Increases in UK immigration fees

In unwelcome news for sponsors and non-UK nationals, there will be significant increases to a number of key UK visa, sponsorship and nationality fees with effect from 9 April 2025 (Home Office immigration and nationality fees: 9 April 2025 - GOV.UK). 

When the visa fee increases were first announced in January, the Government confirmed the hikes in immigration fees are part of efforts to reduce the reliance of the UK’s immigration system on taxpayer funding. Further details of the fee increases are detailed below.

Sponsorship of workers by UK employers already represents a significant financial investment, so sponsors of workers need to budget accordingly when assigning Certificates of Sponsorships (COS). It is also important to remember that worker sponsors are now expressly prohibited from recouping COS fees from workers.

Unfortunately, student sponsors will also be subject to a significant 120% increase in the fees to assign a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), with the mandatory fee increasing by £30 to £55. There is not (yet!) an equivalent prohibition in the Student Sponsor Guidance to clawback this fee from a prospective sponsored student. Many student sponsors already charge an administration fee to cover the cost of assigning a CAS. However, it will be important to watch out for any new restrictions in the student sponsor guidance on the ability to pass on this CAS fee to students.

The increase in fees for Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will affect non-UK national visitors to the UK. The recent expansion of the ETA scheme is part of the Government’s efforts to improve UK border security by requiring certain travellers to apply for an ‘Electronic Travel Authorisation’ before travelling to the UK. Since 8 January 2025, certain eligible Non-European national visitors must now have an ETA to travel to the UK. Eligible European nationals will need an ETA to travel to or transit through the UK from 2 April 2025 and can apply for an ETA from 5 March 2025. Following feedback from the aviation industry, the Government has also announced a temporary exemption from the requirement to obtain an ETA for passengers in transit

Sponsorship Fees - Workers

• Worker Sponsor Licence application fee for large sponsors rising to £1579 (from £1476)
• Worker Sponsor Licence application fee for small sponsors rising to £574 (from £536)
• Certificate of Sponsorship (Skilled Worker/Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker) fee rising to £525 (from £239)
• Sponsor Action Plan fee: £1,579 (from £1476)

Sponsorship Fees – Students

• Student sponsor licence application fee: £574 (from £536)
• Student sponsor Basic Compliance Assessment fee: £574 (from £536)
• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies fee: £55 (from £25)
• Sponsor Action Plan fee: £1,579 (from £1476)

Visa Application fees

• Visit Visa (up to 6 months): £127 (from £115)
• Skilled Worker (entry clearance application up to 3 years): £769 (from £719)
• Skilled Worker (in country application up to 3 years): £885 (from £827)
• Student and Child Student (entry clearance and in country applications): £524 (from £490)
• Settlement: £1,938 (from £1,846)

• Electronic Travel Authorisation fee: £16 (from £10)

Nationality Fees

• Naturalisation as a British Citizen fee: £1605 (from £1500)
• Naturalisation as a British Overseas Territories Citizen: £1070 (from £1000)

For assistance with any queries about sponsorship, visa applications, British Citizenship or ETAs, please contact a member of our Immigration team or submit an enquiry form, below.