Michelmores Michelmores
Michelmores Michelmores
  • Home
  • Expertise
  • People
  • Insights & Events
  • Careers
  • About
  • ESG
  • Contact
Share
Published September 20th 2023
Home > News & Insights > Article

UK immigration fees confirmed to increase from 4 October 2023

People walking through yellow tunnel with suitcases
Author
Lynsey Blyth
Lynsey Blyth

As alluded to in our recent article looking at recruitment issues in the construction sector, here, the Government has officially confirmed that there will be a fee increase of around 15 – 20% across a range of different immigration and nationality services. We have set out a number of the key increases, below:

15% increase will apply to

  • application fees for visit visa routes (save for visits for up to 2-years, where a 6% increase will be applied; and
  • application fees for all work visa routes (for example, Skilled Worker and Global Business Mobility). In certain cases, a proportionally lower increase will be made, to ensure the fee is within the scope of separate legislation.

For example, an entry clearance application fee for a Skilled Worker visa (up to 3 years) will increase from £625 to £719.

20% increase will apply to

  • application fees for settlement applications and applications for British citizenship; and
  • the fee to assign a Certificate of Sponsorship.

35% increase will apply to

  • entry clearance application fees for a Student visa, to align the out of country and in country fees.

The Government has also announced a new ‘blanket’ charge for priority services used in and out of country. The priority service fee will be aligned at £500, and super priority service at £1,000.

For full details of the confirmed increases, see the Government’s official fees table, here.

As set out above, the fee increases will come into effect from the 4 October 2023, together with the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) increase, from £624 to £1,035 per year, which is set to increase later this autumn. Therefore, if you have potential international hires in the pipeline, or if you are considering relocating to the UK, now is the time to do so before the fee hikes come into force.

If you would like to discuss this further, please get in touch with Lynsey Blyth.

Share
Author
Lynsey Blyth
Lynsey Blyth

Contact us

+44 (0) 333 004 3456

enquiries@michelmores.com

Subscribe to updates

  • Quick Links
    • Online Payments
    • People
    • About
    • Careers
    • Staff Login
  • Legal & Regulatory
    • View all policies
    • Privacy Policy
    • Website Terms
    • Cookie Policy
    • Modern Slavery Act

Locations:

  • london
  • cheltenham
  • bristol
  • exeter

© Michelmores LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership, authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA authorisation number 463401) and registered in England and Wales under Partnership No. OC326242.
The registered office is Woodwater House, Pynes Hill, Exeter, EX2 5WR. A list of the members (all of whom are solicitors or barristers) is available for inspection at the registered office and at michelmores.com

  • © 2025 Michelmores LLP. All rights reserved
  • Website maintained by Appeal Digital