New Immigration Application Fees from 4th October 2023

The UK government is yet to make another bold move to change immigration application fees this October 4th, 2023. The memorandum they released earlier this month was truly made by someone with an eye for detail, especially after announcing an increase of 15% to 20% to different immigration and nationality products and services of the Home Office.

Though a lot of people – particularly those with Skilled Worker Visas and Visa Sponsorship, have shared their mixed emotions about this, the UK Visas and Immigration have made their decisions and there’s no turning back.

According to the explanatory memorandum, the increase in immigration application fees can greatly contribute to widening the funding objectives of the government organization.

Key takeaways:

The immigration health surcharge is now £1,035 per year from £624 – but it’ll only be introduced until autumn this year. This is after the Houses of Parliament agreed to the increase of the application fees according to an Affirmative procedure.

Take note that the New route ‘Appendix Gurkha and Hong Kong military unit veteran discharged before 1 July 1997’ will only be added to the new list of immigration application fees on October 5, 2023. The fee is going to be £1,846.

There’ll be a £10 fee for an electronic travel authorization but it’s not until October 25, 2023.

Remember that not all immigration application fees are subject to change. Thus, ensure that you take a good look at the appropriate fees that fall into your immigration category.

Below is a full list of New Immigration Application Fees (including fee category and old fees before October 4th)

