(10 years, 10 months ago)
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The Minister for Immigration (Mr Mark Harper)
I am today announcing proposals to change the fees for immigration and nationality applications made to the Home Office and for services provided by the Department. The Government review these fees on a regular basis and make appropriate changes as necessary.
In developing these proposals, the Home Office has sought to limit most increases to 4%. There are further targeted increases to bring dependant fees in line with main application fees, to register as a British citizen and some premium services. A staggered rise has been applied to the long-term visit visa (greater than six months) with a higher rise to the two and five-year visas to ensure the 10-year visa stays at its current level. We are also introducing a reduced fee for those applying to work within areas regarded as shortage occupations and to the direct airside transit visa.
The Home Office has given careful consideration to its fee levels, to ensure they provide the funding necessary to operate effective immigration controls and invest in improving service levels to customers. This is balanced against the need to ensure that the UK continues to attract and welcome the “brightest and best” migrants from around the world and those that make a valued contribution to British society. Given the ongoing need to reduce public spending, we believe it is right that we continue to reduce the contribution made by UK taxpayers towards delivering the immigration system by asking those who use and benefit directly from the system to make a greater contribution.
For certain application categories, we will continue to set fees higher than the administrative cost to reflect their value to successful applicants. This helps to provide resources to run the UK immigration system and enables the Home Office to set lower fees elsewhere in support of wider Government objectives to attract those businesses, workers, students and visitors who most benefit the UK. This includes the short-term visit visa which remains significantly below cost.
I have laid regulations for fees set higher than cost. In addition, I will shortly lay another set of regulations in Parliament for fees set at or below cost. Further details explaining all fees changes are provided in the explanatory memoranda for both sets of regulations. Subject to parliamentary approval the Government intend to bring new fees into force from 6 April 2014 with some fees for premium services overseas coming into effect on 31 March 2014.
The attached table, setting out all the proposed fees, includes indicative unit costs for financial year 2014-15. The unit cost is the estimated average cost to the Home Office of processing each application. Unit costs are published so it is clear which fees we set over cost and by how much.
Full details on how to apply for all of the Home Office’s products and services will be provided on the Home Office website: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk.
Entry Clearance Visas - Non PBS | Unit Costs April 2014 | Current Fees | New Fees 6th April | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Visit Visa - short up to 6 months | £115 | £80 | £83 | 4.0% |
Visit visa - long up to 2 years | £115 | £278 | £300 | 8.0% |
Visit visa - long up to 5 years | £115 | £511 | £544 | 6.5% |
Visit visa - long up to 10 years | £115 | £737 | £737 | 0.0% |
Extended Student Visit visa (between 6 & 11 months) | £115 | £144 | £150 | 4.0% |
Settlement | £378 | £851 | £885 | 4.0% |
Settlement - dependant relative | £378 | £1,906 | £1,982 | 4.0% |
Settlement (refugee dependant relative)* | £378 | £407 | £378 | -7.1%³ |
Certificate of Entitlement | £378 | £278 | £289 | 4.0% |
Other visa | £170 | £278 | £289 | 4.0% |
Transit visa (Direct Airside) | £83 | £54 | £40 | -25.0% |
Transit Visa (Landside) | £83 | £54 | £54 | 0.0% |
Media Representatives | £177 | £494 | £514 | 4.0% |
Vignette transfer fee | £170 | £105 | £109 | 4.0% |
Call out/out of hours fee (per hr) | £130 /hr | £130/hr | £130/hr | 0.0% |
