On 13 July 2023, the UK government announced plans to further increase immigration fees, however the changes have not yet been implemented.
The UK already has some of the most expensive immigration fees compared to the rest of the world. In 2019, the Royal Society published a paper finding that the cost of a work visa in the UK was 540% above the average cost of equivalent visas in “other leading science nations”.
The government announced that the hike in fees would be used to fund pay rises to doctors, after a year of strike action by public sector workers across multiple sectors. The proposed increases to fees are:
- The Immigration Health Surcharge will rise from £624 per year to £1,035 per year for adults, and £470 per year to £776 per year for children and students.
- Application fees for work and visit visas will rise by 15%.
- Application fees for student visas, certificates of sponsorship, indefinite leave to remain, citizenship, entry clearance, and leave to remain will rise by at least 20%.
However, there are two fees that are set to be abolished, namely the £19.20 fee for biometric enrolment (although this was seemingly scrapped some time ago), and the fee of £161 to transfer conditions.
The Government has not announced when the changes will be introduced, but it is anticipated it could be as early as Autumn 2023. As such, those looking to apply to enter or remain in the UK may wish to consider submitting their application before the planned rises take effect.
How Gherson can assist
Gherson’s Immigration Team are highly experienced in advising on UK visa matters. If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.
The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.
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