Charging for Immigration and Nationality Services 2013-14

Home Department written statement – made at on 25 February 2013.

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Photo of Mark Harper Mark Harper The Minister for Immigration

I am announcing proposals to change the fees for immigration and nationality applications made to the UK Border Agency and services provided by the agency. The Government review these fees on a regular basis and make appropriate changes as necessary.

In developing these proposals, the UK Border Agency has sought to limit most increases to 3%, which is in line with recent measures of inflation. There are further targeted increases for applications made within the UK, where the value of the entitlements provided to successful applicants is greater, and new fees for European residence documents.

The UK Border Agency has given careful consideration to its fee levels, to ensure they provide the funding necessary to operate effective immigration controls and invest in improving service levels to customers. This is balanced against the need to ensure that the UK continues to attract and welcome the “brightest and best” migrants from around the world and those that make a valued contribution to British society. Given the ongoing need to reduce public spending, we believe it is right that we continue to reduce the contribution made by UK taxpayers towards delivering the immigration system by asking those who use and benefit directly from the system to make a greater contribution.

For certain application categories, we will continue to set fees higher than the administrative cost to reflect their value to successful applicants. This helps to provide resources to run the UK immigration system and enables the agency to set lower fees elsewhere in support of wider Government objectives to attract those businesses, workers, students and visitors who most benefit the UK.

I have laid regulations for fees set higher than cost. In addition, I will shortly lay another set of regulations in Parliament for fees set at or below cost. Further details explaining all fees changes are provided in the explanatory memoranda for both sets of regulations. Subject to parliamentary approval the Government intend to bring new fees into force from 6 April 2013.

The attached table, setting out all the proposed fees, includes indicative unit costs for financial year 2013-14. The unit cost is the estimated average cost to the UK Border Agency of processing each application. Unit costs are published so it is clear which fees we set over cost and by how much.

Full details on how to apply for all of the agency’s products and services will be provided on the UK Border Agency’s website: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk.

