Home Office plans further fee increases for immigration services
In January 2025, the Home Office announced plans to increase fees for a range of immigration-related services and products. The planned fee increases include:
- Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA): Rising from £10 to £16.
- Certificate of Sponsorship: Increasing from £239 to £525.
- Naturalisation as a British citizen: Rising from £1,500 to £1,605.
- Naturalisation as a British Overseas Territories citizen: Increasing from £1,000 to £1,070.
Interestingly, the ETA has not yet been rolled out in its entirety and we have already seen an anticipated increase of 60% from the current fee. As expected, the primary motivation behind these increases is the additional revenue they will generate, with the government estimating an extra £269 million per year.
Over the past few years, there have been substantial fee increases across immigration services, significantly impacting migration trends. The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee recently wrote to the Home Secretary, Chancellor, and Immigration Minister, highlighting concerns about these rising costs, particularly the increase in the Immigration Health Surcharge, and their effect on the UK’s ability to attract STEM talent. The Committee highlighted that the up-front costs faced by applicants for UK visas are higher than any comparable country and these costs have increased by a staggering 58% since 2021.
Addressing concerns about fee increases for immigration services
To address these concerns, the Committee has put forward proposals to mitigate the high up-front visa costs by implementing instalment payments or PAYE deductions. Their argument is that the previous administration’s reluctance to implement this mainly relied on the administrative burdens, but this can now be overcome as the immigration system is increasingly digitised and modernised.
If adopted, these changes would mark a significant shift in the visa application process, providing applicants with greater financial flexibility. Additionally, where fee waivers apply, allowing instalment payments or PAYE deductions could reduce the financial strain on the Home Office by decreasing the need for full waivers.
Support from leading UK immigration lawyers
Here at OTB Legal we have years of experience in providing a high level of legal support that results in a positive outcome. We also understand that the fees are often a restriction for people to start their immigration journey. We therefore offer payment plans and full transparency on service costs from the very start. If you would like support from the team, why not book in for a free initial consultation using the button below:
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