Immigration fee increase 2023

The Home Office has published notice to increase immigration fees commencing on 4 October 2023 for some immigration and nationality routes.

The amounts vary up to 20% on current fee levels.

The increases have come as no surprise given the Prime Minister’s announcement to do this earlier this year. We await an announcement to fee increases for the Immigration Health Surcharge given the Prime Minister’s comments on this.

We would of course advise those with forthcoming immigration applications to lodge these by the above date to avoid being charged the new fees.

The most notable increases are as follows:

Nationality

application to naturalise as a British citizen as an adult from £1250 to £1500
application to register as a British citizen as a child from £1012 to £1214.

Partner visa submitted from outside the UK

partner visa application from £1538 to £1846.

Skilled worker visa submitted from outside the UK

Skilled worker visa up to 3 years from £625 to £719
Skilled worker visa over 3 years from £1235 to £1420
Skilled worker visa up to 3 years, shortage occupation from £479 to £551
Skilled worker visa over 3 years year, shortage from £943 to £1084.

n.b. main applicant and dependants.

Application submitted from within the UK

Super Priority from £800 to £1000.

Skilled worker visa submitted from within the UK

Skilled worker visa up to 3 years from £719 to £827
Skilled worker visa over 3 years from £1423 to £1500
Skilled worker visa up to 3 years, shortage occupation from £479 to £551
Skilled worker visa over 3 years year, shortage occupation £943 to £1084.

n.b. main applicant and dependants.

Changes to sponsor licence fees overall remain unchanged, except for 'Certificates of Sponsorship', where the fee will increase from £199 to £239.

The changes come at a challenging time given the cost-of-living crisis impacting on everyone.

Please refer to the table below which outlines all immigration and nationality fee payable routes and the proposed new fee where applicable:

Fees category	Current Fee	Fee from 4 October 2023
1. Visas - applications made outside the UK
Visit visa – short up to 6 months	£100	£115
Visit visa – long up to 2 years	£376	£400
Visit visa – long up to 5 years	£670	£771
Visit visa – long up to 10 years	£837	£963
Visiting academic - more than 6 months but no more than 12 months	£200	£200
Private medical treatment visa - more than 6 months but not more than 11 months	£200	£200
Transit visa - (direct airside transit)	£35	£35
Transit visit visa - (landside transit)	£64	£64
Visa for the purpose of joining a ship or aircraft as a member of the crew of that ship or aircraft	£64	£64
Electronic Visa Waiver	£30	£30
Single-entry visa to replace a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)	£154	£154
Certificate of Entitlement Nationality Right of Abode (outside the UK)	£388	£388
Transfer of Conditions (Vignette Transfer) application made overseas	£154	£154
Other visa	£531	£637
Hong Kong British National (Overseas) for 30 months - main applicant and dependants	£180	£180
Hong Kong British National (Overseas) for 5 years - main applicant and dependants	£250	£250
Route to Settlement	£1,538	£1,846
Route to Settlement - other dependant relative	£3,250	£3,250
Route to Settlement - refugee dependant relative	£388	£404
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
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
Call out/ out of hours fee (per hour/part hour) - service of consular officers	£142	£142
Receiving, preparing and forwarding documents - consular functions	£141	£141
Administrative review	£80	£80

