Peter Shannon
UK Personal Immigration Specialist
With over 8 years of experience, Peter is our dedicated UK immigration specialist. Connect with Peter on Linkedin. Find out more about our team.
In addition to the increases made later in 2025 with regard to the Immigration Skills Charge and Priority Services for Sponsors, the Home Office has now announced significant changes to both immigration and nationality fees which are set to take effect from April 8th, 2026.
These adjustments of more than and third in many routes will impact most, if not all, visa categories, nationality applications, and premium services. Please read on for a summary of those we consider will have most significant impact to both applicants, their families and sponsors.
Key Fee Adjustments:
- Family Visas: The fee for Entry Clearance applications, those being submitted outside of the UK, have increased by £126, bringing the total above the £2000 mark for the first time; now £2064 previously £1938. This is the 5th time this fee has increased in the last 6 years, and it is now more than 35% higher than 2020’s fee of £1523. Extension, or Leave to Remain, applications made in the UK have are also to increase to £1407 per applicant; a rise of £86. This is the third fee increase for these ‘in-country’ applications in less than 2 years, following on from the 20% increase in July 2024 from £1,048 to £1,258 per application.
- Settlement Routes: Fees for settlement status applications, the basis for subsequently applying for British Nationality, are now well over the £3000; the most recent rise being £197, taking the fee from £3029 to £3226. Six years ago the fee for ILR was £2389, which means that there has been an overall rise of £837. This will indubitably make applying for ILR even more unattainable for many, as waiving the fee remains a viable option for only a very few applicants.
- Work Visas: Many work visa routes have seen an increase of at least 6.5%, including Skilled Worker Entry Clearance applications sponsored for 3 years or less, which are now £819, previously £769; those made in the UK will be £943, previously £885. For applications made for a grant of more than 3 years – £1618 from £1519 when submitted outside of the UK and £1865 from £1751 when made as an extension. Cost for a Certificate of Sponsorship remains the same after last year saw the biggest increase when this key digital document assigned by the employer to a migrant worker, saw a huge jump of 120% from £239 to £525.
- Nationality: Once an individual has attained ‘settled’ status they may apply to naturalise as a British citizen, the granting of which is the pathway to a British passport. The application can take up to six months to consider (there being no facility to expedite) and in 2026 will now cost £1839 (includes £130 for the citizenship ceremony), a huge increase of over 30% since 2023.
Rationale Behind the Changes
The Home Office has stated that these fee adjustments are necessary to ensure a financially sustainable immigration system. The additional revenue generated will be used to improve border security and reduce reliance on taxpayer funding. This aligns with the government’s broader strategy to modernise and streamline immigration processes.
Implications for Applicants
While these fee increases aim to bolster the UK’s immigration infrastructure, they may pose financial challenges for individuals and families planning to apply for visas or other services. In the case of settlement applications, it may mean that applicants are unable to apply, and must therefore remain under immigration control and its restrictions for many more years.
Preparing for the Changes
To avoid unexpected costs, you are encouraged to review the updated fee structure and, if possible, submit applications before April 8th, 2026. For a comprehensive list of the revised fees, visit the official Home Office website.
These changes underscore the importance of staying informed and seeking advice about immigration policies, planning ahead to navigate the evolving landscape of UK visa and immigration services
Should you require guidance or representation for a visa application either to enter or remain in the UK, please do not hesitate to contact us at contact@visa-office.com or discuss with one of our experienced, regulated advisers directly on 01225 256800
