Home Office Fees 2023: ILR, BRP & UK Naturalisation

Home Office Fees 2023 for key UK immigration services such as Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), British Citizenship, Child Registration, Naturalisation, and Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) renewal can be confusing. This guide breaks down these fees, offering clear information on costs like ILR applications, BRP renewals, Leave to Remain fees for Spouse, Work, and Student applications, and Sponsorship and Premium Visa Service fees. From Oct 4, 2023, fees for ILR, BRP Renewal, British Citizenship, and Naturalisation are set at £2,885, £19, £1,351, and £1,500 respectively.

1. ILR Application Fee 2023

Indefinite Leave to Remain Fee in 2023

Starting Oct 4, 2023, the ILR application fee will increase by £481 for both main applicants and dependants. Applicants will need to pay £2,885 instead of the previous £2,404 ILR fees in the UK.

ILR application fee for child will also increase from £2,404 to £2,885.

ILR Priority Service Fee 2023

ILR processing time is typically six months. To expedite ILR applications, applicants can opt for a 5-day priority or next working day super-priority service at an additional cost.

Same Day Indefinite Leave to Remain Fees

From Oct 4, 2023, the super-priority fee from inside the UK will increase from £800 to £1,000. Therefore, starting Oct 4, 2023, next working day super-priority processing of ILR or NTL applications will cost £3,885, including the £2,885 application fee and the £1,000 super-priority visa service fee.

Migrants cannot use the ILR Premium (Super Priority) Service if they confirm their identity using the UK Immigration: ID Check App. Therefore, migrants can only pay the ILR Super Priority Fee if they apply through UKCAS for the following types of ILR applications:

1. UK Ancestry on SET(O)
2. As a former member of HM Forces on SET(AF)
3. Child under 18 on SET(F)
4. Long Residence — if the migrant has been in the UK legally for 10 continuous years
5. SET(O) — if a migrant works, establishes a business, or invests in the UK
6. Dependent child or partner of migrants who work, establish a business, or invest in the UK
7. SET(M) — if the migrant is the partner of a person, or parent of a child, who is present and settled in the UK
8. Innovator
9. Dependent child or partner of an Innovator

5-Day Priority Indefinite Leave to Remain Application Fee

From Oct 4, 2023, the 5-day processing of ILR applications will cost £3,385 instead of £2,904, including the new ILR fee of £2,885 (previously £2,404) and the £500 priority visa service fee.

ILR Priority Service is available through UKCAS for the following types of ILR applications:

1. SET(O) — if a migrant works, establishes a business, or invests in the UK
2. Dependent child or partner of migrants who work, establish a business, or invest in the UK
3. Innovator
4. Dependent child or partner of an Innovator

ILR Priority Service is only available for Innovator settlement applications if the applicant uses the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app instead of UKCAS.

2. BRP Renewal Fee 2023

UK Residence Permit Renewal Fee

Biometric Residence Permit Renewal Fee

From Oct 4, 2023, the UK Residence Permit Renewal Fee will remain at £19.

BRP Replacement Fee Inside UK

From Oct 4, 2023, the cost to replace a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) inside the UK will also be £19.

ILR BRP Renewal Fee 2023

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) does not require a renewal fee because it is an “indefinite” right to live and work in the UK. However, the Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) that proves you have ILR typically expires after 10 years and needs to be replaced for a fee of £19.

Do You Need to Apply for BRP?

A migrant does not usually need to apply separately for a BRP. It is commonly issued in the following scenarios:

• Applying to come to the UK for longer than six months
• Extending a visa for longer than six months
• Applying to settle in the UK
• Transferring a visa to a new passport
• Applying for specific Home Office travel documents

If an applicant uses the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to prove their identity, they will not receive a BRP.

Difference Between BRP and BRC

Migrants in the UK who are family members of EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic, or Liechtenstein nationals receive a Biometric Residence Card (BRC) instead of a BRP. The BRC is also known as a Residence Card or EU Residence Card.

