £39 |
| Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker – main applicant and dependants | £259 | £298 | £39 |
| Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker – main applicant and dependants | £259 | £298 | £39 |
| Scale-up – main applicant and dependants | £715 | £822 | £107 |
| High Potential Individual – main applicant and dependants | £715 | £822 | £107 |
Study – applications made outside the UK
| Fees category | Current Fee | New fee from 4 October 2023 | Fee Change |
| Student – main applicant and dependants | £363 | £490 | £127 |
| Child Student | £363 | £490 | £127 |
| Short term student studying English language for more than 6 months but not more than 11 months | £200 | £200 | £0 |
Optional premium services outside the UK
| Fees category | Current Fee | New fee from 4 October 2023 | Fee Change |
| Priority Visa service – Settlement | £573 | £500 | -£73 |
| Priority Visa service – Non-Settlement | £250 | £500 | £250 |
| Super Priority Visa service | £956 | £1000 | £44 |
| User Pays Visa Application service | £55 | £76.50 | £21.50 |
| 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) | £77.40 | £77.40 | £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 |
Optional premium services in the UK
| Fees category | Current Fee | New fee from 4 October 2023 | Fee Change |
| Super Priority service | £800 | £1000 | £200 |
| 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 | £57.33 | £57.33 | £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) | £77.40 | £77.40 | £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 |
- Premium services at the border
| Fees category | Current Fee | New fee from 4 October 2023 | Fee 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 terminals 2, 3 and 4 | £5.20 | £5.20 | £0 |
| Fast Track – Other ports of entry | £3.00 | £3.00 | £0 |
- Work – applications made in the UK
| Fees category | Current Fee | New fee from 4 October 2023 | Fee Change |
| Innovator Founder – main applicant and dependants | £1,292 | £1,486 | £194 |
| Endorsement fee under Innovator Founder route (payable to endorsing body) excluding VAT | £1000 | £1,000 | £0 |
| Start-up – main applicant and dependants | £508 | £584 | £76 |
| Approval letter from a competent body in respect of an initial application for Global Talent | £456 | £524 | £68 |
| Global Talent – main applicant – where Approval Letter is required | £167 | £192 | £25 |
| Global Talent – main applicant – where Approval Letter is not required | £623 | £716 | £93 |
| Global Talent – dependants only | £623 | £716 | £93 |
| Graduate Route – main applicant and dependants | £715 | £822 | £107 |
| Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) – dependants only | £623 | £716 | £93 |
| Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) – main applicant and dependants | £1,292 | £1,486 | £194 |
| Tier 1 (Investor) – main applicant and dependants | £1,638 | £1,884 | £246 |
| Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants | £719 | £827 | £108 |
| Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants | £1,423 | £1,500 | £77 |
| Skilled Worker, shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants | £479 | £551 | £72 |
| Skilled Worker, shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants | £943 | £1,084 | £141 |
| Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less ** – main applicant and dependants | £247 | £284 | £37 |
| Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years ** – main applicant and dependants | £479 | £551 | £72 |
| Skilled Worker – Shortage Occupation – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less ** – main applicant and dependants | £247 | £284 | £37 |
| Skilled Worker – Shortage Occupation –Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years **– main applicant and dependants | £479 | £551 | £72 |
| T2 Minister of Religion – main applicant and dependants | £719 | £827 | £108 |
| International Sportsperson where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for 12 months or less – main applicant and dependants | £259 | £298 | £39 |
| International Sportsperson where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over 12 months – main applicant and dependants | £719 | £827 | £108 |
| 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 | £259 | £298 | £39 |
| Representative of an overseas business – main applicant and dependants | £719 | £827 | £108 |
| Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – up to 3 years – main applicant and dependants | £719 | £827 | £108 |
| Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – more than 3 years – main applicant and dependants | £1,423 | £1,500 | £77 |
| Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee – main applicant and dependants | £259 | £298 | £39 |
| Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier – main applicant and dependants | £259 | £298 | £39 |
| Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker – main applicant and dependants | £259 | £298 | £39 |
| Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker – main applicant and dependants | £259 | £298 | £39 |
