The Immigration, Nationality and Passports (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/311) were made on 17 March, laid on 18 March, and take effect from 9.00 a.m. on 8 April 2026, with the Crown Dependencies provisions commencing on 9 April. Treasury consent is recorded from Gen Kitchen and Christian Wakeford, and the Home Office ministerial signature from Mike Tapp. (legislation.gov.uk)
The instrument revises the 2018 Fees Regulations and the 2022 Passport Fees Regulations. It replaces numerous line items across entry clearance, leave to remain, nationality and administrative services, and updates passport charges and associated delivery services to new amounts.
ILR rises to £3,226 (Table 8, item 8.1.1), mirrored by the £3,226 indefinite leave to enter fee for dependants of HM Armed Forces service leavers and members (Schedule 1, items 1.3D.1 and 1.3E.1). Health and Care Visa reductions are uprated to £495/£990 (out‑of‑country) and £619/£1,237 (in‑country). (legislation.gov.uk)
Employers and education providers should expect higher sponsor and study‑sponsorship costs. Charges covering sponsor licences, premium services, certificates of sponsorship and confirmations of acceptance for studies are increased, so budgets for new applications and renewals need updating ahead of April submissions.
Entry clearance and limited leave fees also move up across common work, study and family routes. Most increases are modest in percentage terms, though some premium services show larger uplifts. Applicants should confirm the exact fee code in the schedules before payment to avoid underpayment rejections.
Two nationality registration line items fall from £1,214 to £1,000 (Table 19, items 19.3.1 and 19.3.2), while other nationality fees and several operational charges in Table 20 are increased, including uprates to bands such as £456–£513. (legislation.gov.uk)
Passport fees are recast: the standard adult fee increases from £83.50 to £90; the 50‑page adult passport from £127.50 to £137.50; and the standard child passport from £96.50 to £104. Delivery and forwarding charges are also revised, with UK delivery set at £14.32. (legislation.gov.uk)
For the Crown Dependencies, the Regulations introduce a £20 fee for a request for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) where required, and replace Isle of Man references to “Tier 4” with Appendix Student and Child Student descriptions. These provisions commence on 9 April 2026. (legislation.gov.uk)
Transitional wording on Innovator Founder is tightened. Only endorsements granted on or before 12 April 2023 qualify for the relevant fee exceptions; previous references to a “current” endorsement are removed across Schedules 1–3. (legislation.gov.uk)
Territorial extent is confirmed. Regulations 9 and 10 extend to the Isle of Man, and to Jersey and Guernsey respectively, for the same purposes as the 2018 Fees Regulations they amend. All other provisions extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Timing is operationally significant. Any application submitted and paid before 9.00 a.m. on 8 April 2026 should attract the pre‑change fee; those paid after that point, and ETA‑related transactions from 9 April, will be charged at the new rates.
Context from accompanying impact material indicates the Home Office’s direction of travel remains cost‑recovery within updated maxima, with further fee‑setting steps planned in spring 2026 subject to parliamentary time, alongside the published explanatory memorandum. (legislation.gov.uk)