The Care Quality Commission (Additional Functions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
Adjusted the maximum legal limits for immigration and nationality fees including work visas and citizenship applications.
This Order amends the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Order 2016 to adjust the maximum amounts that the Secretary of State can charge for specific immigration and nationality services.
It applies to individuals applying for entry clearance, leave to remain, and British citizenship, as well as organizations sponsoring foreign workers.
The Order specifically increases the fee caps for various visa categories, including work, study, and family routes, and updates the maximum amounts for premium services and administrative processes.
Arguments For
The order states that the amendments are necessary to reflect the costs of exercising functions in connection with immigration and nationality.
Proponents argue that the adjustments ensure the Home Office can recover a greater proportion of its operational costs from those who use the system directly.
The document specifies that certain fee maximums are being adjusted to align with current administrative and processing requirements for various visa categories.
Arguments Against
Legal commentators have noted that increasing maximum fee caps allows for future administrative hikes that may exceed inflation, potentially impacting low-income applicants.
Migrant rights organizations have expressed concern that higher costs for dependents and nationality applications create financial barriers to integration and family unity.
Employers in sectors with labor shortages have questioned whether rising costs for work-related visas might discourage international recruitment.
- This Order may be cited as the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2024 and comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made.
This section establishes the official name of the legislation.
It mandates that the changes take legal effect one day after the Order is formally signed into law.
- (1) The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Order 2016 is amended as follows. (2) In article 9 (leave to remain etc.)— (a) in paragraph (a) for “£2,500” substitute “£2,750”; (b) in paragraph (c) for “£2,500” substitute “£2,750”.
This section updates the maximum fees for applications involving leave to remain in the United Kingdom.
It increases the upper limit for these specific charges from £2,500 to £2,750.
- In Schedule 1 (fees for applications for entry clearance etc.)— (a) in table 1, in row 1.3 (work and study) for “£1,600” substitute “£1,800”; (b) in row 1.4 (all other applications for entry clearance) for “£3,250” substitute “£3,500”.
This provision raises the maximum fees for entry clearance applications made from outside the UK. The cap for work and study visas increases to £1,800, while the cap for other entry clearance categories, such as family visas, rises to £3,500.
- In Schedule 2 (fees for applications for leave to remain etc.)— (a) in table 2, in row 2.1 (work and study) for “£2,500” substitute “£2,750”; (b) in row 2.2 (all other applications for leave to remain) for “£3,250” substitute “£3,500”.
These amendments increase the fee ceilings for applications made within the UK to extend or change a visa.
The maximum for work and study extensions moves to £2,750, and for other categories, it moves to £3,500.
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