UK Government to Increase Immigration Fees: ETAs, Sponsorships, and Naturalizations Impacted
The UK government plans to increase fees for Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs), sponsorship certificates, and naturalizations, aiming to generate £269 million annually. As part of the new Change Plan, ETAs will offer a faster and more secure immigration process. Temporary exemptions for transit passengers are also under review
The United Kingdom government has announced measures to reduce the dependency of the migration and border system on taxpayer funding, as detailed on the official website.
The proposed changes presented to Parliament will allow for an increase in the maximum fee charged for various immigration and nationality products and services, including:
• The Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) fee increasing to £16
• The certificate of sponsorship fee rising to £525
• Naturalization as a British citizen increasing to £1,605
• Naturalization as a British Overseas Territories citizen rising to £1,070
These changes to ETAs, certificates of sponsorship, and nationality products are expected to generate an additional £269 million annually, according to the announcement.
As part of the government's Change Plan, ETAs aim to streamline the immigration system, offering a faster and more secure process for the millions of people crossing the UK border each year.
The introduction of ETAs aligns with border security approaches adopted by countries such as the United States and Australia, which have implemented similar systems.
In response to feedback from the aviation industry, the government has agreed to a temporary exemption for passengers transiting through the airside area without passing through UK border control. This measure will primarily affect Heathrow and Manchester airports, the only UK airports currently offering transit services. The necessity of this exemption will remain under review.
Parliament will debate the proposed legislation, requiring approval from both Houses. If approved, the proposed fees will be implemented by amending the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2018 as soon as parliamentary schedules allow.
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