Changes to Work Visa and British Citizenship
The Home Office has announced updates to the Immigration and Nationality Fees Amendment Order 2025, introducing significant fee increases that will impact everything from worker sponsorship to naturalization applications. Hereās what you need to know about these changes and how they may affect you as applicants, employers, and stakeholders.
Key Updates:
- Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
The first increase is for the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which will rise from Ā£10 to Ā£16. This change alone is expected to generate Ā£140 million in revenue for 2025-26. But what exactly is ETA, and does it affect you? Stick with me, Iāll dive into that later. - Sponsorship Certificates & Sponsorship Fees
Fees for sponsorship certificates and sponsoring a skilled worker (including roles such as Ministry of Religion, Global Business Mobility, and International Sportsperson) will increase from Ā£239 to Ā£525. Temporary worker route fees will also rise from Ā£25 to Ā£55. This is expected to generate Ā£111 million in revenue for 2025-26. - Naturalisation & British Citizenship Fees
The cost for British Citizenship applications will increase from Ā£1,500 to Ā£1,605. British Overseas Territories citizenship will also see a hike, from Ā£1,000 to Ā£1,070. These changes are projected to bring in an additional Ā£18 million in revenue for 2025-26. That’s a significant increase! - Other Nationality Service Fees
Although other nationality services may not directly affect my readers, it’s worth noting that these changes are expected to generate Ā£1 million in 2025-26.
Overall Impact
In total, the UK government estimates that these changes will bring in an additional Ā£69 million annually by 2025-26. These adjustments align with the UKās broader plans to streamline and digitize immigration processes.
When Does This Take Effect?
Wondering when these changes kick in? The exact dates havenāt been confirmed yet, as the proposals are still before Parliament. Once theyāre approved, weāll have more concrete information about implementation timelines. Keep your eyes peeled for updates.
What Does This Mean for You?
- COS (Certificate of Sponsorship)
A COS is a mandatory document issued by your employer when applying for a work or skilled visa. This needs to be in place before you can apply for your visa, and it now costs Ā£525, up from Ā£239. - Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
For those who donāt need a visa to enter the UK, such as citizens from the US or European countries, ETA is a required registration that allows for entry. This fee will increase from Ā£10 to Ā£16. - Naturalisation Fees
For those on a work visa looking to apply for British Citizenship, the naturalisation fee will increase from Ā£1,330 to Ā£1,605. Additionally, certificates of amendment and other related documents will see slight increases in their fees.
Impact on Employers
For employers, the new COS fee increase may impact the decision to sponsor overseas workers. With the cost nearly doubling, employers will need to carefully consider their budgets when hiring immigrants. Remember, itās the employer’s responsibility to pay the COS fees, not the employees.
Next Steps
At this stage, these proposals have been submitted but are not yet approved. Weāre still awaiting the official implementation timeline. Once approved, the Home Office will announce when these changes will come into effect.
Stay updated by following the news, and Iāll continue to provide follow-up articles with more details as they become available.
Thanks for reading till the end! For more details, check the UK governmentās official update here.
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