Home Office Fees Increase
Home Office fees rising again from 9 April 2025
The Home Office are increasing application fees for certain immigration applications from 9 April 2025.
Why are the fees increasing?
The Government say this is to reduce the reliance of the migration and borders system on the UK taxpayer.
These increases follow on from a large rise in the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) which was increased by 66% on 6 February 2024 from £624 per year to £1035 per year for adults. The IHS is paid by those applying for visas of over 6 months in order to use the NHS.
The higher fees will further increase the burden on UK businesses who need skilled labour and on British Citizens and residents bringing family from overseas or applying to extend the stay of those already in the UK.
What fees are increasing?
These are some of the key fees that are being raised:
Visit Visas
Increase of 10.5% for 6 month visa from £115 to £127.
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
Increase of 60% from £10 to £16.
All non-visa nationals are now required to apply for an ETA prior to travel to the UK.
Partner and children settlement applications
Outside UK (entry clearance): increase from £1,846 to £1,938.
In-country: increase from £1,258 to £1,321.
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for Skilled Workers
Increase of 120% from £239 to £525.
This applies to both new hires and extensions of sponsorship.
Skilled Worker applications
Outside UK (entry clearance): increase from £719 to £769 for up to 3 years and from £1,420 to £1,519 for 3 years or more.
In-country: increase from £827 to £885 for up to 3 years and from £1,737 to £1,751 for 3 years or more.
Skilled Worker: Health and Care applications
Increase from £284 to £304 for up to 3 years and from £551 to £590 for 3 years or more for applications made from both outside and inside the UK.
Indefinite leave to remain applications
Increase from £2,885 to £3,029 for applications made from both outside and inside the UK.
British Citizenship applications for adults
Increase from £1,500 to £1,605.
Please follow this link for a full list of all the new fees: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table/home-office-immigration-and-nationality-fees-9-april-2025
What if you cannot pay the fee?
Applicants applying for permission to enter or stay in the UK in certain categories can apply for a fee waiver if they can show that they are unable to pay the fees.
A fee waiver is available to applications made in particular:
- on the basis of private or family life as partner, parent or dependent child
- for Discretionary Leave or Leave outside the Immigration Rules
- as a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking.
A fee waiver can grant full or partial exemption from the Home Office fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.
Please see our blog about fee waiver for more details.
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