UK Residence Card Renewal Fee

From Oct 4, 2023, the BRC Renewal Fee issued under the EU Settlement Scheme will remain at £19.

BRC Replacement Fee

From Oct 4, 2023, the BRC replacement fee, issued under the EU Settlement Scheme, will also be £19.

3. British Citizenship Fees 2023

Citizenship and UK Naturalisation Fee 2023

Starting from Oct 4, 2023, there will be an increase in the application fees for UK Naturalisation, Nationality Registration for British Citizenship, and Child Registration. Note that UK Naturalisation and British Citizenship applications do not require the £19 Biometric enrolment fee, and priority or super-priority (premium) services are not available for accelerating British Citizenship application processing times, which typically take six months.

Naturalisation Fee 2023

Starting Oct 4, 2023, the UK Naturalisation fees for British Citizenship will increase to £1,500 from the current £1,250. Applicants will continue to pay £80 for the citizenship ceremony, bringing the total UK Naturalisation application fees to £1,580, up from £1,330 when including the ceremony cost. For British overseas territory citizens, the naturalisation fee for 2023 will remain at £1,000.

British Citizenship Fees 2023

From Oct 4, 2023, Nationality Registration Fees for British Citizenship will increase to £1,351 from the current £1,126. Including the £80 citizenship ceremony charge, the total Nationality Registration Fees for adults amount to £1,431, up from £1,206.

British Citizenship Application Fee for Child

The Child Registration Fees for British Citizenship in 2023 will increase to £1,214 from the current £1,012. If an applicant turns 18 during the application process, they must pay an additional £80 for the British citizenship ceremony upon approval.

Nationality Registration Fees 2023 for British Overseas Citizenship

Nationality Registration Fees for British overseas territory citizens, British overseas citizens, British Subjects, and British protected persons are £901 for adults and £810 for children.

Other Nationality Applications and Services

From Oct 4, 2023, there will be no increase in the Home Office fees for other nationality-related applications and services:

• Citizenship ceremony arrangement (including administration of citizenship oath and pledge): £80
• Citizenship oath administration (or oath and pledge) outside of ceremony or by a justice of the peace: £5
• Renunciation of nationality: £372
• Certificate of Entitlement to Nationality Right of Abode (In the UK): £372
• Nationality Review: £372
• Status Letter (Nationality): £250
• Non-acquisition Letter (Nationality): £250
• Nationality correction to certificate: £250
• Supply of a certified copy of a notice, certificate, order, or declaration (Nationality): £250

4. Student Visa Fees 2023

Extensions and Switching: Student Visa UK Fees 2023

Starting from Oct 4, 2023, there have been no changes in student visa fees from inside the UK. In 2023, UK student visa extension or switching application fees will remain at £490 per applicant.

The standard UK extension visa processing time is approximately eight weeks. Students who wish to expedite their applications from within the UK can opt for additional priority services. The 5-day priority student visa fee will be £990, while the super-priority (also known as premium, express, same day, next working day) student visa fee will increase to £1,490, up from the current £1,290.

5. Work Permit Renewal Fee 2023

Home Office Fees for Work Visas Inside the UK

Migrants on eligible routes in the UK can apply for leave to remain, either by extending or switching their visas, to work. However, individuals with temporary permissions such as standard visitor visas or short-term (English) language visas cannot switch to a work route within the UK.

Popular work visa options include the Skilled Worker (formerly known as Tier 2 General), Innovator, Startup, Global Talent, Health and Care Worker, Global Business Mobility, High Potential Individual, and Scale-up, among others. Please note that not all work visa routes lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK.

Home Office Fees for Skilled Worker Visa 2023

Migrants sponsored for specific skilled jobs by a Home Office licensed sponsor can apply for a Skilled Worker visa. This route replaced the Tier 2 General visa in 2020 and may lead to permanent settlement (also known as ILR) in the UK.

