UK visa fees and health surcharge to rise to meet higher costs.

Whilst no clarity on the timing or dates of implementation has been shared, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, The Rt Hon John Glen MP has announced steep increases to immigration fees and the immigration health surcharge (IHS).

The current rate for the immigration health surcharge will increase from £624 to £1,035 per year. Workers entering for a period of six months or more and their family members will pay this price.

The discounted rate for students, children and youth mobility visa holders will increase from £470 to £776 per year.

The government, under pressure to accept the recommendation of an independent review of pay for teachers, police, junior doctors, and other public sector workers has confirmed an increase between 5 and 7% across the board. The Prime Minister stressed that this would not be met with higher government borrowing for fear of further fuelling high inflation and therefore the costs would need to be found elsewhere and this lead to the Immigration Minister, announcing the increase in Visa and IHS fees, stating that this increase, “would fund the pay rise for doctors”.

An example of the fees which may be incurred, a family of four will have to meet costs of around £15,000 in IHS costs alone.

Immigration and nationality fees will increase as well. Work and visit visas will rise by 15%. Student visas, certificates of sponsorship, settlement, citizenship, entry clearance and leave to remain applications by at least 20%.

The Prime minister stated that, “There will be no more talks on pay. We will not negotiate again on this year’s settlements and no amount of strikes will change our decision. Instead, the settlement we have reached today gives us a fair way to end the strikes. A fair deal for workers and a fair deal for the British taxpayer,”

In addition, the immigration minister has also announced simplifications. The fee of £19.20 for biometric enrolment will stop, as will the £161 charge for transfer of conditions. Fees will also cease for amending details on physical documents such as name, gender, nationality, and photographs. Furthermore, a replacement of a biometric residence permit where the document has expired will no-longer be fee payable. This will primarily benefit those with indefinite leave to remain, whose cards have a maximum 10-year validity, with most due to expire in 2024.

We appreciate these announcements will be met with discontent, however with the dates yet to be announced we thoroughly recommend you make a visa application as soon as practically possible. We can help you through those practicalities too. Call or email us today on, 01403 582338 [email protected]