Enabling Provision (Fees Order)	Method of Calculation	In-Country/ Overseas	Fee Category	Current Fee	Fee from 4 October 2023	% Change
Entry clearance as a Visitor for a period of six months or less.	Fixed Amount	Overseas	Visit visa – short up to 6 months	£100	£115	15%
Entry clearance as a visitor for a period more than six months up to and including twelve months.	Fixed Amount	Overseas	Visiting academic – more than 6 months but no more than 12 months	£200	£200	0%
	Fixed Amount	Overseas	Private medical treatment visa – more than 6 months but not more than 11 months	£200	£200	0%
Entry clearance as a visitor for a period of more than twelve months.	Annual rate	Overseas	Visit visa – long up to 2 years [Footnote 1]	£376	£400	6%
		Overseas	Visit visa – long up to 5 years	£670	£771	15%
		Overseas	Visit visa – long up to 10 years	£837	£963	15%
Leave to remain in the United Kingdom as a visitor	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Visitor Extension – main applicant and dependants	£1,000	£1,000	0%
Entry clearance or limited leave as a sponsored worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants	£719	£827	15%
		Overseas	Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants	£625	£719	15%
		In-Country	T2 Minister of Religion – main applicant and dependants	£719	£827	15%
		Overseas	T2 Minister of Religion – main applicant and dependants	£625	£719	15%
		In-Country	Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants	£1,423	£1,500	5%
		Overseas	Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants	£1,235	£1,420	15%
		In-Country	International Sportsperson, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for 12 months or less – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	15%
		Overseas	International Sportsperson, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for 12 months or less – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	15%
		In-Country	International Sportsperson, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over 12 months – main applicant and dependants	£719	£827	15%
		Overseas	International Sportsperson, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over 12 months – main applicant and dependants	£625	£719	15%
		In-Country	Skilled Worker, shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants	£479	£551	15%
		Overseas	Skilled Worker – Shortage Occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants	£479	£551	15%
		In-Country	Skilled Worker, shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants	£943	£1,084	15%
		Overseas	Skilled Worker, Shortage Occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants	£943	£1,084	15%
		In-Country	Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less [Footnote 2] – main applicant and dependants	£247	£284	15%
		Overseas	Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less [Footnote 2] – main applicant and dependants	£247	£284	15%
		In-Country	Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years [Footnote 2] – main applicant and dependants	£479	£551	15%
		Overseas	Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years [Footnote 2] – main applicant and dependants	£479	£551	15%
		In-Country	Skilled Worker – Shortage Occupation – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less [Footnote 2] – main applicant and dependants	£247	£284	15%
		Overseas	Skilled Worker – Shortage Occupation – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less [Footnote 2] – main applicant and dependants	£247	£284	15%
		In-Country	Skilled Worker – Shortage Occupation – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years [Footnote 2] – main applicant and dependants	£479	£551	15%
		Overseas	Skilled Worker – Shortage Occupation – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years [Footnote 2] – main applicant and dependants	£479	£551	15%
Entry clearance or limited leave as an unsponsored worker	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) – main applicant and dependants	£1,292	£1,486	15%
		Overseas	Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) – dependants only	£1,036	£1,191	15%
		In-Country	Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) – dependants only	£623	£716	15%
		Overseas	Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) – dependants only	£623	£716	15%
		In-Country	Tier 1 (Investor) – main applicant and dependants	£1,638	£1,884	15%
		Overseas	Tier 1 (Investor) – main applicant and dependants	£1,638	£1,884	15%
		In-Country	High Potential Individual – main applicant and dependants	£715	£822	15%
		Overseas	High Potential Individual – main applicant and dependants	£715	£822	15%
Entry clearance or limited leave as a sponsored worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – up to 3 years – main applicant and dependants	£719	£827	15%
		Overseas	Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – up to 3 years – main applicant and dependants	£625	£719	15%
		In-Country	Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – more than 3 years – main applicant and dependants	£1,423	£1,500	5%
		Overseas	Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – more than 3 years -main applicant and dependants	£1,235	£1,420	15%
		In-Country	Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	15%
		Overseas	Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	15%
		In-Country	Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	15%
		Overseas	Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	15%
		In-Country	Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	15%
