On 9th April 2025, the UK Home Office introduced several changes to immigration and nationality fees. These increases apply to a wide range of visa applications, including work, family, and nationality services. Below is a concise overview of the key changes, including both in-country and out-of-country fee increases.
| Visa Type | Fee Type | Old Fee | New Fee | Increase |
| Work Visas | Skilled Worker Visa (Out of Country, Up to 3 years) | £719 | £769 | £50 |
| Skilled Worker Visa (Out of Country, Over 3 years) | £1,420 | £1,519 | £99 | |
| Skilled Worker Visa (In Country, Up to 3 years) | £827 | £885 | £58 | |
| Skilled Worker Visa (In Country, Over 3 years) | £1,636 | £1,751 | £115 | |
| Global Talent Visa (both In Country and Out of Country) | £716 | £766 | £50 | |
| Note: Same fees apply to dependents | ||||
| Student Visas | Student Visa (Out of Country) | £490 | £524 | £34 |
| Student Visa (In Country) | £490 | £524 | £34 | |
| Note: Same fees apply to dependents and child student visas | ||||
| Visitor Visas | Standard Visitor Visa (Up to 6 months, Out of Country) | £115 | £127 | £12 |
| Family Visas | Route to Settlement (Main Applicant, Out of Country) | £1,846 | £1,938 | £92 |
| Leave to Remain (In Country) | £1,258 | £1,321 | £63 | |
| Settlement | Indefinite Leave to Remain | £2,885 | £3,029 | £144 |
| Nationality Fees | British Citizenship (Naturalisation) | £1,500 | £1,605 | £105 |
| Registration as a British Citizen (Adult) | £1,351 | £1,446 | £95 | |
| Registration for Children | £1,214 | £1,214 | No Change | |
| Sponsorship Fees | Sponsorship Licence (Small or Charitable Sponsors) | £536 | £574 | £38 |
| Sponsorship Licence (Medium or Large Sponsors) | £1,476 | £1,579 | £103 | |
| Sponsorship CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) | £239 | £525 | £286 |
No Changes to Premium Services and Immigration Health Surcharge
There are no changes to premium services such as priority, super priority, or user pay fees. Likewise, the Immigration Health Surcharge remains at a rate of £1,035 per year for most applicants, or £776 per year for children, students and their dependants, and those on a Youth Mobility Scheme visa.
What are the implications for Migrants and Employers?
The increase in sponsorship fees and visa costs is likely to have a significant financial impact, especially for migrants applying for long-term work visas, family visas, or British citizenship. Employers will need to adjust their budgets accordingly, as higher fees make hiring skilled workers from abroad more expensive and less attractive. This could discourage some businesses, particularly smaller and charitable organisations with a tighter budget, from sponsoring foreign talent, while larger companies may look to reconsider their recruitment strategies. As a result, businesses may approach international hiring more cautiously, potentially limiting the diversity and expertise available to the UK workforce. The need for talent to fill skills shortages in the UK market weighed against increased costs will be a finer balancing act moving forward.
Relocating is already an expensive endeavour, especially for larger families, and migrants must also prepare for increased costs which may not be covered by a sponsor such as an employer, especially when dependents are involved in their applications. Employers will need to stay informed to avoid disruptions, particularly if they rely heavily on international talent.
Over the past few years, the UK government has implemented stricter visa requirements, higher application fees and more complex sponsorship processes creating a challenging environment for businesses. In industries like technology, healthcare and education, where skills shortages persist, rising costs and increasing difficulties may prompt companies to opt for local talent or relocate to countries with more favourable immigration policies. Ultimately, this shift could narrow the talent pool available to UK businesses, potentially restricting innovation and impacting long-term competitiveness.
If you need advice in respect of your immigration matters in the United Kingdom, please do not hesitate to contact our team today.