The Home Office has confirmed a wide range of fee increases across UK visa, settlement and nationality applications, which will take effect from 8 April 2026.
The changes will affect most major immigration routes, including work, study, visit and settlement applications, with costs rising across both overseas and in-country applications. For many applicants, the increases will add to the overall cost of moving to or remaining in the UK, particularly where application fees sit alongside the Immigration Health Surcharge, document costs and any optional priority services.
Headline changes across visa routes
Most visa categories are increasing by a modest but consistent margin, with rises typically in the range of £20 to £100 depending on the route and duration of leave.
Visit visa fees
Visit visa fees will increase across all main durations. A standard six month visit visa will rise from £127 to £135. Long-term visit visas will increase to £506 for two years, £903 for five years and £1,128 for ten years.
Work visa fees
Work visa fees will increase across the main sponsored routes. Skilled Worker applications made from outside the UK will rise to £819 for grants of up to three years and £1,618 for grants of more than three years. In-country Skilled Worker applications will increase to £943 and £1,865 respectively. Health and Care visa fees will remain lower than the standard Skilled Worker fees, but will increase to £324 for grants of up to three years and £628 for grants of more than three years.
Student visa fees
Student visa fees will increase for both overseas and in-country applications. The application fee will rise from £524 to £558 for main applicants and dependants.
Settlement and citizenship costs
Settlement and nationality applications will remain among the highest cost stages within the UK immigration system. The April 2026 changes will increase most fees, although one notable reduction applies to child registration as a British citizen.
Indefinite leave to remain
The fee for indefinite leave to remain will increase from £3,029 to £3,226 per applicant from 8 April 2026. The fee applies per person and does not include optional priority processing.
Settlement entry clearance
For applicants applying from overseas on routes that lead to settlement, the standard entry clearance fee will increase from £1,938 to £2,064. Higher fees will apply in certain dependant categories, including £3,635 for some adult dependant relative applications.
British citizenship fees
British citizenship application fees will also increase. Naturalisation as a British citizen will rise from £1,605 to £1,709. Adult registration will increase from £1,446 to £1,540.
The fee for registering a child as a British citizen will reduce from £1,214 to £1,000. This reduction stands out as the main exception within the wider pattern of fee increases. Where a ceremony is required, the separate ceremony fee of £130 will continue to apply.
Work and business routes
Across business and work routes, most application fees will increase in line with the broader uplift, although a small number of routes will remain unchanged.
Innovator Founder route
Innovator Founder applications made from outside the UK will increase from £1,276 to £1,357. In-country applications will rise from £1,590 to £1,693. The endorsement fee and contact point meeting fee will remain unchanged at £1,000 and £500 respectively, excluding VAT.
Scale-up and Graduate routes
Scale-up and Graduate Route application fees will increase from £880 to £937.
Global Talent and High Potential Individual
Global Talent application fees will remain unchanged. Where an endorsement is required, the endorsement fee will stay at £561 and the visa application fee will remain £205. Where no endorsement is required, the application fee will remain £766.
High Potential Individual visa fees will also remain unchanged at £880.
Temporary work routes
Temporary work routes, including the Youth Mobility Scheme and Seasonal Worker route, will increase from £319 to £340.
Additional charges and unchanged fees
Some immigration-related charges will remain unchanged, despite the broader increase in application fees.
Premium processing services
Priority and super priority services will remain unchanged at £500 and £1,000 respectively.
Sponsorship-related fees
Certain sponsorship-related fees will remain unchanged. The main Certificate of Sponsorship fee for Skilled Worker and related routes will remain £525. Temporary Worker Certificates of Sponsorship will remain £55. The Confirmation of Acceptance for Study fee will also remain £55.
Electronic Travel Authorisation
The Electronic Travel Authorisation fee will increase from £16 to £20 from 8 April 2026. This will affect non-visa nationals who are required to obtain permission before travelling to the UK.
Overall cost impact for applicants
While individual increases may appear modest, the cumulative financial impact can be significant. Many applicants incur multiple costs across the life of a visa, including application fees, the Immigration Health Surcharge, document preparation costs and optional priority services.
For families, overall costs can increase substantially because fees apply per person. This becomes more pronounced where applicants progress from temporary permission to settlement and later to British citizenship.
What applicants should do now
The new fees will apply to applications submitted on or after 8 April 2026. Applications submitted before that date should be charged at the current rates.
Applicants who are eligible to apply before the increase takes effect may wish to consider timing. However, eligibility, supporting evidence and overall application readiness should take priority over attempting to submit early solely to avoid the higher fee.
Applicants should review the updated fee structure in advance and plan for the full cost of their application. This includes taking account of dependant applications, follow-on applications and any additional services.
Where applications are likely to be submitted on or after 8 April 2026, the revised fee levels should be factored into planning at an early stage.
