**Updated 27 September 2023**
The Home Office have announced changes to their fees for applications made from Wednesday 4 October 2023.
There has been no announcement yet on when the Immigration Health Surcharge will increase but this is anticipated to be from late 2023 / early 2024.
Most fees are being increased, for example:
Applications made outside the UK
Applications made inside the UK
Some fees remain the same or have been decreased e.g.
Applications made outside the UK
Applications made inside the UK
Increase in Immigration Fees to pay public sector workers: an unfair deal?
On 13 July 2023, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that public sector pay rises would be funded partly by substantial increases in immigration charges.
As expected, people applying for UK visas to join family in the UK or to work/study here are worried about the increase of what are already eye watering sums that must be paid.
The increase to fees across the UK immigration system will cover most areas of immigration. There will be a 15% rise in Visit visa and Skilled Worker visa fees, despite UK Visit visa fees ranking amongst the highest in the world.
There will also be 20% increase in fees for:
The Immigration Health Surcharge is a mandatory charge payable so that visa applicants have access to NHS care in the UK. It is paid upfront for the duration of the visa alongside the application fee by applicants applying to enter or stay in the UK for 6 months or more, whether to join family or work or study here.
The full rate will increase from £624 to £1,035 per year. The discounted rate for students, children and youth mobility visa holders will increase from £470 to £776 per year.
There are a few categories of applicants, who are exempt:
The Government also announced some simplifications to the system:
It is anticipated that Parliament will review the required Regulations to implement the increases after their summer recess and then for the fee changes to be implemented in Autumn 2023.
We are receiving enquires from potential applicants understandably keen to try to avoid paying the higher fees if possible.
When an application is not subject to a visa expiry date or there is not a need to accrue a specified period of residence to be able to apply, then it could be submitted sooner, in order to avoid paying the increased fees. For example, an application from overseas to join a spouse in the UK may be able to be made sooner. However, an application for settlement where a period of 5 years’ residence must be accrued to be eligible cannot be made earlier.
Companies looking to recruit overseas workers would do well to review their recruitment needs promptly and ahead of the changes in order to save money paying higher fees to sponsor Skilled Workers.
If you have any queries or wish to seek advice on visa applications, please contact our specialist business and personal immigration team on 0191 232 9547.
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