		Overseas	Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	15%
		In-Country	Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	15%
		Overseas	Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	15%
		In-Country	Scale-up – main applicant and dependants	£715	£822	15%
		Overseas	Scale-up – main applicant and dependants	£715	£822	15%
Entry clearance or limited leave as a student	Fixed Amount	Overseas	Short term student studying English language for more than 6 months but not more than 11 months	£200	£200	0%
		In-Country	Student – main applicant and dependants	£490	£490	0%
		In-Country	Child student	£490	£490	0%
		Overseas	Student – main applicant and dependants	£363	£490	35%
		Overseas	Child Student	£363	£490	35%
Entry clearance or limited leave to remain for any purpose (excluding visits) not referred to in the preceding provisions of this table	Fixed Amount	Overseas	Route to Settlement	£1,538	£1,846	20%
Entry clearance or limited leave for any purpose (excluding visits) not referred to in the preceding provisions of this table	Fixed Amount	Overseas	Route to Settlement – refugee dependant relative	£388	£404	4%
		Overseas	Other visa	£531	£637	20%
		In-Country	Representative of an overseas business – main applicant and dependants	£719	£827	15%
		Overseas	Representative of an overseas business – main applicant and dependants	£625	£719	15%
		Overseas	Single-entry visa to replace a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)	£154	£154	0%
		In-Country	Hong Kong British National (In-Country) for 30 months – main applicant and dependants	£180	£180	0%
		In-Country	Hong Kong British National (In-Country) for 5 years – main applicant and dependants	£250	£250	0%
		Overseas	Hong Kong British National (Overseas) for 30 months – main applicant and dependants	£180	£180	0%
		Overseas	Hong Kong British National (Overseas) for 5 years – main applicant and dependants	£250	£250	0%
		In-Country	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	15%
		Overseas	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	15%
		In-Country	Innovator Founder – main applicant and dependants	£1,292	£1,486	15%
		In-Country	Endorsement fee under Innovator Founder route (payable to endorsing body) excluding VAT	£1,000	£1,000	0%
		Overseas	Innovator Founder – main applicant and dependants	£1,036	£1,191	15%
		Overseas	Endorsement fee under Innovator Founder route (payable to endorsing body) excluding VAT	£1,000	£1,000	0%
		In-Country	Start-Up – main applicant and dependants	£508	£584	15%
		Overseas	Start-Up – main applicant and dependants	£378	£435	15%
		In-Country	Global Talent – main applicant – where Approval Letter is required	£167	£192	15%
		In-Country	Global Talent – main applicant – where Approval Letter is not required	£623	£716	15%
		In-Country	Global Talent – dependants only	£623	£716	15%
		Overseas	Global Talent – main applicant – where Approval Letter is not required	£623	£716	15%
		Overseas	Global Talent – main applicant – where Approval Letter is required	£167	£192	15%
		Overseas	Global Talent – dependants only	£623	£716	15%
		In-Country	Graduate Route – main applicant and dependants	£715	£822	15%
		In-Country	Leave to enter for persons in the UK who are liable to immigration detention	£1,048	£1,258	20%
		In-Country	Leave to remain – Other	£1,048	£1,048	0%
Indefinite leave	Fixed Amount	Overseas	Route to Settlement – other dependant relative	£3,250	£3,250	0%
		In-Country	Indefinite leave to remain – main applicant and dependants	£2,404	£2,885	20%
		Overseas	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	20%
		Overseas	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	20%
Copy, or replacement, or amended version of any of the documents specified above.	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Replacement Biometric Residence Card (issued under the EU Settlement Scheme) which has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed	£19	£19	0%
	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Replacement Biometric Residence Permit which has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed	£19	£19	0%
Transfer of conditions	Fixed Amount	Overseas	Transfer of Conditions (Vignette Transfer) application made overseas	£154	£154	0%
Approval Letter	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Approval letter from a competent body in respect of an initial application for Global Talent	£456	£524	15%
Approval Letter	Fixed Amount	Overseas	Approval letter from a competent body in respect of an initial application for Global Talent	£456	£524	15%
Electronic Visa Waiver	Fixed Amount	Overseas	Electronic Visa Waiver	£30	£30	0%
Transit visa	Fixed Amount	Overseas	Transit visa – (direct airside transit)	£35	£35	0%
		Overseas	Transit visit visa – (landside transit)	£64	£64	0%
		Overseas	Visa for the purpose of joining a ship or aircraft as a member of the crew of that ship or aircraft	£64	£64	0%
Travel document	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Travel Document – Certificate of travel – adult	£280	£280	0%
		In-Country	Travel Document – Convention travel document – adult	£75	£82	9%
		In-Country	Travel Document – Certificate of travel – child	£141	£141	0%
		In-Country	Travel Document – Convention travel document – child	£49	£53	8%
Any other letter or document (not including a passport) confirming a person’s identity and immigration or nationality status, or setting out any conditions attendant on such status, or confirming that the person is not a British citizen.	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Status Letter (Nationality)	£250	£250	0%