| Scale-up – main applicant and dependants | £715 | £822 | £107 |
| High Potential Individual – main applicant and dependants | £715 | £822 | £107 |
Study – applications made in the UK
| Fees category | Current Fee | New fee from 4 October 2023 | Fee Change |
| Student – main applicant and dependants | £490 | £490 | £0 |
| Child student | £490 | £490 | £0 |
Other applications made in the UK
| Fees category | Current Fee | New fee from 4 October 2023 | Fee Change |
| Visitor Extension – main applicant and dependants | £1000 | £1,000 | £0 |
| Leave to enter for persons in the UK who are liable to immigration detention | £1,048 | £1,258 | £210 |
| Leave to remain– Other | £1,048 | £1,048 | £0 |
| Hong Kong British National (In-country) for 30 months – main applicant and dependants | £180 | £180 | £0 |
| Hong Kong British National (In-country) for 5 years – main applicant and dependants | £250 | £250 | £0 |
| Processing an application which is subsequently rejected as invalid | £25 | £25 | £0 |
| Indefinite leave to remain – main applicants and dependants | £2,404 | £2,885 | £481 |
| 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 | £280 | £280 | £0 |
| Travel Document – Certificate of travel – child | £141 | £141 | £0 |
| Travel Document – Convention travel document – adult | £75 | £82 | £7 |
| Travel Document – Convention travel document – child | £49 | £53 | £4 |
| Administrative Review | £80 | £80 | £0 |
| Life in the UK test | £50 | £50 | £0 |
Nationality
| Fees category | Current Fee | New fee from 4 October 2023 | Fee Change |
| Naturalisation (British citizenship) **** | £1,250 | £1,500 | £250 |
| Naturalisation British overseas territory citizens | £1,000 | £1,000 | £0 |
| Nationality registration as a British citizen – adult **** | £1,126 | £1,351 | £225 |
| Nationality registration as a British citizen – child ***** | £1,012 | £1,214 | £202 |
| The arrangement of a citizenship ceremony (including the administration of a citizenship oath and pledge at the ceremony). | £80 | £80 | £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 | £901 | £0 |
| Nationality registration – British overseas territory citizen, British overseas citizens, British Subjects, British protected persons – child | £810 | £810 | £0 |
| Renunciation of nationality | £372 | £372 | £0 |
| Certificate of Entitlement Nationality Right of Abode (In the UK) | £372 | £372 | £0 |
| Nationality review | £372 | £372 | £0 |
| Status Letter (Nationality) | £250 | £250 | £0 |
| Non-acquisition Letter (Nationality) | £250 | £250 | £0 |
| Nationality correction to certificate | £250 | £250 | £0 |
| Nationality – supply of a certified copy of a notice, certificate, order or declaration | £250 | £250 | £0 |
| Nationality reissued Certificate | £250 | £250 | £0 |
Sponsorship
| Fees category | Current Fee | New fee from 4 October 2023 | Fee 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 | £1,476 | £0 |
| Worker sponsor licence (small sponsor) | £536 | £536 | £0 |
| Student sponsor licence | £536 | £536 | £0 |
| Temporary Worker sponsor licence | £536 | £536 | £0 |
| Worker and Temporary Worker sponsor licence (large sponsor) | £1,476 | £1,476 | £0 |
| Worker and Student sponsor licence (large sponsor) | £1,476 | £1,476 | £0 |
| Worker, Temporary Worker and Student sponsor licence (large sponsor) | £1,476 | £1,476 | £0 |
| Temporary Worker and Student sponsor licence | £536 | £536 | £0 |
| Worker sponsor licence (large sponsor), where sponsor currently holds a Temporary Worker and/or Student Sponsor Licence | £940 | £940 | £0 |
| 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 | £536 | £0 |
| Sponsor action plan | £1,476 | £1,476 | £0 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): Skilled Worker, T2 Minister of Religion, Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker | £199 | £239 | £40 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) – Temporary Worker including Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier and Secondment Worker route, and Scale-up route | £21 | £25 | £4 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for International Sportsperson route – Over 12 Months | £199 | £239 | £40 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for International Sportsperson route – Up to 12 months or less | £21 | £25 | £4 |
| Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS) for student, child student | £21 | £25 | £4 |
* Application fee of £100 where the applicant is a Chinese national applying in mainland China under the Chinese visa scheme
** Skilled Worker visa fees are reduced for those qualifying for Health and Care Visa and the fees after reductions are shown above
*** Administrative Officer, Executive Officer and Higher Executive Officer are Civil Service staff grades
**** The citizenship ceremony fee of £80 will be added to the application fee
***** Additional £80 per applicant is required to cover the ceremony fee should the minor turn 18 during the application process. This will be requested at point of decision