The UK government has proposed fee increases on a few immigration and nationality products and services.
This article discusses the proposed fee increases and explains how they might affect businesses and individuals. We also highlight vital considerations for employers.
What are the proposed fee increases?
Here are the key proposed fee increases that could significantly impact employers and individuals applying for visas, sponsorships, and nationality services.
| Application | Current fee | Proposed fee |
| Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) | £10 | £16 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) – Worker Routes | £239 | £525 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) – Temporary Worker Routes | £25 | £55 |
| Naturalisation as a British Citizen | £1500 | £1605 |
| Naturalisation as a British Overseas Territories Citizen | £1000 | £1070 |
How will the changes affect employers?
The above table reflects potential increases to sponsorship costs, one of the proposed changes is an increase in the fee paid when sponsoring a worker. Currently this is the COS fee. We understand that, under a streamlined sponsorship system that the Home Office is introducing, the COS allocation request stage is rolled into a one-step process sponsors will follow to assign a Sponsorship Reference Number, instead of a COS, to workers.
Sponsors may wish to proceed with sponsorship matters now to take advantage of the current, lower fee.
Employers should ensure that the information on their sponsor licences is up to date to prepare for the new sponsorship system. Compliance practices should also be reviewed in line with the latest changes to sponsor duties. In particular, sponsors should take note of new restrictions on sharing fees with sponsored workers. Please see Changes Immigration’s article on the fee restrictions for more information.
How will the changes affect individuals?
Individuals looking to apply for naturalisation or Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) should note the proposed fee increases outlined in the table above. Although the proposed fee increases are still under review in Parliament, it is more than likely that these changes will be accepted and implemented soon. It is crucial to keep an eye on any further updates from the Home Office regarding the timing of these changes that may affect an individual’s ability to apply for a visa.
Lastly, individuals applying for ETAs should note that the government has agreed a temporary exemption for passengers who transit airside and do not pass through the UK border control. This exemption applies to Heathrow and Manchester airports, as they are the only UK airports offering transit facilities. The exemption took effect on 16 January 2025, although the government announced that it would be kept under review.
If you have any questions about the proposed fee increases or need help navigating the changes to come, get in touch to discuss how we can help you manage the changes effectively.
Publication Date: 30 January 2025
