The UK government has officially confirmed a new immigration and nationality fee structure, set to take effect from 8 April 2026. The updated fees, published by the Home Office on GOV.UK, introduce increases across most visa categoriesβimpacting visitors, workers, families, and those applying for settlement or citizenship.
While annual fee rises have become routine, this latest update brings noticeable increases in key routes, alongside one significant and widely welcomed reduction.
π Whatβs Changing?
The new fee schedule shows that most immigration costs will rise by approximately 5β7%, continuing the governmentβs trend of incremental increases.
βοΈ Visas & Entry Clearance
- Visit visa (6 months): Β£127 β Β£135
- Visit visa (10 years): Β£1,059 β Β£1,128
- Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA): Β£16 β Β£20
Short-term visitors will see only modest increases, but long-term visit visas now exceed Β£1,100.
πΌ Work Visas
- Skilled Worker (up to 3 years, outside UK): Β£769 β Β£819
- Skilled Worker (over 3 years, outside UK): Β£1,519 β Β£1,618
- Skilled Worker (up to 3 years, in UK): Β£885 β Β£943
- Skilled Worker (over 3 years, in UK): Β£1,751 β Β£1,865
- Health & Care Visa: Β£304 β Β£324
- Graduate Route: Β£880 β Β£937
For employers and professionals, these increases further raise the cost of hiring and relocating international talent.
π‘ Settlement & ILR
- Route to settlement: Β£1,938 β Β£2,064
- Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR): Β£3,029 β Β£3,226
Settlement remains one of the most expensive stages of the immigration journey, with ILR now exceeding Β£3,200 per applicant.
π¬π§ Nationality
- Naturalisation (British citizenship): Β£1,605 β Β£1,709
- Child nationality registration: Β£1,214 β Β£1,000
This reduction is particularly significant. After years of criticism and legal pressure over high child citizenship fees, the Home Office has lowered the costβmarking a rare and meaningful policy shift.
π’ Sponsorship Fees
- Worker sponsor licence (large organisations): Β£1,579 β Β£1,682
- Worker sponsor licence (small organisations): Β£574 β Β£611
Businesses sponsoring overseas workers will also face higher upfront costs.
βοΈ Whatβs Not Changing?
Some fees remain unchanged, including:
- Priority and Super Priority processing services
- Life in the UK Test (Β£50)
- Administrative Review (Β£80)
- Certificate of Sponsorship fees
This provides some stability for applicants relying on faster processing or employer sponsorship.
π‘ What This Means for Applicants
The message is clear: UK immigration is becoming more expensive across the board.
For individuals and families planning to apply:
- Submitting applications before 8 April 2026 could result in significant savings
- This is especially important for ILR, Skilled Worker visas, and citizenship applications
However, rushing an application without proper preparation can lead to refusalsβso timing should be balanced with readiness.
π§ Final Thoughts
The 2026 fee changes reinforce a long-term trend of rising immigration costs in the UK. While most applicants will pay more, the reduction in child citizenship fees stands out as a rare and positive development.
Whether you are planning to visit, work, settle, or become a British citizen, staying informed and planning ahead is now more important than ever.