	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Non-acquisition Letter (Nationality)	£250	£250	0%
Administration of any test a person is required to take for the purposes of an application or claim in conection with immigration or nationality	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Life in the UK test	£50	£50	0%
The review of a decision in connection with immigration or nationality	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Nationality review	£372	£372	0%
		In-Country	Administrative Review	£80	£80	0%
		Overseas	Administrative review	£80	£80	0%
Processing an application or claim which is subsequently rejected as invalid	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Processing an application which is subsequently rejected as invalid	£25	£25	0%
A sponsor licence, or renewal or maintenance of such licence	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Worker sponsor licence (large sponsor )	£1,476	£1,476	0%
		In-Country	Worker sponsor licence (small sponsor)	£536	£536	0%
		In-Country	Student sponsor licence	£536	£536	0%
		In-Country	Temporary Worker sponsor licence	£536	£536	0%
		In-Country	Worker and Temporary Worker sponsor licence (large sponsor)	£1,476	£1,476	0%
		In-Country	Worker and Student sponsor licence (large sponsor)	£1,476	£1,476	0%
		In-Country	Worker, Temporary Worker and Student sponsor licence (large sponsor)	£1,476	£1,476	0%
		In-Country	Temporary Worker and Student sponsor licence	£536	£536	0%
		In-Country	Worker sponsor licence (large sponsor), where sponsor currently holds a Temporary Worker and/or Student Sponsor Licence	£940	£940	0%
		In-Country	Endorsement fee for a Scale-up sponsor licence under Endorsing Body Pathway (payable to the endorsing body) excluding VAT	£1,500	£1,500	0%
Allocation of a certificate of sponsorship	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): > Skilled Worker > T2 Minister of Religion, > Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker	£199	£239	20%
Allocation of a certificate of sponsorship	Fixed Amount	In-Country	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	19%
Allocation of a certificate of sponsorship	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for International Sportsperson route – Over 12 Months	£199	£239	20%
Allocation of a certificate of sponsorship	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for International Sportsperson route – Up to 12 months or less	£21	£25	19%
Allocation of a confirmation of acceptance for studies	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS) for student, child student	£21	£25	19%
The process of determining, or a plan to determine, a sponsor’s status or their suitability to be included on or remain on the register of licenced sponsors maintained by the Secretary of State	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Student sponsor basic compliance assessment	£536	£536	0%
	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Sponsor action plan	£1,476	£1,476	0%
Optional premium customer services for sponsors	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Premium Sponsor Service (12 months) Worker sponsor and Temporary worker sponsor – large sponsors	£25,000	£25,000	0%
		In-Country	Premium Sponsor Service (12 months) Worker sponsor and Temporary worker sponsor – small sponsors	£8,000	£8,000	0%
		In-Country	Premium Sponsor Service (12 months) Student sponsors	£8,000	£8,000	0%
		In-Country	The expedited processing of a sponsorship management request made by a Worker sponsor or Temporary worker sponsor	£200	£200	0%
		In-Country	Priority service for expedited processing of sponsor licence applications	£500	£500	0%
The exercise of a consular function in connention with immigration and nationality	Hourly Rate	Overseas	Call out/ out of hours fee (per hour/part hour) – service of consular officers	£142	£142	0%
Receiving, preparing or forwarding documents where such an activity is conducted at consular premises	Fixed Amount	Overseas	Receiving, preparing and forwarding documents – consular functions	£141	£141	0%
Arrangements for expediting the processing (or any element of the processing) of an application or claim in connection with immigration or nationality	Fixed Amount	Overseas	Priority Visa service – Settlement	£573	£500	-13%
		Overseas	Priority Visa service – Non-Settlement	£250	£500	100%
		Overseas	Super priority visa service	£956	£1,000	5%
		In-Country	Super Priority service	£800	£1,000	25%
		In-Country	Expedited processing – Priority service	£500	£500	0%
The acceptance or processing of a claim or application, or the provision of a service or process in connection with immigration or nationality at a place other than an office of the Home Office, where this is done in the United Kingdom.	Hourly Rate	In-Country	On-Demand service (Mobile Biometric Enrolment) (per hour per representative of the contractor providing the service)	£650	£650	0%
The acceptance or processing of a claim or application, or the provision of a service or process in connection with immigration or nationality at a place other than consular premises, where this is done outside the United Kingdom.	Fixed Amount	Overseas	User Pays Visa Application service	£55.00	£76.50	39%
Arrangements for expediting the entry of a passenger into, or transiting through, the United Kingdom under the registered traveller service.	Annual Rate	Overseas	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%
