Get ahead of visa sponsorship fee increase

The Home Office is due to increase the fees for various business immigration applications on 9th April 2025. Employers can get ahead of the fee increase by making applications before 9th April. Both the cost of applying for a UK visa and the cost of assigning a certificate of sponsorship to a worker are increasing on this date, with the certificate of sponsorship fee more than doubling.

A summary of the fee increases relevant to sponsorship under the skilled worker route are set out below:

Aside from the fee increases to sponsored visa routes, there are various other routes affected which will also impact on UK employers. The fees for short term visitor visas (including business visitors), are due to rise from £115 to £127 for a six-month visa, and the fee for the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme, which extends to apply to EU nationals visiting the UK from 2nd April 2025, will increase from £10 to £16.

The fee increases are broader than sponsored work routes, impacting all other visa routes, including non-sponsored routes such as the Global Talent and Innovator Founder routes, family visa routes and nationality applications (with the exception of child registration applications). Settlement fees are also rising for all applications, regardless of visa route. Priority and super priority fees are unaffected.

Full details of the fee increases can be found on the government website. Should you require advice and assistance in making an application before the fee increase, please get in touch with a member of our immigration team.