Public sector wage rises will be made possible in part by these increases.

 On October 4, 2023, the previously announced fee increases of 15 to 20 per cent for various immigration and nationality services went into force.

 “Pay for vital services and allow more funding to be prioritised for public sector pay rises” will be the purpose of the funds, as stated on the government website. In addition, the Home Office can run its immigration and nationality system more efficiently with its support.

 Fees for British citizenship, settlement, Certificates of Sponsorship or Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies, and most work and visit visas have increased by 15%. Applicants from outside the country will see a student visa fee hike of 35%. More expansive entry clearance visas will see a fee increase of 20%.

 This does not account for the anticipated increase in the Immigration Health Surcharge from £624 to £1,035 per year, which is still pending approval from Parliament. This will be unveiled in the later part of the autumn. Due to the amendments, a visit visa valid for less than six months would now cost between £115 and £15 more. To bring the cost of applying for a student visa from outside the UK to the same level as in-country applications, the fee will rise by £127, reaching £490.

 There will be a 20% increase, to £2,885 per individual, to the cost of applying for “indefinite leave to remain” or permanent residency in the United Kingdom. That works out to £11,540 for a household of four. The cost of a settlement visa will also increase to £1,846 per individual.

 The United Kingdom government aims to collect approximately £1 billion from the health levy and increase visa fees. This came after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s administration approved plans to raise the pay of teachers, doctors, and police officers by seven per cent. Raising taxes to pay for the raises was something he dismissed. The administration has promised to reduce reliance on foreign labour, but the record-breaking net migration of 606,000 in 2022 has added further pressure.