UK – Visa Fees to Increase on 9 April 2025

On 19 March, the U.K. Home Office announced that visa and nationality fees will be increasing on 9 April 2025.¹

This follows on the announcement by the U.K. government on 16 January 2025, of its proposals to increase certain immigration fees.² (For prior coverage, see GMS Flash Alert 2024-022, 24 January 2025.) The proposed changes were laid before Parliament on 16 January and provided flexibility to increase the maximum fee that can be charged on a range of immigration and nationality products and services including Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA); Certificate of Sponsorship; Naturalisation as a British Citizen; and Naturalisation as a British Overseas Territories Citizen.

WHY THIS MATTERS

For employers that provide financial and administrative support for immigration applications, any further immigration and visa fee increases may impact budgeting decisions and existing financial support policies. Increased immigration costs may also impact talent recruitment and mobility programmes, whilst potentially restricting continued access to global talent.

Context

The driver for the new measures is the U.K. government’s aim to reduce reliance of the migration and borders system on taxpayer funding.

It is forecast that the proposed fee increases will generate an additional £269 million in revenue a year.3

Further Details

U.K. visa fees across immigration categories will increase from 9 April 2025; this includes Skilled Worker application fees, ILR fees, Certificate of Sponsorship fees, sponsor licence and naturalisation fees. For example, passport application fees will increase by approximately 7% for applications that are filed from 10 April 2025. This means that a standard online application made from within the U.K. for an adult passport will see an increase from £88.50 to £94.50.

A table summarising the main visa categories and the corresponding fee increases that may impact businesses appears below.4

Immigration Category/Item	Fee prior to 9 April 2025	Fee post 9 April 2025	Fee Difference
Applications submitted from outside the U.K. (out of country application)
Certificate of Sponsorship administration fee for a Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility Senior or Specialist Worker CoS	£239	£525	+£286
Application fee for a Skilled Worker visa for 3 years or less of Sponsorship	£719	£769	+£50
Application fee for a Skilled Worker visa for more than 3 years of Sponsorship	£1420	£1519	+£99
Application fee for a Global Business Mobility Senior or Specialist Worker visa for 3 years or less of Sponsorship	£719	£769	+£50
Application fee for a Global Business Mobility Senior or Specialist Worker visa for more than 3 years of Sponsorship	£1420	£1519	+£99
Application fee for a U.K. Visit Visa (up to 6 months)	£115	£127	+£12
Application fee for a U.K. Visit Visa (up to 2 years)	£432	£475	+£43
Application fee for a U.K. Visit Visa ( up to 5 years)	£771	£848	+£77
Application fee for a U.K. Visit Visa ( up to 10 years)	£963	£1059	+£96
Electronic travel authorisation (ETA)	£10	£16	+£6
Immigration Category/Item	Fee prior to 9 April 2025	Fee post 9 April 2025	Fee Difference
Applications submitted from inside the U.K. (in-country application)
Certificate of Sponsorship administration fee for a Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility Senior or Specialist Worker CoS	£239	£525	+£286
Application fee for a Skilled Worker visa for 3 years or less of Sponsorship	£827	£885	+£58
Application fee for a Skilled Worker visa for more than 3 years of Sponsorship	£1636	£1751	+£115
Application fee for a Global Business Mobility Senior or Specialist Worker visa for 3 years or less of Sponsorship	£827	£885	+£58
Application fee for a Global Business Mobility Senior or Specialist Worker visa for more than 3 years of Sponsorship	£1636	£1751	+£115
Indefinite Leave to Remain	£2885	£3029	+£144

KPMG LLP (U.K.) INSIGHTS

As a possible immediate action, employers may wish to consider frontloading sponsored worker applications so that the Certificate of Sponsorship is assigned before the fee increase takes effect.

Employers may wish to consider reviewing their recruitment and workforce planning strategies from a budgeting perspective given the increases. Provision should also be made for the review of communications strategies and internal company guidance to help ensure that any fee increases are accurately reflected for key stakeholders who may use these for workforce planning.

Employers should also consider being in regular contact with their immigration counsel to make sure that they are undertaking the appropriate impact analysis on their business.

FOOTNOTES:

1 Home Office, "Policy paper: Home Office immigration and nationality fees: 9 April 2025" (Updated 19 March 2025).

2 Home Office, "Next steps for a more efficient immigration system" (published 16 January 2025).

3 Ibid.

4 Full details on the visa fees increase can be found at: Home Office, "Policy paper: Home Office immigration and nationality fees: 9 April 2025" (Updated 19 March 2025).

Contacts

Nadia Idries

Director & Solicitor

KPMG in the UK

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Disclaimer

* Please note the KPMG International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labour law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.

The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in the United Kingdom.

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United Kingdom – Visa Fees to Increase on 9 April 2025