Business Immigration Solicitors

The Home Office has announced a series of massive increases to its UK visa application fees, which will have a huge impact on employers looking to recruit staff from overseas.

Skilled worker visas are expected to jump by more than 20% as the Government looks to balance the books following public sector pay review.

The new fees are expected to affect a wide range of visa categories, including work, student, and family visas, along with certificate of sponsorship, citizenship and settlement visas.

Employers planning to sponsor overseas workers, those planning to apply for student visas, settlement and citizenship are urged to act quickly to avoid the rises.

The Government has also announced that it will be abolishing some fees. The changes are part of a broader effort to reform the UK's immigration system, which it says will make it fairer and sustainable in the long term.

The announcement included a rise in the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is paid to permit visa holders to utilise the NHS in the UK during the validity of their immigration grants of permission.

The Government says the surcharge will likely increase from £624 per year to £1,035 per year and the discounted rate for students, dependents of students, Tier 5 Temporary Migrants and applicants under the age of 18 will rise from £470 yearly to £776 per year.

The proposals were set out on July 13 but it is yet to be officially confirmed when the changes will be implemented. The Government has indicated that the fees across the immigration and nationality routes will also increase.

It is expected that work visa and visit visa costs will rise by 15%, and other immigration fees for categories across the board (such as student visas, settlement and citizenship) will jump by 20%. This is primarily to equalise costs of applications made from outside the UK and within the UK.

Given these changes, it is expected that the visa fees for a single applicant applying from outside of the UK for a 3-year skilled worker visa, will increase from approximately £7,000 to £9,000. A settlement application (Indefinite Leave to Remain) will rise from £2,404 to at least £2,885 per person.

Once the Home Office releases further announcements on this matter, we will provide further updates on the official costs and implementation dates, although, we expect these fee changes to be introduced shortly.

These changes will potentially have a significant effect on the budget assessments for UK employers employing foreign nationals. For migrants looking to work in the UK, these fees are significantly higher than other countries such as France or the USA, meaning it is reasonable to expect that migrant workers will consider work elsewhere.

The immigration minister also announced a number of simplifications. The fee of £19.20 for biometric enrolment will be abolished, as will the £161 charge for transfer of conditions. Fees will no longer be charged for amending details on physical documents such as name, sex marker, nationality and photograph. Fees will also be abolished for like-for-like replacement of a biometric residence permit where the document has expired. 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.

If you are an employer looking to sponsor overseas workers, or if you are due to make an immigration application for an extension to remain with family in the UK, and are concerned about these forthcoming changes please feel free to contact Duncan Lewis.

Our expert business immigration team recommend prospective applicants consider initiating the relevant immigration process sooner rather than later to avoid these increases in fees.

For advice in regard to any visa or immigration matter, contact director Vicash Ramkissoon who can provide further information and advice on initiating the process sooner rather than later.

Vicash is expert in all matters relating to business and private immigration with 20 years of PQE. He oversees a team specialising in private and business immigration. The team excels in complex skilled worker and sponsor licence applications including for the technology, care and hospitality sectors. Their expertise extends to advising high-net-worth individuals from Asia and the Middle East, and advising on immigration strategy, compliance, and representing clients in immigration-related judicial reviews.

Contact him via email at vicashr@duncanlewis.com or via telephone on 020 3114 1105.

About the authors:

Amrit Raindi is a solicitor in the Business Immigration department who possesses extensive experience. Amrit's diverse caseload encompasses various types of applications, such as asylum applications, fresh claims, applications for leave to enter or further leave to remain as a spouse, fiancé, unmarried partner, or other dependent relative. Additionally, Amrit handles cases involving adult dependants, entry clearance, and visitor visas, among others.

Contact him via email at amritpals@duncanlewis.com or via telephone on 020 7275 2650.

Alessandra Vinciarelli Michelangeli is a Trainee Solicitor in the Business and Private Immigration team. Alessandra handles various case matters and provides support to a team of directors, solicitors, and caseworkers in the daily progress of immigration cases and applications. Her responsibilities include drafting applications and documents, conducting legal research, and engaging with clients.

Contact him via email at AlessandraM@duncanlewis.com or via telephone on 020 3114 1144.

Duncan Lewis Solicitors is an award-winning law firm renowned for its exceptional legal services and commitment to social justice. With a history spanning several decades, their team of highly skilled solicitors provides top-tier representation in 25 diverse fields of law, including immigration, family, criminal, employment, and housing law. It is recognised for their unwavering dedication to making justice accessible to all, regardless of financial circumstances. Duncan Lewis Solicitors' outstanding reputation, numerous accolades, including being crowned Law Firm of the Year at the Modern Law Awards 2023, and commitment to advocating for marginalised individuals firmly establish it as a leading law firm in the UK, consistently delivering excellent legal representation.