Home Office To Raise Immigration Fees in 2025

The Home Office has unveiled plans to significantly increase immigration and nationality fees, as announced on 16 January 2025.

These proposed changes, outlined in the draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2025, are set to take effect as soon as they receive approval from both the House of Commons and the Lords.

The Government aims to raise an estimated £269 million annually through these adjustments. This move seeks to reduce the reliance of the UK’s migration and borders system on taxpayer funding by generating additional revenue from immigration and nationality services.

Key Changes for Employers and Applicants

The proposed fee increases will impact a wide range of services, including visa sponsorship, naturalisation, and travel authorisation. Below are the highlights:

For Employers Sponsoring Workers

Skilled Worker and Work Visa Routes: These changes alone are expected to generate £111 million in additional revenue by the 2025/26 fiscal year.
- Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) fees will rise from £239 to £525.
- Fees for temporary workers will increase from £25 to £55.

For UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

The ETA scheme, launched in Autumn 2023 with an initial fee of £10. Currently, all visa-free travellers to the UK aside from EU nationals need to obtain travel authorsation to enter the UK.

The maximum fee for ETA will increase from £15 to £16.

For Citizenship Applications

Acquiring British citizenship grants you the right to live and work in the UK indefinitely, free from any immigration restrictions.

British Citizenship Application: Fees will increase from £1,500 to £1,605.
Naturalisation as a British Overseas Territories Citizen: Costs will rise from £1,000 to £1,070.

For Other Nationality-related Fees

Renunciation of British Citizenship: Maximum fee will increase from £450 to £482.
Amendments to Citizenship Certificates: Fees will rise from £400 to £428.
Administrative Reviews: Fees to increase from £450 to £482.
Right of Abode Documentation: Costs will rise from £550 to £589.

These fee increases will affect a wide range of individuals and employers, making it more expensive to sponsor workers, apply for travel authorisation, or pursue British citizenship.

Apply Now Before Fees Increase

If you're planning to apply for a visa, citizenship, or other immigration services, it’s crucial to act now before the new fees come into effect. Submitting your application early can help you lock in the current, lower rates and save potentially hundreds of pounds.

For more information on these changes and to stay updated, consult the Home Office’s explanatory memorandum or contact an immigration advisor.

If you need assistance with UK visa applications, contact IaM.

When do you plan to apply for a UK Visa? Talk to us in the comment section below. Or if you need more advice on the above, contact us for further travel & immigration advice.

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