The government has unveiled new measures aimed at reducing taxpayer funding for the migration and borders system. Announced today (16 January), the proposed changes outline increased
fees for a variety of immigration and nationality services.
Key updates include:
- Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee increasing to £16
- Certificate of Sponsorship fee rising to £525
- Naturalisation as a British Citizen fee increasing to £1,605
- Naturalisation as a British Overseas Territories Citizen fee rising to £1,070
These changes are expected to generate an additional £269 million annually, contributing to a more self-sustaining immigration system.
As part of the government’s Plan for Change, the introduction of ETAs will help establish a faster, more secure, and fully digital immigration process. This modernized system will enhance efficiency for millions of travelers crossing the UK border each year.
The ETA initiative aligns with international standards for border security, similar to systems used by countries such as the USA and Australia.
Following consultation with the aviation industry, a temporary exemption has been granted for passengers transiting airside (without passing through UK border control). This measure will primarily affect Heathrow and Manchester airports, the only UK airports offering transit facilities. The exemption will remain under review.
The proposed legislation, introduced in Parliament today, is subject to debate and requires approval from both Houses. Once approved, the updated fees will be implemented through amendments to the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2018, as soon as Parliamentary time permits. Photo by Adambro, Wikimedia commons.