Corporate Immigration — Changes of UK immigration and nationality fees and introduction of ETA scheme

The UK Government has announced increases to immigration and nationality fees to pay for vital services, effective on 4 October 2023.

Who will be affected?

Those individuals who will be making valid immigration and nationality applications from 4th October 2023 will be affected by the new price increase.

Non-visa nationals will be affected by the changes in the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme once this has been implemented on a nationality-by-nationality basis.

Background

The UK Government said the increase in immigration and nationality fees play a vital role to the Home Office’s ability to run a sustainable immigration and nationality system.

A new ETA scheme will also be implemented for non-visa nationals who will provide biographic and biometric data and answer a short set of suitability questions. According to the UK government, this decides whether an individual should be granted permission to travel to the UK.

According to the UK Home Secretary, implementing the ETA scheme will allow the UK Government to conduct security checks and make informed decisions about whether an individual should be granted permission to travel to the UK. It is yet to be seen whether this will be the case.

Implementation

The price increase with immigration and nationality application changes include:

• Fees for indefinite leave to enter and indefinite leave to remain.
• Convention travel document and stateless person’s travel document.
• Health and Care visa.
• Fees in relation to certificates of sponsorship and confirmation of acceptance for studies.
• The in and out of country fee for the super priority service and the out of country fee for the priority service. The settlement priority service will reduce so it is aligned with the cost of using the priority service.
• Applications to Register and Naturalise as a British Citizen.
• The fee for the User Pays Visa Application service.
• The majority of fees for entry clearance and certain applications for leave to remain in the UK including those for work and study.

Fees for up to 6 months, 2, 5 and 10-year visit visas

The standard visit visa application for a period of 6 months or less current fee is £100 which will change and be increased to £115. A visitor visa for a period of more than 6 months up to and including 2 years current fee is £376 and will be increased to £400. A visitor visa for a period of more than 2 years and up to and including 5 years current fee is £670 and will be increased to £771. A visit visa for a period of more than 5 years and up to and including 10 years current fee is £837 and will be increased to £936.

Fee change to Skilled Worker application

The Skilled Worker application where a certificate of sponsorship issued for 3 years or less out of country is currently £625 will be increased to £719. Skilled Worker in country application fee is £719 which will be increased to £827.

The Skilled Worker application where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for a period of more than 3 years out of country the current fee is £1235 will be increased to £1420. The Skilled Worker in country application fee is currently £1423 and will be increased to £1500.

Fee change to Global Business Mobility (GBM) application

The GBM application as a Senior or Specialist Worker where a certificate of sponsorship is for a period of 3 years or less out of country application fee is currently £625 and will be increased to £719. In country application the current fee is £719 will be increased to £827.

The GBM application as a Senior or Specialist Worker where a certificate of sponsorship is for a period of more than 3 years out of country the fee is currently £1235 will be increased to £1420. In country application the current fee is £1423 will be increased to £1500.

New Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme

The new ETA requirement applies to all individuals (except British and Irish citizens) visiting or transiting through the United Kingdom, who do not need a visa for short stays or who do not already have any valid UK immigration status.

The ETA requirement will start with nationals of Qatar from 25 October 2023, and followed by nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia from 1 February 2024, and will be gradually rolled out to all non-visa nationalities by the end of 2024.

It will cost £10 for an ETA application.

• The changes do not include the planned increase to the Immigration Health Surcharge which will be introduced later in the Autumn.

Santa Fe analysis

Santa Fe UK Immigration can assist non-visa nationals with an ETA application for entry into the UK.

We provide this update for existing and new clients to be aware of the increased fees for making an immigration application from 4th October 2023.

Should you have any questions, please get in touch with the following:

Koshi Blavo Barna
UK Head of Immigration
Santa Fe Relocation
T +44 (0) 203 457 3595
E ukimmigration@santaferelo.com