Table Of Contents
- Visitor Visa
- Work Visas
- Study Visa
- Increase in sponsor License and Certificate of Sponsorship Fees
- Increase in British Citizenship Application Fee
In an announcement on 19 March 2025, the Home Office increased most visa application fees, sponsorship fees, and nationality fees. All fee increases will take effect on 9 April 2025. The objective is to reduce the reliance of the UK immigration system on taxpayer money.
The increase in visa fees and ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is anywhere between 5% and 10%. The hike in fees for visas is going to make it more difficult for immigrant workers, family visa applicants, and their family members. This will affect major visas applicants such as UK fiancé visa, UK spouse visa, UK skilled worker visa, UK temporary worker visa, UK dependents visa, etc.
On the other hand, the cost of sponsor licenses and the cost of certificates of sponsorships have been increased by 120%. As a result of this, UK employers will have to provision for more budget when sponsoring foreign workers.
The fee for British citizenship has also been increased. This makes acquiring British citizenship a highly costly affair. Applicants may still apply for fee waivers if they are unable to pay the fee.
Here is a list of some of the major visas, sponsor licenses, certificates of sponsorship, and nationalities where the fee will increase from 9 April 2025. For full list you can click here.
1. Visitor Visa
| Fees Category | Current Fee | Fee from 9 April 2025 | Fee change |
| UK Visitor Visa for up to 6 months | £115 | £127 | £12 |
| Electronic travel authorization (ETA) | £10 | £16 | £6 |
2. Work Visas
| Fees Category | Current Fee | Fee from 9 April 2025 | Fee change |
| Innovator Founder – main applicant and dependents | £1,191 | £1,274 | £83 |
| Start-up – main applicant and dependents | £435 | £465 | £30 |
| Tier 1 (Investor) – main applicant and dependents | £1,884 | £2,000 | £116 |
| Skilled worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for 3 years or less – main applicant and dependents | £719 | £769 | £50 |
| Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for over 3 years – main applicant and dependents | £1,420 | £1,519 | £99 |
| Skilled Worker – a job on the Immigration Salary List where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for 3 years or less – main applicant and dependents | £551 | £590 | £39 |
| Fees Category | Current Fee | Fee from 9 April 2025 | Fee change |
| Skilled Worker – a job on the Immigration Salary List where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for over 3 years – main applicant and dependents | £1,084 | £1,160 | £76 |
| Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for 3 years or less – main applicant and dependents | £284 | £304 | £20 |
| T2 Minister of Religion – main applicant and dependents | £719 | £769 | £50 |
| International Sportsperson, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for 12 months or less – main applicant and dependents | £298 | £319 | £21 |
| International Sportsperson, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for over 12 months – main applicant and dependents | £719 | £769 | £50 |
| Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – up to 3 years – main applicant and dependents | £719 | £769 | £50 |
| Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – more than 3 years – main applicant and dependents | £1,420 | £1,519 | £99 |
| Scale-up – main applicant and dependents | £822 | £880 | £58 |
3. Study Visa
| Fees Category | Current Fee | Fee from 9 April 2025 | Fee change |
| Student – main applicant and dependents | £490 | £524 | £34 |
4. Increase in sponsor License and Certificate of Sponsorship Fees
| Fees Category | Current Fee | Fee from 9 April 2025 | Fee change |
| Worker sponsor license (large sponsor ) | £1,476 | £1,579 | £103 |
| Worker sponsor license (small sponsor) | £536 | £574 | £38 |
| Temporary Worker sponsor license | £536 | £574 | £38 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or approval under Sponsor a Worker – Skilled Worker, T2 Minister of Religion, Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker | £239 | £525 | £286 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or approval under Sponsor a Worker – Temporary Worker including Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier and Secondment Worker route, and Scale-up route | £25 | £55 | £30 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or approval under Sponsor a Worker for International Sportsperson route – Over 12 months | £239 | £525 | £286 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or approval under Sponsor a Worker for International Sportsperson route – Up to 12 months or less | £25 | £55 | £30 |
5. Increase in British Citizenship Application Fee
| Fees Category | Current Fee | Fee from 9 April 2025 | Fee change |
| Naturalization (British citizenship) | £1,500 | £1,605 | £105 |
| Naturalization British overseas territory citizens | £1,000 | £1,070 | £70 |
| Nationality registration as a British citizen – adult | £1,351 | £1,446 | £95 |
| Nationality registration as a British citizen – child | £1,214 | £1,214 | £0 |
Source: www.gov.uk