United Kingdom: Fee Increases in April 2026
March 19, 2026
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At a Glance
- The Home Office has published revised immigration and nationality fees that will come into effect from April 8, 2026.
- The changes reflect moderate uplifts across most immigration routes, including visa applications, settlement applications and sponsor licence fees.
- Most visa application fees (work, study and visit routes), as well as sponsor licence application fees, will increase by around six to seven percent.
The situation
The Home Office has published revised immigration and nationality fees that will come into effect from April 8, 2026.
A closer look
Fee increases include the following moderate but widespread increases:
|
Entry Clearance (main applications and dependants) |
||||
|
Skilled Worker, Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) 3 years or less |
769 |
819 |
||
|
Skilled Worker, CoS over 3 years |
1,519 |
1,618 |
||
|
Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker, up to 3 years |
769 |
819 |
||
|
Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker, over 3 years |
1,519 |
1,618 |
||
|
Student visa |
524 |
558 |
||
|
Visit visa (6 months) |
127 |
135 |
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
In Country Applications |
||||
|
Skilled Worker – 3 years or less |
885 |
943 |
||
|
Skilled Worker – over 3 years |
1,751 |
1,865 |
||
|
Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker, up to 3 years |
885 |
943 |
||
|
Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker, over 3 years |
1,751 |
1,865 |
||
|
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) |
3,029 |
3,226 |
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
Sponsor Licences |
||||
|
Worker Sponsor Licence (Large Sponsor) |
1,579 |
1,682 |
||
|
Worker Sponsor Licence (Small Sponsor) |
574 |
611 |
||
The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee will increase from GBP 16 to GBP 20.
Background
These fee increases are said to be linked to inflation and are relatively modest in isolation, but they follow substantial increases to the Immigration Skills Charge introduced in 2025, and other increases including to the Immigration Health Surcharge before that. Overall, these increases form part of a longer-term shift towards a user-funded immigration system, reinforcing the United Kingdom’s position at the higher-cost end of comparable economies competing for international talent.
Impact
Employers planning overseas recruitment or in-country extensions (including support for ILR) should review their potential effect on budget assessments and where possible, look to submit applications prior to April 8, 2026.
Looking ahead
The United Kingdom’s cost landscape is expected to be even more challenging in the period ahead. Proposed reforms to settlement pathways could extend the time individuals spend in temporary status, increasing the period over which immigration costs are incurred. Final details of the expanded settlement timelines are expected before year end.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
