Proposed Increase in Certificate of Sponsorship Fees and Other Immigration Products

The Home Office has announced significant changes to immigration and nationality fees, aimed at reducing reliance on taxpayer funding. These proposals were laid before Parliament on 16 January 2025.

Key Fee Adjustments

The proposed changes include:

• Certificate of Sponsorship Fee: Increasing to £525.
• Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Fee: Rising to £16.
• Naturalisation as a British Citizen: Rising to £1,605.
• Naturalisation as a British Overseas Territories Citizen: Increasing to £1,070.

These changes are forecast to generate an additional £269 million annually.

Temporary Exemption for Airside Transit Passengers

Following feedback from the aviation industry, the government has agreed to a temporary exemption for passengers transiting airside through UK airports. This exemption primarily applies to Heathrow and Manchester airports, which are the only UK airports offering transit facilities. The exemption will be reviewed periodically.

Legislative Pathway

The proposed changes will be debated in Parliament and are subject to approval by both Houses. If approved, the new fees will be introduced through amendments to the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2018, as soon as Parliamentary time allows.