From today, 9 April 2025, the UK Home Office has increased most immigration and nationality fees, affecting visa applicants, employers and sponsors.
Key changes include a 120% rise in the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) fee for Skilled Workers and Temporary Workers, and a 60% increase to Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) costs. Most other application categories will see fee increases of between 5% and 10%.
UK Home Office fee increases from 9 April 2025
Arguably the most significant change for employers is the 120% rise in the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) fee for Skilled Workers, jumping from £239 to £525. Temporary Worker CoS fees will also more than double, from £25 to £55.
Most other visa categories, including Skilled Worker applications and sponsor licence fees, will increase by around 7%. The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee will rise from £10 to £16 per traveller, equivalent to a 60% hike.
Key increases affecting UK employers and work visas include:
| Category | Current Fee | New Fee | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for Skilled Worker / Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker / T2 Minister of Religion | £239 | £525 | +£286 (+120%) |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for Temporary Work (including Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier, Secondment Worker, Scale-up route) | £25 | £55 | +£30 (+120%) |
| Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) | £10 | £16 | +£6 (+60%) |
| Skilled Worker – out of country, ≤ 3 years | £719 | £769 | +£50 (+7%) |
| Skilled Worker – out of country, > 3 years | £1,420 | £1,519 | +£99 (+7%) |
| Skilled Worker – out of country, job on Immigration Salary List, ≤ 3 years | £551 | £590 | +£39 (+7%) |
| Skilled Worker – out of country, job on Immigration Salary List, > 3 years | £1,084 | £1,160 | +£76 (+7%) |
| Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – out of country, ≤ 3 years | £719 | £769 | +£50 (+7%) |
| Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – out of country, > 3 years | £1,420 | £1,519 | +£99 (+7%) |
| Skilled Worker – in country, ≤ 3 years | £827 | £885 | +£58 (+7%) |
| Skilled Worker – in country, > 3 years | £1,636 | £1,751 | +£115 (+7%) |
| Skilled Worker – in country, job on Immigration Salary List, ≤ 3 years | £551 | £590 | +£39 (+7%) |
| Skilled Worker – in country, job on Immigration Salary List, > 3 years | £1,084 | £1,160 | +£76 (+7%) |
| Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – in country, ≤ 3 years | £827 | £885 | +£58 (+7%) |
| Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – in country, > 3 years | £1,636 | £1,751 | +£115 (+7%) |
| Worker sponsor licence application fee (large sponsor) | £1,476 | £1,579 | +£103 (+7%) |
| Worker sponsor licence application fee (small sponsor) | £536 | £574 | +£38 (+7%) |
| Temporary Worker sponsor licence application fee | £536 | £574 | +£38 (+7%) |
Read our full guide to UK visa fees here >
Background to the fee increases
These fee increases form part of the UK Government’s wider policy to shift the cost burden of the immigration system away from taxpayers and onto applicants and sponsors. The latest rises follow a series of earlier increases, including to the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).
Further changes may follow; the Government’s long-anticipated White Paper on Immigration is expected soon and will set out the UK’s long-term approach to immigration, though no specific release date has been confirmed.
Need assistance?
The increase in sponsorship fees, particularly for Skilled Worker Certificates of Sponsorship, is likely to place added pressure on employer budgets. This may be especially difficult for organisations that rely heavily on overseas recruitment or operate with limited HR resources, and those operating in high-volume or cost-sensitive sectors.
To discuss the impact of these changes and how they may impact your recruitment planning and strategy, speak to our UK immigration advisers.
Author
Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.
She is a recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.
Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals
