The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 (Age of Sale Notices and Consequential Amendments) (England) Regulations 2026
Raised the legal maximum limits for immigration, nationality, and passport fees and expanded the scope of chargeable electronic travel services.
This Order amends the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Order 2016 by increasing the maximum amounts the Secretary of State can charge for specific immigration and nationality services.
It raises the ceilings for expedited 'priority' visa processing, passport applications, and the provision of contact center services.
Additionally, it provides the legal basis for charging fees related to the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme and certain sponsorship functions, applying to all individuals seeking entry to or status within the United Kingdom.
Arguments For
The order states that adjustments to fee maximums ensure the Home Secretary can set future fees at levels that support the funding of the immigration and nationality system.
The explanatory memorandum indicates that the changes allow for the recovery of costs associated with processing applications and the broader functions of the border and immigration system.
Proponents within the Home Office suggest that higher maximums for expedited services reflect the administrative resource required to provide faster turnaround times.
Arguments Against
Legal commentators have noted that increasing maximum fee caps gives the Home Secretary broad discretion to raise actual prices without further parliamentary primary legislation.
Migrant rights organizations argue that high fees for essential documents like passports and travel authorizations create financial barriers for low-income individuals and families.
Skeptics of the fee structure suggest that the link between the 'maximum' fee and the actual cost of the service is increasingly decoupled, potentially leading to a surplus beyond cost recovery.
1. Citation, commencement and extent
(1) This Order may be cited as the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2024.
(2) It comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made.
(3) It extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
This section establishes the official name of the legislation and dictates that it takes effect one day after it is formally signed.
The provisions apply uniformly across all four nations of the United Kingdom.
2. Amendment of the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Order 2016
The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Order 2016 is amended in accordance with articles 3 to 6.
This article serves as the legal link between this new document and the existing 2016 Order.
It specifies that the subsequent sections will modify the original fee-setting framework.
3. Amendment of article 2 (interpretation)
In article 2, after the definition of “child”, insert—
““Electronic Travel Authorisation” means an authorisation granted in accordance with immigration rules made under section 11C of the Immigration Act 1971;”.
This section adds a formal definition for 'Electronic Travel Authorisation' (ETA) to the legal text.
It links the term to the existing powers granted by the Immigration Act 1971, enabling the Secretary of State to regulate this specific digital entry requirement.
4. Amendment of article 5 (fees for applications, etc. in connection with immigration and nationality)
In the table in article 5, in the second column—
(a) in row 1.3.1 (priority services), for “£500” substitute “£1,000”;
(b) in row 1.3.2 (super priority services), for “£1,000” substitute “£2,500”.
This article significantly increases the maximum allowable charges for expedited visa processing.
The cap for 'priority' services moves from £500 to £1,000, while the limit for 'super priority' services, which typically offer next-day results, increases from £1,000 to £2,500.
5. Amendment of article 9 (fees for passports etc.)
In the table in article 9, in the second column—
(a) in row 5.1 (applications for passports), for “£100” substitute “£150”;
(b) in row 5.2 (applications for passports: priority services), for “£100” substitute “£150”;
(c) in row 5.3 (applications for passports: super priority services), for “£150” substitute “£200”.
This section raises the maximum fee limits for UK passport-related services.
It authorizes the government to set future passport application fees up to £150 and increases the additional caps for fast-track (priority) and premium (super priority) passport services by £50 each.
6. Amendment of Schedule 1 (fees for applications, etc. in connection with immigration and nationality)
(1) Schedule 1 is amended as follows.
(2) In the table in paragraph 2, in the second column—
(a) in row 1.1 (applications for entry clearance or leave to enter the United Kingdom), after “leave to enter” insert “or for an Electronic Travel Authorisation”;
(b) in row 1.4 (applications for a document or other evidence of a person’s status etc.), after “or status” insert “, or an Electronic Travel Authorisation”.
(3) In paragraph 4 (sponsorship)—
(a) the existing text becomes sub-paragraph (1);
(b) after that sub-paragraph, insert—
“(2) The Secretary of State may also charge a fee for the exercise of any function in connection with sponsorship.”.
This section expands the types of activities for which the Home Office can charge.
It specifically permits charging for Electronic Travel Authorisations and grants a general power to charge fees for any administrative functions related to sponsoring foreign workers or students.
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