On 16 January 2025, the Home Office announced plans to increase fees for Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), Certificate of Sponsorship on work visa routes, and for naturalisation as a British citizen or a British Overseas Territories citizen and certain nationality-related services. The proposed changes have been laid before parliament and are subject to approval by both Houses.
These planned fee increases are expected to generate additional income from end users to support the funding of the migration and borders system and reduce reliance on funding from the taxpayer.
The immigration and nationality products subject to fee increases are:
- Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
ETA is a permission to travel in electronic form (linked to an individual’s passport) which specified individuals will be required to apply for and obtain in advance of their journey to the United Kingdom. It is a requirement in the Immigration Rules for individuals (excluding British and Irish citizens) visiting or transiting through the United Kingdom, who do not need a visa, entry clearance or who do not hold existing immigration status in the United Kingdom. ETA has been implemented on a phased basis, with the full rollout of the scheme (including to European nationals) due to be completed in Spring 2025. The current fee of £10 will increase to £16.
It is envisaged that this increase will deliver additional income estimated at £140 million in 2025/2026.
- Sponsoring a worker on sponsored work visa routes
Employers are required to assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to employees who need a visa to work and stay in the United Kingdom. The individuals then apply for a permission to enter or stay in the United Kingdom as a sponsored worker based upon the CoS issued to them. This system is to eventually be replaced by the Sponsor a Worker (SaW) process which has begun to be rolled out on a phased basis. Currently, there are two tiers of fees charged –
(i) £239 in relation to applications for Skilled Worker, T2 Minister of Religion, Global Business Mobility – Senior or specialist worker, and International Sportsperson (over 12 months).
(ii) £25 in relation to applications for Temporary Worker, other sub-routes within Global Business Mobility, Scale-up route, and International Sportsperson (12 months or less).
The sponsorship fee is to be increased from £239 fee to £525 and the £25 fee for sponsorship of Temporary workers to £55.
It is estimated this will deliver an additional £111 million income in 2025/2026.
- Applying for naturalisation as a British citizen or a British Overseas Territories citizen
The fee to apply for naturalisation as a British citizen will increase from £1,500 to £1,605 and the fee for naturalisation as a British Overseas Territories citizen from £1000 to £1,070. These changes are estimated to deliver £18 million in additional income in 2025/2026.
- Applying for nationality-related services
The fees in respect of nationality-related services subject to increase are:
- Renunciation of British citizenship, the fee will increase from £450 to £482.
- Amendment to a certificate of registration or naturalisation, the fee is to increase from £400 to £428.
- Review of decision, the fee will increase from £450 to £482. Administrative reviews will also see the fee increase from £80 to £482.
- Right of abode documentation, the fee is to increase from £550 to £589.
- For a letter confirming a person’s nationality status or that a person is not a British citizen, the fee is to increase from £429 to £459.
- Certified copy of a notice, certificate, order, declaration or entry given, granted or made under the 1981 Act, any of the former nationality Acts, the fee is set to increase from £400 increase to £428.
These changes are expected to deliver £1 million additional income in 2025/2026.
ETA exemption
The government has agreed a temporary exemption for passengers who transit airside, and therefore do not pass through UK border control.