Thinking about coming to the UK? It's good to know about the costs involved. The UK government has announced new fees for immigration and nationality applications. These new fees will start on 9 April 2025.
Let's break down some of these changes in simple terms.
Visas for Visiting the UK (Outside the UK)
If you want to visit the UK for a short time, the fee for a visit visa (up to 6 months) is going up from £115 to £127. For longer visits, like up to 2 years, the fee will change from £432 to £475. If you're planning to visit for up to 5 years, the new fee will be £848 (currently £771). For the longest visit visa (up to 10 years), the price will increase from £963 to £1059. Even the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will see a rise from £10 to £16.
Coming to the UK for Work (Outside the UK)
If you are looking to work in the UK, there are different visas. For the Skilled Worker visa (for 3 years or less), the main applicant and their family will pay £769 from 9 April 2025, up from £719. If the job offer is for more than 3 years, the fee will be £1519, which is an increase from £1420. There are sometimes lower fees if the job is on the Immigration Salary List or if it's a Health and Care Visa role. For example, a Skilled Worker Health and Care Visa for up to 3 years will cost £304 (currently £284).
Coming to the UK for Study (Outside the UK)
If you want to study in the UK, the fee for a Student visa will increase from £490 to £524 for the main applicant and any dependants. The same new fee of £524 applies to Child Student visas.
Making Applications While Already in the UK
If you are already in the UK and want to extend your stay or apply for a different status, the fees are generally higher. For example, if you want to extend your visit, the fee is going up from £1,000 to £1,100. Applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (to settle in the UK) will cost £3,029 from 9 April 2025, up from £2,885.
Becoming a UK National
The fees for becoming a British citizen are also changing. If you are applying for naturalisation (British citizenship), the fee will increase from £1,500 to £1,605. Registering as a British citizen as an adult will cost £1,446 (currently £1,351).
Sponsorship for Businesses
Businesses that want to sponsor workers or students will also see some fee changes. For instance, the fee for a Worker sponsor licence for a large company will go up from £1,476 to £1,579. The cost of a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for Skilled Workers and some other categories is increasing significantly from £239 to £525.
Important Points to Remember
- These are just some examples of the fee changes. There are many other types of applications, and most of their fees are also changing.
- The new fees will come into effect on 9 April 2025.
- Some services have optional premium fees for faster processing. These fees are mostly staying the same for now.
- There are also fees related to assessing overseas qualifications, which are paid directly to the supplier and are not changing at this time.
It's always a good idea to check the official UK government website for the most up-to-date information and the full list of fees before you make an application. This will help you plan your move to the UK with a clear understanding of the costs involved.
To know more about the Latest Immigration Fees, read our latest guide: UK Immigration and Nationality Fees: April 2025
For assistance in understanding the fee and identifying the applicable fees for your specific situation, get in touch with UK immigration specialists.
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