Home Office fees for Skilled Worker visas vary depending on the duration of the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). Starting from October 4, 2023, for CoS issued for three years or less, the application fees will rise to £827, up from the current £719. For CoS issued for more than three years, the application fees will increase to £1,500, up from the current £1,423.

Skilled Worker (Shortage Occupation) Visa

Fees for Skilled Worker (Shortage Occupation) visas also vary depending on the duration of the CoS. Starting from October 4, 2022, for CoS issued for three years or less, the Home Office fees increased to £551, up from the former £479. For CoS issued for more than three years, the application fees rose to £1,084, up from £943.

Health and Care Visa

Migrants sponsored to work as qualified doctors, nurses, or allied health professionals by a Home Office licensed sponsor can apply for a Health and Care Visa. This route is available for skilled workers and may also lead to permanent settlement (ILR) in the UK.

Home Office fees for Health and Care visas depend on the length of the CoS. Starting from October 4, 2023, for CoS issued for three years or less, the application fees will rise to £284, up from the current £247. For CoS issued for more than three years, the fees will increase to £551, up from £479.

Global Business Mobility Visa

An overview of UK work visas in the Global Business Mobility category, including new fees effective from October 4, 2023.

1. Senior or Specialist Worker: Aimed at high-level managers or specialists transferring to a UK branch. New Fee: £719 (previously: £625) for up to three years, £1,420 (previously: £1,235) for over three years.
2. Graduate Trainee: For those in graduate programs leading to specialist roles in the UK. New Fee: £298 (previously: £259).
3. UK Expansion Worker: Designed for specialists or senior personnel expanding a business into the UK. New Fee: £298 (previously: £259).
4. Service Supplier: For individuals providing services in accordance with UK trade commitments. New Fee: £298 (previously: £259).
5. Secondment Worker: Intended specifically for employees seconded to the UK for high-value contracts or investments. New Fee: £298 (previously: £259).

Quick Guide to Other Work and Business Visas:

Below is a concise overview of various UK visa categories, along with their new fees effective from October 4, 2023, for individuals looking to work or conduct business in the UK.

1. Start-Up Visa: For individuals starting an innovative business in the UK. New Fee: £584 (previously £508).
2. Innovator Founder Visa (Introduced April 2023): Replaces the older Innovator and Startup visas. Streamlined for international entrepreneurs with endorsement-based approval. This visa leads to potential permanent UK residency for family members. Endorsement Fees: £1,000, New Fee: £1,191 (previously £1,036).
3. Tier 1 Investor Visa: For high-net-worth individuals investing in the UK. New Fee: £1,884 (previously £1,638).
4. High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa: For graduates from top-50 global universities seeking employment in the UK. New Fee: £822 (previously £715).
5. Scale-Up Visa: For individuals with a job offer from an authorized UK scale-up company. New Fee: £822 (previously £715). Potential for UK settlement after 5 years.
6. Global Talent Visa: For leaders or potential leaders in academia, research, arts, or digital technology. New Fees: £524 (previously £456) (Approval Letter for initial application), £192 (previously £167) (Main Applicant with Approval Letter), £716 (previously £623) (Main Applicant without Approval Letter and for Dependents).
7. T2 Minister of Religion Visa: For individuals intending to undertake preaching and pastoral work. New Fee: £719 (previously £625).
8. International Sportsperson Visa: For elite sportspersons or coaches contributing to UK sports. New Fee: £298 (previously £259) (for up to 12 months Certificate of Sponsorship) or £719 (previously £625) (for more than 12 months Certificate of Sponsorship).
9. T5 (Temporary Worker) Visa: For workers in diverse sectors like seasonal, religious, or creative fields. New Fee: £298 (previously £259).
10. Post Study Work Visa (Graduate Route): For students who complete a bachelor’s degree or higher in the UK. New Fee: £822 (previously £715).
11. Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) – Dependents only: £716 (previously £623).
12. Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) – Dependents only: New Fee: £584 (previously £508).
13. Representative of an Overseas Business – Main applicants and dependents: New Fee: £719 (previously £625).
14. Tier 1 Entrepreneur: Replaced by the Innovator Founder Visa. New Fee: £1,486 (previously £1,292) for main applicants and dependents.