Out of Country
Visas – non PBS Unit Costs April 2013 Current Fees New Fees6th April 2013
Visit visa - short £136 £78 £80
Visit visa - long 2 year £136 £270 £278
Visit visa - long 5 year £136 £496 £511
Visit visa - long 10 year £136 £716 £737
Extended Student Visit visa (between 6 & 11 months) £136 £140 £144
Settlement £407 £826 £851
Settlement Armed Forces - dependants £407 £810 £810
Settlement - dependant relative £407 £1,850 £1,906
Settlement (refugee dependant relative) £407 £458 £407
Certificate of Entitlement £407 £270 £278
Other visa £207 £270 £278
Transit visa £99 £52 £54
Media Representatives £207 £480 £494
Vignette transfer fee £207 £102 £105
Call out/out of hours fee £134 h/r £130/hr £130 h/r
Single entry visa to replace Biometric Residence Permit overseas £136 £70 £72
Forwarding documents to Commonwealth countries/Overseas Territories (additional fee). n/a £70 £70
Handling applications on behalf of Commonwealth countries/ Overseas Territories. n/a £50 £50
Visa – PBS(new products are shown in italics) Unit Costs April 2013 Current Fees New Fees6th April 2013
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur, Investor, Exceptional Talent(1)) - main apps £295 £816 £840
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur, Investor, Exceptional Talent) - all dependants £295 £816 £840
Tier 1 CESC - main apps £295 £734 £756
Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur - main apps £295 n/a £298
Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur - all dependants £295 n/a £298
Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur CESC - main apps £295 n/a £268
Tier 1 Post Study Work - dependants £295 £483 £498
Tier 2 General, ICT - Long term staff. Sport & MOR - main apps £207 £480 £494
Tier 2 General, ICT - Long term staff. Sport & MOR - dependants £207 £480 £494
Tier 2 General, ICT - Long term staff. Sport & MOR (CESC) - main apps £207 £432 £445
Tier 2 ICT Short term staff, Graduate Trainee or Skills Transfer -main apps & dependants £207 £400 £412
Tier 2 ICT Short term staff. Graduate Trainee or Skills Transfer (CESC) - main apps £207 £360 £371
Tier 4 - main apps £244 £289 £298
Tier 4 - dependants £244 £289 £298
Tier 5 Temp Work & Youth Mobility - main apps £158 £194 £200
Tier 5 - all dependants £158 £194 £200
Tier 5 CESC - main apps £158 £175 £180
(1)The Exceptional Talent application fee will be payable in 2 parts.
CESC = Council of Europe Social Charter reduction
ICT = Intra Company Transfer
MOR = Minister of Religion
For applications to the Channel islands under Employment and Study routes Tier 2 & Tier 4 fees and costs apply respectively.
In Country
Nationality(new products are shown in italics) Unit CostsApril 2013 CurrentFees New Fees6th April 2013
Naturalisation (UK Citizenship) single(1) £187 £851 £874
Naturalisation (UK Citizenship) joint(1) £281 £1,317 £1,550
Naturalisation (UK Citizenship) spouse(1) £187 £851 £874
Nationality Registration adult/ other(1) £187 £631 £753
Nationality Registration minor(2) £187 £551 £673
Nationality Registration British Subject/British Overseas Territories Citizen £187 £551 £568
Nationality Registration multiple minor main(2) £281 £827 £1,178
Nationality Registration multiple minor dependant(2) £187 £276 £505
Renunciation of Nationality £187 £229 £187
Nationality Reissued Certificate £94 £88 £94
Nationality Right of Abode £187 £165 £170
Nationality Reconsiderations £187 £80 £80
Status Letter (Nationality) £94 £88 £94
Non-Acquisition Letter (Nationality) £94 £88 £94
Nationality Correction to Certificate £94 £88 £94
European Residence Document— (Residence Certificate)(3) £82 n/a £55
European Residence Document - (Document certifying permanent residence)(3) £82 n/a £55
European Residence Document- (Residence Card and Derivative Residence card)(3) £82 n/a £55
European Residence Document - (Permanent Residence Card)3 £82 n/a £55
(1)Additional £80 per applicant is included to cover the ceremony fee.
(2)Additional £80 per applicant is required to cover the ceremony fee should the minor turn 18 during the application process. This will be requested at point of decision.
(3)Residence Documents issued under the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations are not mandatory. These fees will be introduced later in 2013 when the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 have been amended. Full information will be provided on the UKBA website.
In Country
In UK - non PBS(new fees are shown in italics) Unit CostsApril 2013 Current Fees New Fees6th April 2013
ILR Standard – main £403 £991 £1,051
ILR Standard - all dependants £403 £496 £788
ILR Standard CESC – main £403 £893 £946
ILR Standard CESC – dependant £403 £496 £788
LTR Other Standard – main £281 £561 £578
LTR Other Standard – dependant £281 £281 £433
Transfer of Conditions / NTL Standard - main £147 £220 £147
Transfer of Conditions / NTL Standard - dependant £147 £110 £147
Travel Documents adult (CoT) £257 £238 £257
Travel Documents adult CTD £164 £72.50 £72.50
Travel Documents child (CoT) £164 £149 £164
