The House of Lords has formally listed the Immigration, Nationality and Passports (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 among statutory instruments now open to parliamentary challenge, with the 40-day “praying time” due to expire on 12 May 2026. The draft regulation— first laid by the Home Office earlier this month— raises application fees across almost every visa, nationality and passport category, including a 7 per cent increase for most Skilled-Worker visas and a 25 per cent jump in the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee to £20. It also introduces a new £500 priority-service surcharge for sponsors seeking same-day decisions on Certificate-of-Sponsorship allocations. Under the negative resolution procedure, the instrument will come into force automatically unless either House passes a motion to annul it within the praying period.
![Parliamentary scrutiny begins on new Immigration, Nationality and Passports (Fees) Regulations]()
For organisations and individuals trying to understand what these changes mean for their bottom line, VisaHQ offers an easy-to-use portal that breaks down the latest UK visa fees, timelines and service options, and can even arrange expedited submissions through its London office—details are available at https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/
The Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee has already drawn the regulations to Parliament’s “special attention”, noting concern that cost rises outpace inflation and may deter employers from recruiting internationally. Business groups including the Institute of Directors have written to peers warning that "fee-driven sticker shock" could push companies to relocate projects out of the UK rather than absorb higher mobility costs. Although ministers argue that higher fees allow UK Visas & Immigration to remain fully self-funded, critics point out that recent surpluses have been diverted to fund asylum accommodation and not to improve service standards. Processing times for out-of-country Skilled-Worker applications averaged 10 weeks in Q1 2026—double the government’s service standard. Employers reliant on just-in-time start dates therefore fear paying more for slower decisions. If neither House objects, the higher charges will take effect from 00:01 BST on the day after praying time ends. Multinational HR teams are already advising assignees to file any discretionary applications— such as Indefinite Leave to Remain, Graduate route switches or naturalisation— before mid-May to avoid the new prices. Sponsoring employers should also review their budgets for relocation packages, as many pick up statutory visa costs for staff and dependants. In practical terms, the regulation will make the UK the most expensive destination in the G7 for permanent residence, with an ILR application rising to £3,226 plus a £2,587 Immigration Health Surcharge for a family of four. Whether the Lords will use the remaining sitting days before prorogation to force a debate remains to be seen, but mobility managers face only a short window to mitigate the financial impact.
For organisations and individuals trying to understand what these changes mean for their bottom line, VisaHQ offers an easy-to-use portal that breaks down the latest UK visa fees, timelines and service options, and can even arrange expedited submissions through its London office—details are available at https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/
The Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee has already drawn the regulations to Parliament’s “special attention”, noting concern that cost rises outpace inflation and may deter employers from recruiting internationally. Business groups including the Institute of Directors have written to peers warning that "fee-driven sticker shock" could push companies to relocate projects out of the UK rather than absorb higher mobility costs. Although ministers argue that higher fees allow UK Visas & Immigration to remain fully self-funded, critics point out that recent surpluses have been diverted to fund asylum accommodation and not to improve service standards. Processing times for out-of-country Skilled-Worker applications averaged 10 weeks in Q1 2026—double the government’s service standard. Employers reliant on just-in-time start dates therefore fear paying more for slower decisions. If neither House objects, the higher charges will take effect from 00:01 BST on the day after praying time ends. Multinational HR teams are already advising assignees to file any discretionary applications— such as Indefinite Leave to Remain, Graduate route switches or naturalisation— before mid-May to avoid the new prices. Sponsoring employers should also review their budgets for relocation packages, as many pick up statutory visa costs for staff and dependants. In practical terms, the regulation will make the UK the most expensive destination in the G7 for permanent residence, with an ILR application rising to £3,226 plus a £2,587 Immigration Health Surcharge for a family of four. Whether the Lords will use the remaining sitting days before prorogation to force a debate remains to be seen, but mobility managers face only a short window to mitigate the financial impact.