6. Other Applications Fees

Charges for Other Applications and Services Made in the UK

Leave to Remain UK Fees

From Oct 4, 2023, there is no increase in leave to remain application fees and it will remain at £1,048. The fees for leave to remain with priority (5-day) and same-day super-priority service are £1,548 and £2,048, respectively.

Other Applications and Services

• Visitor Extension – main applicant and dependants: £1,000
• Leave to enter for persons in the UK who are liable to immigration detention: £1,258
• Hong Kong British National (In-country) for 30 months – main applicant and dependants: £180
• Hong Kong British National (In-country) for 5 years – main applicant and dependants: £250
• Retired person of independent means: £1,964
• Processing an application which is subsequently rejected as invalid: £25
• TOC or Application for a document confirming identity and immigration or nationality status – limited leave to remain: £161
• Travel Document:
  • Certificate of travel – adult: £280
  • Certificate of travel – child: £141
  • Convention travel document – adult: £82
  • Convention travel document – child: £53
• Administrative Review: £80
• Life in the UK test: £50

7. Sponsorship License Cost UK

Premium Sponsor Service and Sponsor Licence Renewal Fee 2023

Effective from October 4, 2023, there will be no increase in the fees for the Premium Sponsor Service (12 months) or Sponsor Licence. However, the prices for the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) and Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS) have slightly increased.

Premium Sponsor Service (12 months)

The Home Office fees for the Premium Sponsor Service (12 months) for large and small Worker and Temporary Worker sponsors are £25,000 and £8,000, respectively. Additionally, the fees for Student sponsors under the Premium Sponsor Service (12 months) are £8,000.

Expedited Processing of Sponsorship and Sponsor Licence

The Home Office fees for expedited processing of sponsorship management requests made by Worker or Temporary Worker sponsors are £200. Additionally, Home Office priority service fees for expedited processing of Sponsor Licence applications are £500.

Sponsor Licence Renewal Fee

The Home Office sponsor licence renewal fee varies depending on the type of application and the size of the sponsor. The fees are as follows:

• Worker (large sponsor): £1,476
• Worker (small sponsor): £536
• Student: £536
• Temporary Worker: £536
• Worker and Temporary Worker (large sponsor): £1,476
• Worker and Student (large sponsor): £1,476
• Student, Worker, and Temporary Worker (large sponsor): £1,476
• Temporary Worker and Student: £536
• Worker Sponsor Licence (large sponsor), where the sponsor currently holds a Temporary Worker and/or Student Sponsor Licence: £940

Additionally, the application fees for the Student Sponsor Basic Compliance Assessment and the Sponsor Action Plan are £536 and £1,476, respectively.

Scale-up Sponsor Licence Fee

The endorsement fee for a Scale-Up Sponsor Licence under the Endorsing Body Pathway (payable to the endorsing body and excluding VAT) is £1,500.

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

The Home Office fees for the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) depend on the type of immigration route for foreign workers. The Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) fees are as follows:

• Skilled Worker: £239
• T2 Minister of Religion: £239
• Global Business Mobility (Senior or Specialist Worker): £239
• Temporary Work route including Global Business Mobility (Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier, and Secondment Worker route): £25
• Scale-Up route: £25
• International Sportsperson route – over 12 months: £239
• International Sportsperson route – for 12 months or less: £25

Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS)

The Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS) fees for students and child students are £25.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Home Office Fees 2023: Immigration & Nationality Charges

For more information about UK nationality and immigration fees in 2023, explore UK Government – Home Office Immigration and Nationality Fees 2023.