Update by Leena Chouhan on UK Immigration News
Introduction
This update by Leena Chouhan of Taylor Hampton reviews the home office fee increases. These are changes announced by the UK Government in January 2025.
The UK Government has unveiled new measures aimed at addressing funding challenges in the migration and borders system. These changes focus on increasing fees for selected immigration services and introducing updates to Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) rules for airside transit passengers.
Visa Fees Increase
The government intends to raise fees for various immigration and nationality services to reduce reliance on taxpayer funding. Already, legislation to enable these changes has been laid before Parliament.
There are a number of key fee adjustments to the Home Office fees increases:
- ETA fees increasing to £16
- Certificates of Sponsorship (for work routes) rising to £525
- Naturalisation fees for British citizenship climbing to £1,605
- Additional increases across other nationality services
Therefore, these proposed changes, if approved by both Houses of Parliament, will be implemented through amendments to the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2018 at the earliest opportunity.
The government remains committed to regularly reviewing fees to balance funding needs with fairness. These updates aim to address the growing financial demands on the migration and border system while easing the burden on taxpayers.
Exemptions for the Home Office Fee Increases
The Home Office has also introduced a temporary exemption for certain airside transit passengers from requiring an ETA. This applies to travellers who remain airside and do not pass through UK border control.
When did the Fees become effective?
This exemption, effective from Thursday, 16 January 2025, primarily impacts Heathrow and Manchester Airports, the only UK airports offering airside transit facilities. The exemption follows consultations with the aviation industry and will be kept under review.
Next Steps
Parliament will now debate the proposed changes. If approved, the government will implement the new measures as soon as possible.
For More information
For advice or assistance with how these changes to the Home Office Fee Increases may affect you, contact our immigration specialist, Leena Chouhan on +44 207 527 5972
