UK visa, nationality and passport fees rise 8 April 2026

If you’re planning travel, study or a citizenship step this spring, new Home Office fee rules land in early April. The Immigration, Nationality and Passports (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 were made on 17 March and laid before Parliament on 18 March. Most changes take effect at 9.00 a.m. on Wednesday 8 April 2026, with Crown Dependency travel changes following on Thursday 9 April.

Let’s translate the legal title into plain English. This statutory instrument updates the price list the government can charge for visas, settlement, citizenship and passports. It amends the 2018 Immigration and Nationality Fees Regulations and the 2022 Passport Fees Regulations, and it also plugs student-route wording gaps and brings Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) charges to Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

Timing matters. Almost everything in the immigration and nationality schedules changes from 8 April 2026. Provisions dealing with the Crown Dependencies (Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man) start on 9 April 2026 because those places run aligned-but separate-immigration systems. Passport fee updates also begin on 8 April.

Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) becomes more expensive. The main ILR fee rises from £3,029 to £3,226. That increase also appears in linked entries, for example applications tied to HM Armed Forces categories. What this means: if you’re eligible to apply now, compare the cost of applying before 8 April with waiting until after the rise.

Health and Care Visa discounts still apply, but the reduced fees themselves go up. For applications made outside the UK, the discounted amounts become £495 (up to 3 years) and £990 (more than 3 years). For in‑country applications they become £619 (up to 3 years) and £1,237 (more than 3 years). Dependants’ reduced fees move to £304 (shorter duration) and £607 (longer duration), both outside and inside the UK. What this means: nurses, carers and NHS employers should budget for slightly higher application costs from April.

Student route wording is cleaned up. The old “Tier 4 Migrant” label is removed and references are aligned to Appendix Student and Appendix Child Student. On the Isle of Man, entry clearance wording is updated so Student and Child Student applications sit under the local Appendix Student rules. What this means: if an offer letter or policy still says “Tier 4”, the process now maps to the Student route-check your provider’s latest guidance.

Innovator Founder exceptions are narrowed to earlier endorsements. Where the regulations grant fee exceptions linked to the Innovator/Start‑up era, they now make clear that any exception tied to Innovator Founder only applies if the endorsement was issued on or before 12 April 2023. What this means: if you were endorsed after that date, plan for the standard fee regime.

ETAs arrive for the Crown Dependencies. The rules insert definitions and fee lines for an Electronic Travel Authorisation to enter Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. British and Irish citizens remain CTA‑exempt; most other visa‑exempt visitors will need an ETA and to pay the new charge from 9 April. What this means: school trips and short visits to the islands now need the same pre‑travel check you may already know from UK ETAs-apply before you fly or sail.

Passport costs rise and small admin charges change. Examples in the 2022 Passport Fees Regulations now update secure delivery to £14.32 and overseas forwarding to £16.24. Various smaller fees, such as returning supporting documents, climb by around £1–£4, and there are minor wording fixes to make references apply per application rather than bundles. What this means: factor in delivery when you budget, and don’t mix multiple applications into one paid return-charges are per application.

Sponsor items move too. The schedule that covers sponsor licences, premium services, Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) and Confirmations of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is amended. Universities, colleges and employers should check the new table so finance teams can update internal costings and CAS/CoS planning before issuing offers.

Two final bits of housekeeping. The regulations extend, where relevant, to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with specific clauses also extended to the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey so local systems reflect the same fee lines. An explanatory memorandum and impact assessment accompany the instrument, which is standard practice when fees change.

If you’re a student, teacher or family planning ahead, our checklist is simple: double‑check which date applies to you (8 or 9 April), confirm the right route name on your form (Student or Child Student, not Tier 4), budget for the ILR and Health and Care Visa uplifts if relevant, and build in time to secure an ETA before travelling to Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man after 9 April. Acting before the switch‑on date may save money; acting after it will need a slightly bigger budget.