2. Work - applications made outside the UK
Innovator Founder - main applicant and dependants	£1,036	£1,191
Endorsement fee under Innovator Founder route (payable to endorsing body) excluding VAT	£1,000	£1,000
Start-Up - main applicant and dependants	£378	£435
Approval letter from a competent body in respect of an initial application for Global Talent	£456	£524
Global Talent - main applicant - where Approval Letter is required	£167	£192
Global Talent - main applicant - where Approval Letter is not required	£623	£716
Global Talent - dependants only	£623	£716
Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) - dependants only	£623	£716
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) - dependants only	£1,036	£1,191
Tier 1 (Investor) - main applicant and dependants	£1,638	£1,884
Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less - main applicant and dependants	£625	£719
Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years - main applicant and dependants	£1,235	£1,420
Skilled Worker - Shortage Occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less - main applicant and dependants	£479	£551
Skilled Worker, Shortage Occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years - main applicant and dependants	£943	£1,084
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
Skilled Worker - Health and Care Visa - where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years - main applicant and dependants	£479	£551
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
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
T2 Minister of Religion - main applicant and dependants	£625	£719
International Sportsperson, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for 12 months or less - main applicant and dependants	£259	£298
International Sportsperson, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over 12 months - main applicant and dependants	£625	£719
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
Representative of an overseas business - main applicant and dependants	£625	£719
Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker - up to 3 years - main applicant and dependants	£625	£719
Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – more than 3 years - main applicant and dependants	£1,235	£1,420
Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee - main applicant and dependants	£259	£298
Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier - main applicant and dependants	£259	£298
Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker - main applicant and dependants	£259	£298
Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker - main applicant and dependants	£259	£298
Scale-up - main applicant and dependants	£715	£822
High Potential Individual - main applicant and dependants	£715	£822

3. Study - applications made outside the UK
Student - main applicant and dependants	£363	£490
Child Student	£363	£490
Short term student studying English language for more than 6 months but not more than 11 months	£200	£200

4. Optional Premium Services outside the UK
Priority Visa service - Settlement	£573	£500
Priority Visa service - Non-Settlement	£250	£500
Super priority visa service	£956	£1,000
User Pays Visa Application service	£55	£77
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
International Contact Centre - Email Service (per query)	£2.74	£2.74
International Contact Centre - Telephone Helpline (per minute)	£0.69	£0.69

5. Optional Premium Services in the UK
Super Priority service	£800	£1,000
Expedited processing - Priority service	£500	£500
On-Demand service (Mobile Biometric Enrolment) (per hour per representative of the contractor providing the service)	£650	£650
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
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
Premium status checks and advice - Administrative Officer (per minute)	£0.80	£0.80
Premium status checks, advice or training - Executive Officer (inside office hours) (per minute)	£0.88	£0.88
Premium status checks, advice or training - Executive Officer (outside office hours) (per minute)	£1.10	£1.10
Premium status checks, advice or training - Higher Executive Officer (inside office hours) (per minute)	£0.97	£0.97
Premium status checks, advice or training - Higher Executive Officer (outside office hours) (per minute)	£1.23	£1.23

6. Premium services at the border
Registered Traveller (Adult) - Yearly Subscription (per year)	£50	£50
Registered Traveller (Child) - Yearly Subscription (per year)	£24	£24
Registered Traveller - Registration of New Documents	£20	£20
Fast Track - Heathrow	£5.20	£5.20
Fast track - Other ports of entry	£3.00	£3.00

7. Work - applications made in the UK
Innovator Founder - main applicant and dependants	£1,292	£1,486
Endorsement fee under Innovator Founder route (payable to endorsing body) excluding VAT	£1,000	£1,000
Start-Up - main applicant and dependants	£508	£584
Approval letter from a competent body in respect of an initial application for Global Talent	£456	£524
Global Talent - main applicant - where Approval Letter is required	£167	£192
Global Talent - main applicant - where Approval Letter is not required	£623	£716
Global Talent - dependants only	£623	£716
Graduate Route – main applicant and dependants	£715	£822
Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) - dependants only	£623	£716
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) - main applicant and dependants	£1,292	£1,486
Tier 1 (Investor) - main applicant and dependants	£1,638	£1,884
Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less - main applicant and dependants	£719	£827
Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years - main applicant and dependants	£1,423	£1,500
Skilled Worker, shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less - main applicant and dependants	£479	£551
Skilled Worker, shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years - main applicant and dependants	£943	£1,084
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
Skilled Worker - Health and Care Visa - where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years - main applicant and dependants	£479	£551
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
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
T2 Minister of Religion - main applicant and dependants	£719	£827
International Sportsperson, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for 12 months or less - main applicant and dependants	£259	£298
International Sportsperson, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over 12 months - main applicant and dependants	£719	£827
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
Representative of an overseas business - main applicant and dependants	£719	£827
Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker - up to 3 years - main applicant and dependants	£719	£827
Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – more than 3 years - main applicant and dependants	£1,423	£1,500
Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee - main applicant and dependants	£259	£298
Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier - main applicant and dependants	£259	£298
Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker - main applicant and dependants	£259	£298
Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker - main applicant and dependants	£259	£298
Scale-up - main applicant and dependants	£715	£822
High Potential Individual - main applicant and dependants	£715	£822

