The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These regulations, effective July 22, 2025, amend the 2018 Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations.
Key changes introduce new fees for applications of British citizenship under section 4AA of the 1981 Act (for Irish citizens), with different amounts for adults (£723) and children (£607).
The amendments incorporate these new fees into relevant schedules, including those addressing exceptions and affordability waivers.
Arguments For
Increased Revenue: The new fees generate additional revenue for the government, potentially contributing to funding citizenship processes.
Fairer System: The introduction of separate fees based on age offers a more targeted and potentially fairer approach to applications for citizenship, adjusting fees to account for the different administrative complexities of these applications.
Compliance with Legislation: The changes align with existing legislation regarding fees for immigration and nationality matters. This ensures legal coherence.
Clarity and Transparency: Explicitly stating fees for distinct application types clarifies the costs to applicants and removes potential ambiguity.
Arguments Against
Financial Burden on Applicants: Increased fees might pose a barrier to some Irish citizens seeking British citizenship, particularly low-income individuals or families.
Potential for Disparity: The differing fee structures based on age might lead to perceived unfairness.
Administrative Complexity: Implementing multiple fee types might prove somewhat more complex compared to a single fee structure for all applications.
Limited Impact Assessment: The lack of a full impact assessment could indicate a potential oversight of the broader implications of these changes.
Citation, commencement and extent 1.
(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2025.
(2) These Regulations come into force on 22nd July 2025.
(3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
This section details the title, effective date, and geographical scope of the regulations.
The regulations are officially titled "Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2025", commencing on July 22, 2025 and applying across the UK.
Amendment of the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2018 2.
(1) In the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 20183, Schedule 8 (nationality) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph 2(5), after “19.3.1” insert “19.3.1A”.
(3) In Table 19 (fees for applications relating to nationality)—
(a) after entry 19.2.1, insert—
19.2.1A Application for registration as a British citizen under section 4AA of the 1981 Act (Irish citizens) 4, where the applicant is aged 18 or over at the time the application is made. £723
(b) after entry 19.3.1, insert—
19.3.1A Application for registration as a British citizen under section 4AA of the 1981 Act (Irish citizens), where the person in respect of whom the application is made is a child at the time the application is made. £607
(4) In Table 20A (exceptions in respect of fees for registration and for services in connection with citizenship ceremonies and oaths), in entry 20A.3.1—
(a) in the second column, after “1981 Act” insert “section 4AA of the 1981 Act (Irish citizens),”;
(b) in the third column, after “19.3.1,” insert “19.3.1A and”.
(5) In paragraph 8 (waiver on grounds of unaffordability)—
(a) in the heading, after “19.3.1” insert “19.3.1A”;
(b) after “19.3.1” insert “19.3.1A”.
This section details the specific amendments made to Schedule 8 of the 2018 Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations.
New entries (19.2.1A and 19.3.1A) are added to Table 19, establishing fees for British citizenship applications under section 4AA of the 1981 Act for Irish citizens.
The fees differ based on the applicant's age (adult: £723, child: £607).
These new fee entries are also incorporated into Table 20A (exceptions) and paragraph 8 (waivers).
We consent Jeff Smith Taiwo Owatemi Two of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury 26th June 2025
Seema Malhotra Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Home Office 26th June 2025
This section contains the signatures and roles of the approving officials, and specifies the date of approval, June 26th 2025.
It indicates approval by representatives of the Treasury and the Home Office.
Explanatory Note (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations amend the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/330), which set fees for the exercise of various functions in connection with immigration and nationality. Regulation 2 amends Schedule 8 (nationality) to the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2018. Regulation 2(2) amends paragraph 2(5) of Schedule 8, reflecting the amendment, made by regulation 2(5) of these Regulations, to paragraph 8 of Schedule 8. Regulation 2(3) inserts, in Table 19 (fees for applications relating to nationality), a fee for an application for registration as a British citizen under section 4AA of the British Nationality Act 1981 (c. 61) by an applicant aged 18 or over and a fee for the same application in respect of person who is a child at the time the application is made. Regulation 2(4) inserts a reference to the fee for an application in respect of a child in entry 20A.3.1 in Table 20A (exceptions in respect of fees for registration and for services in connection with citizenship ceremonies and oaths). Entry 20A.3.1 provides that no fee is payable for applications to which it applies where the person in respect of whom the application is made is a child who is looked after by the local authority (or looked after outside the United Kingdom under equivalent arrangements). Regulation 2(5) inserts a reference to the fee for an application in respect of a child in paragraph 8 (waiver on grounds of unaffordability). Paragraph 8 provides that the Secretary of State may waive the fees to which the paragraph applies in a case where the Secretary of State considers that the fee is not affordable. A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.
The explanatory note provides a summary of the regulations' contents.
It clarifies that the amendments focus on adding new fee entries (for applications for British citizenship under section 4AA of the 1981 Act for Irish citizens, differentiated by age) to the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2018.
It also explains how the amendments specifically change Schedules 8, 19 and 20A and paragraph 8.
Finally, it notes that a full impact assessment was not deemed necessary due to expectations of insignificant impact on the public, private, or voluntary sectors.