Single entry visa to replace Biometric Residence Permit overseas | £72 | £72 | £72 | 0.0% |
Receiving, preparing and forwarding documents on behalf of Commonwealth Countries/Overseas Territories | £115 | N/A | £115 | N/A |
Registered Traveller - Yearly Subscription (NEW) | N/A | N/A | £50 per year | N/A |
Registered Traveller - Registration of New Documents (NEW) | N/A | N/A | £20 | N/A |
Priority Visa Service - Settlement | £6 | Varies by Location | £300 | N/A |
Priority Visa Service - Non-Settlement | £6 | Varies by Location | £100 | N/A |
Super Priority Visa Service | £100 | £600 | £600 | 0.0% |
User Pays VACs | £53 | Varies by Location | £53 | N/A |
Passport Passback Service | £40 | Varies by Location | £40 | N/A |
Prime-time visa application centre appointment | £35 | Varies by Location | £50 | N/A |
International contact centre service - Live chat (Flat rate) (NEW) | N/A | N/A | £4 | N/A |
International contact centre service - Helpline per Minute (NEW) | N/A | N/A | £1.37 | N/A |
Visa - PBS | Unit Costs April 2014 | Current Fees | New Fees 6th April 2014 | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur, Investor, Exceptional Talent1) - Main applicant2 | £352 | £840 | £874 | 4.0% |
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur, Investor, Exceptional Talent1) - All dependants | £352 | £840 | £874 | 4.0% |
Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur - Main applicant and all dependants | £352 | £298 | £310 | 4.0% |
Tier 1 Post Study Work—All dependants | £352 | £498 | £518 | 4.0% |
Tier 2 General, ICT—Long term staff, Sport & MOR – main applicants2 | £173 | £494 | £514 | 4.0% |
Tier 2 General, ICT—Long term staff, Sport & MOR – Main dependants | £173 | £494 | £514 | 4.0% |
Tier 2 ICT Short term staff, Graduate Trainee or Skills Transfer – main applicants & dependants2 | £173 | £412 | £428 | 4.0% |
Tier 2 General, ICT over 3 years limited leave to remain - Long term staff - main Apps2 (NEW) | £173 | N/A | £1,028 | N/A |
Tier 2 General, ICT over 3 years limited leave to remain - Long term staff - Dependants Apps (NEW) | £173 | N/A | £1,028 | N/A |
Tier 2 - Shortage Occupations: Up to 3 years limited leave to remain - Main2 (NEW) | £173 | £494 | £428 | -13.6% |
Tier 2 - Shortage Occupations: Up to 3 years leave to remain – Dependant (NEW) | £173 | £494 | £428 | -13.6% |
Tier 2 - Shortage Occupations: over 3 years leave to remain - Main2 (NEW) | £173 | N/A | £856 | N/A |
Tier 2 - Shortage Occupations: over 3 years leave to remain – Dependant (NEW) | £173 | N/A | £856 | N/A |
Tier 4 - main apps2 | £204 | £298 | £310 | 4.0% |
Tier 4 - dependants | £204 | £298 | £310 | 4.0% |
Tier 5 Temp Work & Youth Mobility - main apps2 | £131 | £200 | £208 | 4.0% |
Tier 5 - all dependants | £131 | £200 | £208 | 4.0% |
1The Exceptional Talent application fee will be payable in 2 parts. | ||||
2Council of European Social Charter (CESC) reduction applies. Reduction set at £55 per eligible applicant.. | ||||
3Reductions in line with 2013 unit cost. | ||||
ICT: Intra Company Transfer | MOR: Minister of Religion |
Applications Relating to Nationality | Unit Costs April 2014 | Current Fees | New Fees 6th April | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Naturalisation (UK Citizenship) single application1 | £144 | £794 | £906 | 4.0% |
Naturalisation (UK Citizenship) joint application1 | £203 | £1,390 | £1,652 | 12.9% |
Naturalisation as a British overseas territories citizen single application (NEW) | £144 | £568 | £661 | 16.4% |
Naturalisation as a British overseas territories citizen joint application (NEW) | £144 | N/A | £1,322 | N/A |
Nationality (UK Citizenship) Registration adult1 | £144 | £673 | £823 | 10.4% |
Nationality (UK Citizenship) Registration minor2 | £144 | £673 | £669 | -0.6% |
Nationality Registration (British Overseas Territories Citizen) adult (CHANGED) | £144 | £568 | £595 | 4.5% |
Nationality Registration (British Overseas Territories Citizen) minor (CHANGED) | £144 | £568 | £536 | -5.6% |
Nationality Registration (British Subject British Overseas Citizen/British Protected Person) adult (NEW) | £144 | N/A | £595 | N/A |
