1. Home Office Immigration and Nationality Charges
The Home Office revises Nationality and Immigration charges once every year. In fact, the charges are payable under section 68 and 69 of the Immigration Act 2014. The UKVI also offers some user-pay premium services for which applicants needs to pay additional charges. The charges depends on the type of application and service. Accordingly, the Home Office fees can be as low as £475 for leave to remain applications for a student. However, the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Charges can be as high as £2,389 for an indefinite leave to remain (ILR) application.
2. ILR
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) Fees 2020/21
There will be no increase in the Home Office indefinite leave to remain (ILR) application fees from Jan 31, 2021. Accordingly, the ILR fees will remain at £2,389. Please note, the ILR fees are applicable for all types of indefinite leave to remain applications. For instance, the indefinite leave to remain (ILR) Fees for PBS Tier 1 investor, Tier 1 Entrepreneur or Settlement under the Family Route are same i.e. £2,389 per application.
Same Day Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) Fees 2020/21
The Home Office Fees for the same day (24 hours) processing of Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or no time limit (NTL) applications are £3,189/- i.e. application fees £2,389/- plus the cost of super-priority visa service £800.
3. Leave to Remain
Home Office Fees for Leave to Remain Applications in 2020/21
There will be no change in the leave to remain fees from Jan 31, 2021. Accordingly, the leave to remain application fees will remain at £1,033. Moreover, the leave to remain fees with priority (5-day) and same day super-priority service are £1,533 and £1,833/-, respectively.
Please note, the leave to remain application charges of £1,033 are not applicable for all types of switching and extension applications. For instance, the leave to remain fees for Tier 1 Investor and Entrepreneur are £1,623 and £1,277, respectively. However, the leave to remain fees for spouse visa application are £1,033.
No Fee for Exceptional Assurance – Covid-19 Leave to Remain
A foreign national in the UK needs to take all necessary steps to leave if it is possible to do so or apply to regularise stay. If a person intends to leave the UK but is not able to do so due to Covid-19 and the leave to remain is expiring between 1 January 2021 and 28 February 2021 then can request additional time to stay, which is known as ‘exceptional assurance’. Although, there is no Home Office fee for the exceptional assurance, i.e. leave to remain (extension), due to coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions, however, a person needs to attach evidence to show: why he/she is not able to leave the UK?
| Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) Fee for Main Applicants and Dependants | £2,389 |
| Same Day ILR Application Fees | £3,189 |
| Leave to Remain Application Fee | £1,033 |
| Leave to Remain 5-Day Priority Application Fees | £1,533 |
| 24-Hours Super-Priority (Premium) Leave to Remain Fees | £1,833 |
4. Students
Home Office Student Visa Fees 2020/21
Home Office Fees for student (main applicant and dependants) and child student leave to remain and extension visa will remain at £475. The visa fees for students with 5-day priority and same-day premium service will also remain at £975 and £1,275, respectively.
Immigration Services
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5. Citizenship
British Citizenship Fees 2020/21
There will be no increase in the British citizenship fees from Jan 31, 2021. The British Citizenship Fees for adults will remain at £1,206, inclusive of £80 charges for Citizenship Ceremony. If an application is unsuccessful or withdrawn then the British Citizenship fees are refunded after deducting £25 administrative charges.
Child Registration Fees – British Citizenship
Indeed, despite all the criticism and legal hearing, the British Citizenship Fees after Jan 31, 2021, for Child Registration will remain at £1,012. If a minor turns 18 during the application process then needs to pay £80 fees for British citizenship ceremony at the point of decision.
The Project for the Registration of Children as British Citizens (PRCBC) argues the “exorbitant” £1,012 registration fee, for an application which costs the Home Office just £372 to process, is unlawfully high.
The Guardian
Home Office Fees for British Overseas Citizens 2020/21
After Jan 31, 2021, the nationality registration fee for British overseas citizens will remain at £901. The British nationality registration charges for children will continue to remain at £810.
UK Naturalisation Fees 2020/21
There will be no increase in the British Naturalisation Fees from Jan 31, 2021. Accordingly, the British Naturalisation fees will remain at £1,330, inclusive of the citizenship ceremony fee of £80. The Naturalisation fees for British overseas territory citizens will remain at £1,000. If an application is unsuccessful or withdrawn then Home Office refunds the Naturalisation Fees after deducting £25 administrative charges.
| turalisation (inclusive of citizenship ceremony fee of £80) | £1,330 |
| Naturalisation British overseas territory citizens | £1,000 |
| Nationality registration as a British Citizen – Adult (inclusive of citizenship ceremony fee of £80) | £1,206 |
| Nationality registration as a British Citizen – Child (Additional £80 per applicant is required to cover the ceremony fee should the minor turn 18 during the application process) | £1,012 |
| The arrangement of a citizenship ceremony (including the administration of a citizenship oath and pledge at the ceremony). | £80 |
| The administration of a citizenship oath, or oath and pledge where the oath, or oath and pledge, are not administered at a citizenship ceremony or by a justice of the peace. | £5 |
| Nationality registration – British overseas territory citizen, British overseas citizens, British Subjects, British protected persons – adult | £901 |
| Nationality registration – British overseas territory citizen, British overseas citizens, British Subjects, British protected persons – child | £810 |
| Renunciation of nationality | £372 |
| Certificate of entitlement – (right of abode) | £372 |
| Nationality review | £372 |
| Status letter | £250 |
| Non-acquisition letter | £250 |
| Nationality correction to certificate | £250 |
| Nationality – supply of a certified copy of a notice, certificate, order or declaration | £250 |
6. Work
Home Office Work Visa Fees 2020/21
There will be no changes in the Home Office work visa fees from Jan 31, 2021. For details please refer to Price List.
