A proposal to increase both immigration visa application fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge was announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on July 13, 2023. These increases will support the United Kingdom’s state-funded National Health Service (NHS) and will support the country’s public sector wage increase, which includes teachers, police, junior doctors and other public sector workers, and other areas of public spending.
Immigration Health Surcharge Increase
The proposal increases the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) from £624 to £1,035 per person, per year – a 66% increase. Those who receive a discounted rate, including students, their dependents, and Youth Mobility Scheme applicants, will see an increase from £470 to £776 per year. The surcharge will be set at £776 for all children under the age of 18.
Visa Fee Increase
Additionally, the proposal is anticipated to increase visa fees by the following:
- 15% visa fee increase for work and visit visas (includes skilled worker visa fees)
- 20% visa fee increase for study visas, Certificates of Sponsorship, Settlement, Citizenship, and Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and wider categories
Timing
There is no current timeframe given as to when these proposed fee increases will come into effect, but we expect to see an update within the next few months. In anticipation of these increases, it is advised to submit immigration applications sooner, rather than later, if possible.
Please reach out to the EMEA@tandslaw.com team with any questions related to this alert.
