There are important changes in the Home Office immigration and nationality fees that will take effect from 4th October 2023. These changes could potentially affect your visa application or renewal process.
Key Changes in Fees for Skilled Worker Applications
Several fees have been revised, but we would like to highlight the specific increases that directly affect Skilled Workers and their sponsors:
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Fees:
1. **Skilled Workers, T2 Minister of Religion, and Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Workers**: The fee for the Certificate of Sponsorship in these categories has been increased from £199 to £239, a rise of £40.
2. **Temporary Workers**: The fee for issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship for Temporary Workers, including those under the Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier and Secondment Worker route, and Scale-up route, has risen from £21 to £25, a rise of £4.
3. **International Sportsperson route**: For a visa of up to 12 months or less, the fee has increased from £21 to £25, a rise of £4. For a visa of over 12 months, the fee has been raised from £199 to £239, an increase of £40.
Skilled Worker Application Fees:
For applications made both outside and inside the UK, the following changes apply:
Applications Made Outside the UK:
1. **Skilled Worker Visa**: If a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less, the fee has increased from £625 to £719 (a rise of £94). For visas where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years, the fee has risen from £1,235 to £1,420, marking a rise of £185.
2. **Skilled Worker Visa - Shortage Occupation**: For those applying under the Shortage Occupation category, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less, the fee has been raised from £479 to £551, an increase of £72. For over three years, the fee has increased from £943 to £1,084, a rise of £141.
Applications Made Inside the UK:
1. **Skilled Worker Visa**: For applications made within the UK, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less, the fee has increased from £719 to £827 (a rise of £108). For over three years, the fee has risen from £1,423 to £1,500, marking an increase of £77.
2. **Skilled Worker Visa - Shortage Occupation**: For the Shortage Occupation category, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less, the fee has increased from £479 to £551, a rise of £72. For over three years, the fee has increased from £943 to £1,084, an increase of £141.
Please note that these changes are applicable to both main applicants and their dependants.
Other Significant Changes
In addition to the above, there are several other significant changes:
1. The Naturalisation (British citizenship) fee has seen a considerable increase from £1,250 to £1,500, a rise of £250.
2. The Indefinite Leave to Remain fee for main applicants and dependants has been increased from £2,404 to £2,885, marking an increase of £481.
3. The fee for Leave to Enter for persons in the UK who are liable to immigration detention has risen from £1,048 to £1,258, an increase of £210.
Future Changes to the Immigration Health Surcharge
Lastly, it's important to note that the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which is paid by certain temporary residents who intend to stay in the UK for six months or longer, is set to increase later this autumn from £624 to £1,035 per year. This increase is subject to a different process known as the draft affirmative procedure, which requires both Houses of Parliament to vote to approve the changes. Therefore, this increase will take longer to come into force.
We urge you to familiarise yourself with these changes to ensure a smooth application or renewal process. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Remember, these changes will take effect from 4th October 2023. Be sure to apply or renew in advance to avoid any potential complications.