Nationality Registration (British Subject British Overseas Citizen) minor (NEW) | £144 | N/A | £601 | N/A |
Renunciation of Nationality | £187 | £187 | £187 | 0.0% |
Nationality Reissued Certificate4 | £85 | £94 | £85 | -9.6% |
Nationality Right of Abode | £187 | £170 | £187 | 4.0% |
Nationality Reconsiderations | £85 | £80 | £80 | 0.0% |
Status Letter (Nationality) 4 | £85 | £94 | £85 | -9.6% |
Non-Acquisition Letter (Nationality)4 | £85 | £94 | £85 | -9.6% |
Nationality Correction to Certificate4 | £85 | £94 | £85 | -9.6% |
European Residence Document—(Residence Certificate)3 | £88 | £55 | £55 | 0.0% |
European Residence Document—(Document certifying permanent residence)3 | £88 | £55 | £55 | 0.0% |
European Residence Document—(Residence Card and Derivative Residence Card)3 | £88 | £55 | £55 | 0.0% |
European Residence Document—(Permanent Residence Card)3 | £88 | £55 | £55 | 0.0% |
1£80 per applicant is included to cover the ceremony fee. | ||||
2Additional £80 per applicant is required to cover the ceremony fee should the minor turn 18 during the application process. This will be requested at point of decision. | ||||
3Residence documents issued under the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations are not mandatory. | ||||
4Fee reductions in line with 2013 unit cost. |
In-UK PBS | Unit Costs April 2014 | Current Fees | New Fees 6th April | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ILR Standard – main applicant | £248 | £1,051 | £1,093 | 4.0% |
ILR Standard - all dependants | £248 | £788 | £1,093 | 38.7% |
LTR Other Standard – main applicant | £278 | £578 | £601 | 4.0% |
LTR Other Standard – all dependants | £278 | £433 | £601 | 38.8% |
NTL – main applicant2 | £104 | £147 | £104 | -29.3% |
NTL Postal – all dependants2 | £104 | £147 | £104 | -29.3% |
Transfer of Conditions – main applicant2 | £107 | £147 | £107 | -27.2% |
Transfer of Conditions – all dependants2 | £107 | £147 | £107 | -27.2% |
Travel Documents Adult (CoT)2 | £246 | £257 | £246 | -4.3% |
Travel Documents Adult CTD2 | £69 | £72.50 | £69 | -4.8% |
Travel Documents Child (CoT)2 | £157 | £164 | £157 | -4.3% |
Travel Documents Child CTD | £49 | £46 | £46 | 0.0% |
BRP / Replacement Biometric Residence Permit | £57 | £38 | £40 | 4.0% |
Work Permit Technical Changes | £22 | £22 | £22 | 0.0% |
Residual FLR IED Standard – main applicant | £278 | £578 | £601 | 4.0% |
Residual FLR IED Standard – all dependants | £278 | £433 | £601 | 38.8% |
Residual FLR BUS Standard – main applicant | £278 | £1,051 | £1,093 | 4.0% |
Residual FLR BUS Standard – all dependants | £278 | £788 | £1,093 | 38.7% |
Employment LTR outside PBS Standard | £278 | £578 | £601 | 4.0% |
Employment LTR outside PBS Standard Dependant | £278 | £433 | £601 | 38.8% |
Application in Person (AIP) – main applicant and all dependants1 | N/A | £375 | £400 | 6.7% |
Appointment booking fee1 | N/A | £100 | £100 | 0.0% |
Super Premium service (mobile case working) - Price & Standard AIP Fee | £2,211 | £6,000 | £6,000 | 0.0% |
Call out/out of hours fee (Per Hr) | £130 /hr | £130/hr | £130/hr | 0.0% |
1For applications made in person (e.g. at a public enquiry office) the total fee is the relevant standard fee plus £400 per person (this includes the £100 appointment fee, which may be retained should the applicant fail to attend their appointment without good reason). | ||||
2Fee reductions in line with 2013 unit cost. | ||||
ILR= Indefinite Leave to Remain | IED = Immigration Employment Document | |||
LTR = Leave to Remain | FLR = Further Leave to Remain | |||
Standard = Postal or online applications where online application is available. |
In UK - PBS | Unit Costs April 2014 | Current Fees | New Fees 6th April | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tier 1 - (General) Standard —main applicant4 | £242 | £1,545 | £1,607 | 4.0% |
Tier 1 - (General) Standard -all dependants | £242 | £1,159 | £1,607 | 38.7% |
Tier 1 - Standard (Entrepreneur, Investor)1 - main applicant4 | £340 | £1,051 | £1,093 | 4.0% |
Tier 1 - Standard (Entrepreneur, Investor, Exceptional Talent)—all dependants1 | £340 | £788 | £1,093 | 38.7% |
