UK govt to raise Work, Study, Settlement Visas and Sponsor Licence Fees from April 8, 2026

LONDON March 22: The Home Office has announced increases to immigration and nationality fees across visa categories, settlement applications and sponsor licences, effective April 8, 2026.

Most fees will rise by around 6–7 percent, impacting work, student and visitor visas, as well as employer sponsorship costs.

The move reflects the UK government’s ongoing shift toward a system in which applicants and employers shoulder a greater share of immigration expenses. It follows earlier hikes in 2025, including increases to the Immigration Skills Charge and the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Under the revised structure, several key visa routes will see moderate increases. The Skilled Worker visa fee for applications of up to three years will rise from £769 to £819, while fees for applications exceeding three years will increase from £1,519 to £1,618. Student visa fees will go up from £524 to £558, and the six-month visit visa will increase from £127 to £135.

For applicants already in the UK, Skilled Worker visa fees will increase from £885 to £943 for stays of up to three years, and from £1,751 to £1,865 for longer durations. The cost of Indefinite Leave to Remain will also rise, from £3,029 to £3,226.

Sponsor licence and ETA fees also revised

Employer-related charges are set to increase as well. A Worker Sponsor Licence for large organisations will rise from £1,579 to £1,682, while small sponsors will see fees increase from £574 to £611. The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee will go up from £16 to £20.

The Home Office described the increases as moderate and linked them to inflation. However, analysts note that repeated fee rises are likely to significantly increase the overall cost of recruiting and relocating international talent to the UK.

For organisations that sponsor overseas workers, these changes will directly affect recruitment budgets and cost planning across various application routes.

Businesses will need to review and update their immigration budgets, as well as any internal documentation relating to fees, to reflect the revised costs across all sponsored routes. They should also ensure that cost estimates provided to both prospective and current sponsored workers are updated accordingly. Click To Read Full Details and See Below Key Points

• UK immigration and nationality fees will increase from 8 April 2026
• Changes affect work, study, visit, settlement, and citizenship applications
• Skilled Worker visa fees and sponsor licence costs are rising
• Student visa fees have increased, raising the overall cost of studying in the UK
• Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and British citizenship fees are also higher
• Child citizenship registration fees have decreased, offering some relief for families
• Most priority services and Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) fees remain unchanged
• Visa fees are based on the date of application submission, not the decision date
• Additional costs such as the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) can significantly increase the total expense
• Paying the incorrect fee can result in application delays or rejection