On July 13th 2023, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a significant increase in the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) by a staggering 66%, raising it from £624 to £1,035 per person per year for most visa applicants.
This unprecedented move has also paved the way for a minimum 15% hike in UK visa application fees, equating to a 417% surge over the past five years. The government contends that these fee increases are crucial to fund public sector pay rises, particularly for professions in the health sector, such as Junior Doctors.
The ramifications of these fee increases will be felt across a range of immigration and
nationality routes. Whether individuals are seeking to come to the UK to live, work or study, they will face additional financial burdens, coinciding with a period of record high migration numbers. For families with children, the burden is amplified as child/student fees are also set to increase from £470 to £776 per child per year.
Although the UK government has not yet disclosed the exact date when these escalated visa fees will come into effect, speculation suggests that it may be enforced as early as Autumn 2023, leaving prospective visa applicants with limited time to prepare for the financial implications of this policy change.
As the UK moves forward with these fee increases, it will be crucial for the Government to strike a balance between funding public sector pay rises and maintaining an attractive environment for immigrations and skilled workers.
If you wish to talk to us about the above, please contact our friendly team of London immigration lawyers at Barar & Associates at barar.london@bararassociates.co.uk or call us on 020 7487 8370. You can access more information about us at https://bararassociates.com/
