Home Office Fees From 1 July 2025: What Workers Should Know

From 1 July 2025, the Home Office updated visa application fees. This article explains the new Skilled Worker visa costs, who qualifies for reduced fees, and how these changes affect applicants and employers.

1. Why Fees Changed

The UK government reviews immigration fees regularly to reflect administrative costs and policy goals. On 1 July 2025, the Home Office introduced new fee levels that affect Skilled Worker visas, Health and Care visas, and other work routes.

2. Skilled Worker Visa Fees

From July 2025 the fees for Skilled Worker visas are as follows:

• Standard Skilled Worker visa (up to three years): £719
• Standard Skilled Worker visa (more than three years): £1,420
• Jobs on the Immigration Salary List (up to three years): £551
• Jobs on the Immigration Salary List (more than three years): £1,084

Applicants must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge unless exempt.

3. Health and Care Worker Visa Fees

The Health and Care Worker visa remains one of the lowest fee routes:

• Up to three years: £284
• More than three years: £551

Importantly, Health and Care Worker visa holders and their dependants are exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge, which provides significant savings.

4. Who Qualifies for Reduced Fees

Reduced fees apply if your job appears on the Immigration Salary List. These roles are considered strategically important, so the government applies lower visa charges to encourage recruitment.

5. What Employers Should Know

Employers who sponsor Skilled Worker visa applicants must budget for:

• The visa application fee (usually paid by the worker but sometimes covered by the employer)
• The Certificate of Sponsorship fee (£239 per certificate)
• The Immigration Skills Charge, which is £1,000 per sponsored worker per year for large employers or £364 per year for small businesses and charities

6. Key Takeaway

From 1 July 2025, the Skilled Worker visa fee structure became more expensive for standard applicants but continues to provide reduced rates for jobs on the Immigration Salary List and for Health and Care Worker roles. Applicants should plan ahead to ensure they budget for both visa fees and additional costs such as the Immigration Health Surcharge and employer sponsorship charges.