News29 January 20262 min read
The Home Office has outlined proposed increases to several immigration fees, with the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) set to rise from £10 to £16 and Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) fees more than doubling to £525. Naturalisation as a British citizen would cost £1,605, up from £1,500. According to VisaHQ, these changes could generate an extra £269 million annually while lessening taxpayer burden.
The UK Home Office has published proposals for substantial rises in various immigration-related charges, as reported by VisaHQ on 29 January 2026. These adjustments aim to shift more costs onto users rather than taxpayers, with secondary legislation laid before Parliament.
This summarises public reports and is not legal or immigration advice. Rules can change; typically, applicants should check official gov.uk sources for the latest details.
| Fee Type | Current Fee | Proposed Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) | £10 | £16 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) | £239 | £525 |
| Naturalisation as British Citizen | £1,500 | £1,605 |
| Naturalisation as British Overseas Territories Citizen | Not specified | £1,070 |
According to VisaHQ, citing legal firm Five Star International, the ETA fee would increase for the second time within a year. The CoS charge, crucial for employer sponsorships, faces the sharpest proportional jump.
VisaHQ notes that officials estimate these hikes would reduce Whitehall's dependence on public funds. Businesses assigning sponsorships and individuals planning naturalisation generally need to monitor updates.
Details drawn from VisaHQ article (29 Jan 2026): https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-28/gb/uk-government-proposes-sharp-rises-to-eta-citizenship-and-sponsorship-fees/
No implementation date has been set, according to VisaHQ reporting on Home Office proposals.
The rules state changes target specific fees like ETA and CoS; typically, existing applications follow prior rates.
Gov.uk provides the authoritative fee schedule, as per standard Home Office practice.
The Home Office has outlined proposed increases to several immigration fees, with the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) set to rise from £10 to £16 and Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) fees more than doubling to £525. Naturalisation as a British citizen would cost £1,605, up from £1,500. According to VisaHQ, these changes could generate an extra £269 million annually while lessening taxpayer burden.
The UK Home Office has published proposals for substantial rises in various immigration-related charges, as reported by VisaHQ on 29 January 2026. These adjustments aim to shift more costs onto users rather than taxpayers, with secondary legislation laid before Parliament.
This summarises public reports and is not legal or immigration advice. Rules can change; typically, applicants should check official gov.uk sources for the latest details.
| Fee Type | Current Fee | Proposed Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) | £10 | £16 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) | £239 | £525 |
| Naturalisation as British Citizen | £1,500 | £1,605 |
| Naturalisation as British Overseas Territories Citizen | Not specified | £1,070 |
According to VisaHQ, citing legal firm Five Star International, the ETA fee would increase for the second time within a year. The CoS charge, crucial for employer sponsorships, faces the sharpest proportional jump.
VisaHQ notes that officials estimate these hikes would reduce Whitehall's dependence on public funds. Businesses assigning sponsorships and individuals planning naturalisation generally need to monitor updates.
Details drawn from VisaHQ article (29 Jan 2026): https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-28/gb/uk-government-proposes-sharp-rises-to-eta-citizenship-and-sponsorship-fees/
No implementation date has been set, according to VisaHQ reporting on Home Office proposals.
The rules state changes target specific fees like ETA and CoS; typically, existing applications follow prior rates.
Gov.uk provides the authoritative fee schedule, as per standard Home Office practice.