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New Immigration Fees Announced

The government has announced new immigration charges which will fund sweeping changes to border security. Fees for most existing services will stay the same, while increases in line with inflation will be applied to some services.

The government is also proposing fees for the new sponsorship system which is a process where employers, schools and other organisations will share responsibility with the government to ensure people follow immigration rules.

The Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said it was fair that those who benefit most from using the immigration system should fund it. Mr Byrne advised that the proposed fees will fund the improvements to the immigration system to ensure it is as secure as possible. Other measures include:

• Capturing biometric date, like fingerprints, from all visa applicants around the world before they come to the UK
• On-the-spot fines for employers who hire illegal workers
• A single border force with police-like powers to prevent illegal entry to the country
• Compulsory ID cards for immigrants who want to stay in the UK

Together, these measures represent the biggest shake-up of the country’s immigration system in its history.

To see a table of the new fees click here.

These are indicative fees that the government propose to charge but a subject to change. Final proposed fees for each Tier, including sponsorship, will be set in subsequent regulations as the Points Based System is rolled out, and will not be final until they are approved by Parliament.