Please note, the innovator, start-up, and global talent visa has replaced the Tier 1 Entrepreneur, Graduate Entrepreneur and Tier 1 Exceptional Talent, respectively. Moreover, Skilled Worker, Intra Company Transfer, T2 Sportsperson, T2 Minister of Religion and T5 Temporary Worker visa has replaced the Tier 2 General, Tier 2 Intra-company Transfer (ICT), Tier 2 Sportsperson, Tier 2 Minister of Religion and Tier 5 Temporary Worker visa, respectively.
A Council of Europe Social Charter (CESC) discount of £55 applies for main applicants under the following routes:
- Innovator
- Start-up
- Global Talent initial application
- Global Talent subsequent application
- Tier 1 Entrepreneur
- Skilled Worker
- Intra-Company Transfer, T2 Sportsperson & T2 Minister of Religion
- Intra-Company Transfer – Graduate Trainee
- T5 (Temporary Worker)
| Innovator – main applicant and dependants | £1,277 |
| Start-up – main applicant and dependants | £493 |
| Approval letter from a competent body in respect of an initial application for Global Talent | £456 |
| Global Talent – initial application | £152 |
| Global Talent – extension | £608 |
| Global Talent – dependant | £608 |
Tier 1 High Value Migrants |
|
| Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) – dependants only | £608 |
| Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) – main applicant and dependants | £1,277 |
| Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) – dependants only | £493 |
| Tier 1 (Investor) – main applicant and dependants | £1,623 |
Home Office Fees 2020/21 for Skilled Worker |
|
| Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants | £704 |
| Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants | £1,408 |
| Skilled Worker, shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants | £464 |
| Skilled Worker, shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants | £928 |
| Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants | £232 |
| Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants | £464 |
| Skilled Worker – Shortage Occupation – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants | £232 |
| Skilled Worker – Shortage Occupation – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants | £464 |
Home Office Fees 2020/21 for Intra-Company Transfer and T2 |
|
| Intra-Company Transfer, T2 Sportsperson & T2 Minister of Religion, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants | £704 |
| Intra-Company Transfer, T2 Sportsperson, T2 Minister of Religion where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants | £1,408 |
| Intra-Company Transfer – Graduate Trainee – main applicant and dependants | £482 |
Home Office Fees 2020/21 for T5 (Temporary Worker) |
|
| T5 (Temporary Worker) Seasonal Worker, Religious Worker, Charity Worker, Creative and Sporting Worker, International Agreement Worker, Government Authorised Exchange Worker – main applicant and dependants | £244 |
7. Premium Services
Home Office Fees for Premium and Priority Services
From Jan 31, 2021, there will be no increase in the Home Office Fees for optional premium and priority services from inside the UK. Therefore, the Home Office fees for 5-day priority and 24-hour super priority (premium service) for expediting leave to remain and ILR applications will remain at £500 and £800, respectively. Please note, the priority and premium services are only recommended for a straightforward application and do not affect the outcome of the decision.
| Super Priority service | £800 |
| Expedited processing – Priority service | £500 |
| On-Demand service (Mobile Biometric Enrolment) (per hour per representative of the contractor providing the service) | £650 |
| The provision of an immigration officer to deliver any premium service, to a Government Department, relating to entry into or transit through the United Kingdom | £57.33 |
| The provision of an immigration officer to deliver any premium service, relating to entry into or transit through the United Kingdom | £77.40 |
| Premium status checks and advice – Administrative Officer* (per minute) | £0.80 |
| Premium status checks, advice or training – Executive Officer* (inside office hours) (per minute) | £0.88 |
| Premium status checks, advice or training – Executive Officer* (outside office hours) (per minute) | £1.10 |
| Premium status checks, advice or training – Higher Executive Officer* (inside office hours) (per minute) | £0.97 |
|
Premium status checks, advice or training – Higher Executive Officer* (outside office hours) (per minute) *Please note: Administrative Officer, Executive Officer and Higher Executive Officer are Civil Service staff grades |
£1.23 |
8. Sponsorship
Home Office Fees for Sponsorship
There will be no increase in the Home Office Fees for Sponsorship from Jan 31, 2021. The Home Office Fees for Premium Sponsor Service for large, small and student sponsors, will remain at £25K, £8K and £8K, respectively. Applicants can expedite the processing of sponsor licence applications by paying £500 for the Priority Service.
