LS Legal News Bulletin
Important Announcement: Changes to Immigration Fees and Health Surcharge
Thursday 7th September 2023
We would like to inform you about the recent government decision regarding immigration fees and the immigration health surcharge. While some fees will be abolished, substantial increases will occur in certain areas.
Firstly, the immigration health surcharge will significantly rise from £624 to £1,035 per year. This applies to workers staying for six months or longer, as well as family members of migrants and British citizens. Students, children, and youth mobility visa holders will also experience an increase from £470 to £776 per year. The rationale behind this adjustment is to allocate funds towards the announced pay rise for doctors.
Additionally, immigration and nationality fees will undergo revisions. Work and visit visas will see a 15% increase, while student visas, certificates of sponsorship, settlement, citizenship, entry clearance, and leave to remain applications will face an increase of at least 20%.
The government has also introduced simplifications to the immigration process. The £19.20 fee for biometric enrolment and the £161 charge for transfer of conditions will be abolished. Furthermore, fees will no longer be applicable for amending details on physical documents such as name, sex marker, nationality, and photographs. In addition, fees will be waived for like-for-like replacement of expired biometric residence permits, benefiting those with indefinite leave to remain.
Student and priority service application costs will be equalised inside and outside the UK. Although the timing of these changes has not been specified, we recommend considering submitting immigration applications at the earliest opportunity.
We will keep you updated on further developments and strive to provide support during these changes.
