Proposed fee UK immigration fee increases January 2025

The Home Office have today announced an intention to increase fees to the following immigration applications:

• Electronic Travel Authorisation from £10 to £16 i.e. 60% £10*
• Certificate of Sponsorship from £239 to £525 i.e. 119% estimate cost £230*
• British nationality £1500 to £1605 i.e. 7% estimate to cost £505*
• increase to other nationality services.

*costs estimated by the Home Office as at 11 December 2024.

The justification cited is to help the government pay for the UK border system and thereby save reliance on the public purse for the taxpayer.

The proposed fee increases will be debated in Parliament and according to the announcement will be implemented as soon as practical – this could mean weeks depending on the legislative process.

You will of course note the increases are well above the current inflation rate of 2.5%.

If you are in the process of applying or considering sponsoring an individual through the Skilled Worker visa, we recommend you take action now, should you wish to avoid the proposed fee increases.

If you would like assistance with a skilled worker visa application our lawyers can help to ensure you avoid the fee increase.