| Premium Sponsor Service (12 months) Worker sponsor and Temporary worker sponsor – large sponsors | £25,000 |
| Premium Sponsor Service (12 months) Worker sponsor and Temporary worker sponsor – small sponsors | £8,000 |
| Premium Sponsor Service (12 months) Student sponsors | £8,000 |
| The expedited processing of a sponsorship management request made by a Worker sponsor or Temporary worker sponsor | £200 |
| Priority service for expedited processing of sponsor licence applications | £500 |
| Worker sponsor licence and Temporary Worker sponsor licence – large sponsor | £1,476 |
| Worker sponsor licence (small sponsor) | £536 |
| Student sponsor licence | £536 |
| Temporary Worker sponsor licence | £536 |
| Worker sponsor licence (large sponsor), (where sponsor currently holds a Temporary Worker and/or Student Sponsor Licence) | £940 |
| Student sponsor basic compliance assessment | £536 |
| Sponsor action plan | £1,476 |
| Certificate Of Sponsorship (COS) for Skilled Worker, T2 Minister of Religion, T2 Sportsperson, Intra-company Transfer, Intra-company Transfer Graduate Trainee | £199 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for T5 (Temporary worker) | £21 |
| Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS) for student, child student | £21 |
9. Other Services
| Visitor Extension – main applicant and dependants | £993 |
| Leave to enter for persons in the UK who are liable to immigration detention | £1,033 |
| Hong Kong British National (Overseas) for 30 months | £180 |
| Hong Kong British National (Overseas) for 5 years | £250 |
| Retired person of independent means | £1,949 |
| Representative of an overseas business – main applicant and dependants | £704 |
| Processing an application which is subsequently rejected as invalid | £25 |
| Biometric enrolment | £19.20 |
| Transfer of Conditions (TOC) or Application for a document confirming identity and immigration or nationality status – limited leave to remain | £161 |
| TOC or Application for a document confirming identity and immigration or nationality status – indefinite leave to remain | £229 |
| Replacement Biometric residence card (issued under the EU Settlement Scheme) | £56 |
| Replacement Biometric residence permit (BRP) / replacement BRP | £56 |
| Certificate of travel – adult | £280 |
| Certificate of travel – child | £141 |
| Convention travel document – adult | £75 |
| Convention travel document – child | £49 |
| European residence document (registration certificate, document certifying permanent residence, residence card, accession resident card, derivative residence card, permanent residence card) | £65 |
| Administrative Review | £80 |
| Life in the UK test | £50 |
10. Hidden Cost
Home Office Fees 2021 and Hidden Cost
Although, there are no hidden charges, but there is a huge difference between the Home Office Fees and administrative cost of application processing. For instance, the Home Office charges an indefinite leave to remain fee of £2,389, but the administrative cost of processing an ILR application is only £243. Therefore, Home Office is facing severe criticism and court cases to rationalize the end-user fee structure. Nevertheless, in order to escape the public censure, the HM’s Government decided not to increase the Immigration and Nationality charges in 2019, 2020 and also from Jan 31, 2021.
Home Office makes £500m from immigration fees
ILR, Naturalisation, British Citizenship Fees Vs. Actual Cost
There is a huge disparity between the Home Office Fees and actual cost of processing ILR, Naturalisation and British Citizenship Registration applications. Perhaps, depending on the type of the application, the end user charges are 217.74% to 983.13% higher than the actual cost to process an application. Nevertheless, those applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) applications bear the brunt. Quite clearly, the Home Office ILR Fees (£2,389) are nearly 10 times (983.13%) higher than the actual cost of processing (£243). Therefore, on each and every ILR application, the Home Office makes a hefty margin of £2,146.
| Application Type | Fees | Cost |
| ILR | 2,389 | 243 |
| Naturalisation | 1,250 | 372 |
| Nationality Registration – Adult | 1,126 | 372 |
| Nationality Registration – Child | 1,012 | 372 |
The Secretary of State has said that only £372 of that fee is attributed to the administrative cost of processing the application
Bailii.org
Cost Per Migration Decision (in-country and overseas)
The average cost per migration decision has decreased from £217 (2010) to £155 in 2019. However, the Home Office fees have increased considerably. For instance, the indefinite leave to remain (ILR), British Citizenship (Nationality Registration Adult) and Naturalisation application fees have increased from £900 (ILR Postal), £580 and £780 in 2010 to £2,389, £1,126 and £1,250 in 2021, respectively.
| FY | Cost | Decisions | CPD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/11 | £801 m | 3.686 m | £217 |
| 11/12 | £750 m | 3.364 m | £223 |
| 12/13 | £603 m | 3.326 m | £182 |
| 13/14 | £657 m | 3.806 m | £173 |
| 14/15 | £592 m | 3.580 m | £166 |
| 15/16 | £651 m | 3.759 m | £173 |
| 16/17 | £643 m | 3.967 m | £162 |
| 17/18 | £612 m | 3.973 m | £154 |
| 18/19 | £645 m | 4.160 m | £155 |