Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to reduce or remove the visa charge for foreign soldiers who have fought for the UK and wish to move to the UK; and if she will make a statement.

The Home Secretary and Defence Secretary announced on 23 February that the Government has decided to waive settlement fees for non-UK personnel in our Armed Forces, who have six years or more reckonable service, or who are discharged due to an illness or injury attributable to their service regardless of the length of their service.

These changes are being implemented via an update to the Immigration Fees and Regulations, with the changes coming into effect on 6 April 2022.

The Written Statement regarding this policy can be found at:

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2022-02-23/hcws624.