8. Study - applications made in the UK
Student - main applicant and dependants	£490	£490
Child student	£490	£490

9. Other applications made in the UK
Visitor Extension - main applicant and dependants	£1,000	£1,000
Leave to enter for persons in the UK who are liable to immigration detention	£1,048	£1,258
Leave to remain - Other	£1,048	£1,048
Hong Kong British National (In-Country) for 30 months - main applicant and dependants	£180	£180
Hong Kong British National (In-Country) for 5 years - main applicant and dependants	£250	£250
Processing an application which is subsequently rejected as invalid	£25	£25
Indefinite leave to remain - main applicant and dependants	£2,404	£2,885
Replacement Biometric Residence Card (issued under the EU Settlement Scheme) which has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed	£19	£19
Replacement Biometric Residence Permit which has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed	£19	£19
Travel Document - Certificate of travel - adult	£280	£280
Travel Document - Certificate of travel - child	£141	£141
Travel Document - Convention travel document - adult	£75	£82
Travel Document - Convention travel document - child	£49	£53
Administrative Review	£80	£80
Life in the UK test	£50	£50

10. Nationality
Naturalisation (British citizenship)	£1,250	£1,500
Naturalisation British overseas territory citizens	£1,000	£1,000
Nationality registration as a British citizen - adult	£1,126	£1,351
Nationality registration as a British citizen - child	£1,012	£1,214
The arrangement of a citizenship ceremony (including the administration of a citizenship oath and pledge at the ceremony).	£80	£80
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
Nationality registration - British overseas territory citizen, British overseas citizens, British Subjects, British protected persons - adult	£901	£901
Nationality registration - British overseas territory citizen, British overseas citizens, British Subjects, British protected persons - child	£810	£810
Renunciation of nationality	£372	£372
Certificate of Entitlement Nationality Right of Abode (In the UK)	£372	£372
Nationality review	£372	£372
Status Letter (Nationality)	£250	£250
Non-acquisition Letter (Nationality)	£250	£250
Nationality correction to certificate	£250	£250
Nationality - supply of a certified copy of a notice, certificate, order or declaration	£250	£250
Nationality reissued Certificate	£250	£250
11. Sponsorship
Premium Sponsor Service (12 months) Worker sponsor and Temporary worker sponsor – large sponsors	£25,000	£25,000
Premium Sponsor Service (12 months) Worker sponsor and Temporary worker sponsor – small sponsors	£8,000	£8,000
Premium Sponsor Service (12 months) Student sponsors	£8,000	£8,000
The expedited processing of a sponsorship management request made by a Worker sponsor or Temporary worker sponsor	£200	£200
Priority service for expedited processing of sponsor licence applications	£500	£500
Worker sponsor licence (large sponsor)	£1,476	£1,476
Worker sponsor licence (small sponsor)	£536	£536
Student sponsor licence	£536	£536
Temporary Worker sponsor licence	£536	£536
Worker and Temporary Worker sponsor licence (large sponsor)	£1,476	£1,476
Worker and Student sponsor licence (large sponsor)	£1,476	£1,476
Worker, Temporary Worker and Student sponsor licence (large sponsor)	£1,476	£1,476
Temporary Worker and Student sponsor licence	£536	£536
Worker sponsor licence (large sponsor), where sponsor currently holds a Temporary Worker and/or Student Sponsor Licence	£940	£940
Endorsement fee for a Scale-up sponsor licence under Endorsing Body Pathway (payable to the endorsing body) excluding VAT	£1,500	£1,500
Student sponsor basic compliance assessment	£536	£536
Sponsor action plan	£1,476	£1,476
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): > Skilled Worker > T2 Minister of Religion, > Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker	£199	£239
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
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for International Sportsperson route - Over 12 Months	£199	£239
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for International Sportsperson route - Up to 12 months or less	£21	£25
Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS) for student, child student	£21	£25