		In-Country	Registered Traveller (Adult) – Yearly Subscription (per year)	£50	£50	0%
		In-Country	Registered Traveller (Child) – Yearly Subscription (per year)	£24	£24	0%
Registration of an identity document, including a passport or other such identity document, in relation to an arrangement for expediting the entry of a passenger into, or the transiting of a passenger through, the United Kingdom.	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Registered Traveller – Registration of New Documents	£20	£20	0%
Arrangements for expediting the entry of a passenger into, or the transiting of a passenger through, the United Kingdom where not specified elsewhere in this table.	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Fast Track – Heathrow	£5.20	£5.20	0%
	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Fast track – Other ports of entry	£3.00	£3.00	0%
Arrangements for the provision of immigration officers or facilities at a control port in addition to those (if any) required to provide a basic service	Hourly rate per officer or per facility	In-Country	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%
		In-Country	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%
		Overseas	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%
The provision of advice, assistance or training in relation to functions in connection with immigration or nationality.	Rate per minute	Overseas	International Contact Centre – Telephone Helpline (per minute)	£0.69	£0.69	0%
		Overseas	International Contact Centre – Email Service (per query)	£2.74	£2.74	0%
		In-Country	Premium status checks and advice – Administrative Officer (per minute) [Footnote 3]	£0.80	£0.80	0%
		In-Country	Premium status checks, advice or training – Executive Officer (inside office hours) (per minute) [Footnote 3]	£0.88	£0.88	0%
		In-Country	Premium status checks, advice or training – Executive Officer (outside office hours) (per minute) [Footnote 3]	£1.10	£1.10	0%
		In-Country	Premium status checks, advice or training – Higher Executive Officer (inside office hours) (per minute) [Footnote 3]	£0.97	£0.97	0%
		In-Country	Premium status checks, advice or training – Higher Executive Officer (outside office hours) (per minute) [Footnote 3]	£1.23	£1.23	0%
Naturalisation as a British citizen or a British overseas territories citizen.	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Naturalisation (British citizenship) [Footnote 4]	£1,250	£1,500	20%
	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Naturalisation British overseas territory citizens	£1,000	£1,000	0%
Registration as a British citizen, a British subject, a British protected person, a British overseas citizen or a British overseas territories citizen.	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Nationality registration as a British citizen – adult [Footnote 4]	£1,126	£1,351	20%
		In-Country	Nationality registration as a British citizen – child [Footnote 5]	£1,012	£1,214	20%
		In-Country	Nationality registration – British overseas territory citizen, British overseas citizens, British Subjects, British protected persons – adult	£901	£901	0%
		In-Country	Nationality registration – British overseas territory citizen, British overseas citizens, British Subjects, British protected persons – child	£810	£810	0%
Registration of a declaration of renunciation of British citizenship, British overseas citizenship, British overseas territories citizenship or of the status of British subject, British National (Overseas) or British protected person.	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Renunciation of nationality	£372	£372	0%
Amendment of a certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen.	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Nationality correction to certificate	£250	£250	0%
Arrangement of a citizenship ceremony.	Fixed Amount	In-Country	The arrangement of a citizenship ceremony (including the administration of a citizenship oath and pledge at the ceremony).	£80	£80	0%
Administration of a citizenship oath, or oath and pledge, where not administered at a citizenship ceremony.	Fixed Amount	In-Country	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%
Issuing of a document confirming that a person has the right of abode in the United Kingdom.	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Certificate of Entitlement Nationality Right of Abode (In the UK)	£372	£372	0%
	Fixed Amount	Overseas	Certificate of Entitlement Nationality Right of Abode (outside the UK)	£388	£388	0%
Supply of a certified copy of a notice, certificate, order, declaration or entry given, granted or made under the 1981 Act, any of the former nationality Acts, or the 1997 Act.	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Nationality – supply of a certified copy of a notice, certificate, order or declaration	£250	£250	0%
Supply of a copy, or replacement, or amended version of any of the documents specified above.	Fixed Amount	In-Country	Nationality reissued Certificate	£250	£250	0%

Final Thoughts

The article has provided a comprehensive overview of the new immigration application fees that will take effect on 4th October 2023. By understanding these changes, applicants can effectively plan and budget for their immigration journey. It is always recommended to consult with immigration lawyers/solicitors for personalized guidance and advice. As the landscape of immigration continues to evolve, staying updated on fee changes will ensure a smooth and well-prepared application process.