Tier 1 – Graduate Entrepreneur Standard - main applicant 4 | £290 | £406 | £422 | 4.0% |
Tier 1 - Graduate Entrepreneur Standard - all dependants | £290 | £305 | £422 | 38.4% |
Tier 1 = Exceptional talent extension - main applicant (NEW)4 | £340 | N/A | £1,093 | N/A |
Tier 1 = Exceptional talent extension – all dependants (NEW) | £340 | N/A | £1,093 | N/A |
Tier 2 General, ICT up to 3 years leave to remain— Long term staff, Sport & MOR - Standard main applicant4 | £213 | £578 | £601 | 4.0% |
Tier 2 General, ICT up to 3 years leave to remain— Long term staff, Sport & MOR – all dependants | £213 | £434 | £601 | 38.5% |
Tier 2 ICT – Short term staff, Graduate Trainee or Skills Transfer - Standard – main applicant 4 | £191 | £412 | £428 | 4.0% |
Tier 2 ICT – Short term staff, Graduate Trainee or Skills Transfer – Standard - all dependants | £191 | £309 | £428 | 24.9% |
Tier 2 General, ICT over 3 years leave to remain– Long term staff, Sport & MOR - main applicant (NEW)4 | £213 | N/A | £1,202 | N/A |
Tier 2 General, ICT over 3 years leave to remain– Long term staff – all dependants (NEW) | £213 | N/A | £1,202 | N/A |
Tier 2 - Shortage Occupations: Up to 3 years leave to remain - main applicant (NEW)4 | £213 | £578 | £428 | -26.0% |
Tier 2 - Shortage Occupations: Up to 3 years leave to remain – all dependants (NEW) | £213 | £434 | £428 | -11.1% |
Tier 2 - Shortage Occupations: Over 3 years leave to remain - main applicant (NEW)4 | £213 | N/A | £856 | N/A |
Tier 2 - Shortage Occupations: Over 3 years leave to remain – all dependants (NEW) | £213 | N/A | £856 | N/A |
Tier 4 – Standard – main applicant | £203 | £406 | £422 | 4.0% |
Tier 4 – Standard – all dependants | £203 | £305 | £422 | 38.4% |
Tier 5 – Standard – main applicant4 | £187 | £200 | £208 | 4.0% |
Tier 5 – Standard - all dependants | £187 | £150 | £208 | 38.7% |
Tier 4 – Permission to Change Sponsor2 | £160 | £160 | £160 | 0.0% |
Application in Person (AIP) – main applicant and all dependants3 | N/A | £375 | £400 | 6.7% |
Priority service – main applicant and all dependants | N/A | £275 | £300 | 9.0% |
Appointment booking fee | N/A | £100 | £100 | 0.0% |
Super Premium service (mobile case working) - Price & Standard AIP Fee | £2,211 | £6,000 | 0.0% | £6,000 |
Premium Postal Service (Tier 2 Only) | N/A | £275 | £300 | 9% |
1The Exceptional Talent application fee is payable in two parts. | ||||
2Only for migrants that applied to UKBA for permission to study from 31 March 2009 to 4 October 2009. | ||||
3For applications made in person (e.g. at a public inquiry office) the total fee is the relevant standard fee plus £400 per person (this includes the £100 appointment fee, which may be retained should the applicant fail to attend their appointment without good reason). | ||||
Standard = Postal or online applications where online application is available. | ||||
4Council of European Social Charter (CESC) reduction applies. Reduction set at £55 per eligible applicant. | ||||
ICT = Intra Company Transfer | MOR = Minister of Religion |
PBS Sponsorship | Unit Costs April 2014 | Current Fees | New Fees 6th April | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Premium Sponsor Scheme Tier 2 & 5 – large sponsors | N/A | £25,000 | £25,000 | 0.0% |
Premium Sponsor Scheme Tier 2 & 5 – small sponsors | N/A | £8,000 | £8,000 | 0.0% |
Premium Scheme Tier 4 Sponsors | N/A | £8,000 | £8,000 | 0.0% |
Tier 2 Large Sponsor Licence1 | £1,476 | £1,545 | £1,476 | -4.5% |
Tier 2 Small Sponsor Licence | £1,476 | £515 | £536 | 4.0% |
Tier 4 Sponsor Licence | £1,476 | £515 | £536 | 4.0% |
Tier 5 Sponsor Licence | £1,476 | £515 | £536 | 4.0% |
Tier 2, Tier 4 &/or Tier 5 Licence (where sponsor currently holds Tier 4 or Tier 5 licence)1 | £1,476 | £1,030 | £940 | -8.7% |
Highly Trusted Sponsor Licence | £1,476 | £515 | £536 | 4.0% |
Sponsor Action Plan1 | £1,476 | £1,545 | £1,476 | -4.5% |
Tier 2 Certificate Of Sponsorship (COS) | £154 | £184 | £184 | 0.0% |
Tier 4 Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) | £14 | £14 | £14 | 0.0% |
Tier 5 Certificate Of Sponsorship (COS) | £14 | £14 | £14 | 0.0% |
Fee Reductions in line with 2013 unit cost. |