Travel Documents child CTD £117 £46 £46
BRP/ replacement Biometric Residence Permit £38 £37 £38
Work Permit technical changes £123 £22 £22
Residual FLR lED Standard – main £281 £561 £578
Residual FLR lED Standard – dependants £281 £281 £433
Residual FLR BUS Standard – main £281 £1,020 £1,051
Residual FLR BUS Standard - dependants £281 £510 £788
Employment LTR outside PBS Standard £281 £561 £578
Employment LTR outside PBS Standard Dependant £281 £281 £433
Application in Person (AIP) — main and dependants(1) n/a n/a £375
Appointment booking fee(1) n/a n/a £100
Super Premium service (mobile case working) £2,211 £6,000 + premium fee £6,000 + Standard + AIP fee
Call Out/Out of Hours Fee £134 £130/hr £130/hr
(1)For applications made in person (e.g. at a public enquiry office) the total fee is the relevant standard fee plus £375 per person (this includes the £100 appointment fee, which may be retained should the applicant fail to attend their appointment without good reason).
ILR = Indefinite Leave to Remain CESC = Council of Europe Social Charter reduction
LTR = Leave to Remain FLR = Further Leave to Remain
IED = Immigration Employment Document  
Standard = Postal or online applications where online application is available  
In Country
In UK - PBS(new fees are shown in italics) Unit CostsApril 2013 Current Fees New Fees6th April 2013
Tier 1 (General) Standard – main £336 £1,500 £1,545
Tier 1 (General) Standard - all dependants £336 £750 £1,159
Tier 1 (General) Standard CESC - main Tier 1 £330 £1,350 £1,391
Tier 1 - Standard (Entrepreneur, Investor, Exceptional Talent(1)) - main £351 £1,020 £1,051
Tier 1 - Standard (Entrepreneur, Investor, Exceptional Talent) - all dependants £351 £510 £788
Tier 1 - Standard (Entrepreneur, Exceptional Talent) CESC -main £351 £918 £946
Tier 1 - Graduate Entrepreneur Standard – main £482 £700 £406
Tier 1 - Graduate Entrepreneur Standard CESC – main £482 £630 £365
Tier 1 - Graduate Entrepreneur Standard – all dependants £482 £350 £305
Tier 2 - General, ICT - Long term staff. Sport & MOR -Standard - main £225 £561 £578
Tier 2 - General, ICT - Long term staff. Sport & MOR -Standard - all dependants £225 £281 £434
Tier 2 - General, ICT - Long term staff. Sport & MOR -Standard CESC - main £225 £505 £520
Tier 2 ICT - Short term staff, Graduate Trainee or Skills Transfer - Standard - main £187 £400 £412
Tier 2 ICT - Short term staff, Graduate Trainee or Skills Transfer - Standard - all dependants £187 £200 £309
Tier 2 - ICT - Short term staff. Graduate Trainee or Skills Transfer - Standard CESC – main £187 £360 £371
Tier 4 - Standard – main £238 £394 £406
Tier 4 - Standard - all dependants £238 £197 £305
Tier 5 - Standard – main £222 £194 £200
Tier 5 - Standard - all dependants £222 £97 £150
Tier 5 - Standard CESC – main £222 £175 £180
Tier 4 - Permission to Change Sponsor(2) £160 £160 £160
Application in Person (AIP) - main and dependants(3) n/a n/a £375
Priority service - main and dependants(4) n/a n/a £275
Appointment booking fee(3) n/a n/a £100
Super Premium service (mobile case working) £2,211 £6,000 + premium fee £6,000 + Standard + AIP fee
(1)The Exceptional Talent application fee is payable in 2 parts
(2)Only for migrants that applied to the UK Border Agency for permission to study from 31 March 2009 to 4 October 2009.
(3)For applications made in person (e.g. at a public enquiry office) the total fee is the relevant standard fee plus £375 per person (this includes the £100 appointment fee, which may be retained should the applicant fail to attend their appointment without good reason).
(4)To use the priority service, the total fee is the relevant Standard fee plus £275 per person. Initially offered for Tier 2 applications only.
Dependants' fees are for applications made at the same time as the main applicant. For PBS dependants applying individually the relevant main applicant fee is payable.
Standard = Postal or online applications where online application is available
CESC = Council of Europe Social Charter reduction
ICT = Intra Company Transfer MOR = Minister of Religion
In Country
PBS Sponsorship(new products are shown in italics) Unit CostsApril 2013 Current Fees New Fees6th April 2013
Premium Sponsor Scheme Tier 2 & 5 - large sponsors n/a £25,000 £25,000
Premium Sponsor Scheme Tier 2 & 5 - small sponsors n/a £8,000 £8,000
Premium Scheme Tier 4 Sponsors(1) n/a n/a £8,000
Tier 2 Large Sponsor Licence £1,545 £1,500 £1,545
Tier 2 Small Sponsor Licence £1,545 £500 £515
Tier 4 Sponsor Licence £1,545 £500 £515
Tier 5 Sponsor Licence £1,545 £500 £515
Tier 2, Tier 4 &/or Tier 5 Licence (where sponsor currently holds Tier 4 or Tier 5 licence) £1,545 £1,000 £1,030
Highly Trusted Sponsor Licence £1,545 £500 £515
Sponsor Action Plan £1,545 £1,500 £1,545
Tier 2 Certificate Of Sponsorship (COS) £154 £179 £184
Tier 5 COS £14 £13 £14
Tier 4 Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) £14 £13 £14
(1)New fees will take effect after 1 July 2013. Full information will be provided on the UKBA website.