The government has set out its proposed changes to the fees for visas, immigration and nationality applications and associated premium services for 2016–17.
Settlement, residence and nationality fees will increase by 25% while visit, study and work visas will increase by 2%. For example Indefinite Leave to Remain will go up by £407 from the current £1,093 to £1,500. While Nationalisation will go up by £99 from £906 to £1,005.
Some targeted increases have been applied to premium services, such as the priority visa service. Fees for all sponsorship categories will stay at the current rates. Specific fee changes for 2016–17 will apply after further legislation is laid in Parliament by April this year.
The new legislation will set maximum levels on the amounts for broad categories of fees that can be charged by the Home Office over the next 4 years. There are no current plans to raise fees to the maximum levels.
The Home Office said, ‘These increases will allow us to reduce taxpayer contributions towards the border, immigration and citizenship system and ensure that by 2019–2020 the system is self – funded by those who use it’.
