Immigration Update: UK Visa Fees Change in April 2025

There are various types of UK visa someone wishing to enter the UK may apply for depending on the purpose of their stay. The right visa not only grants you legal entry into the UK, it also determines the duration of your stay and the activities you’re permitted to undertake while you are here.

Taking professional advice on your circumstances will help ensure you consider all the available options to proceed with the best route for your circumstances. Mackinnons can provide expert support to UK visa applicants, including assessing the most appropriate route and providing guidance through the application process.

UK Visas & Immigration (“UKVI”) recently released its latest Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules, which includes updates to several visa categories. Additionally, UKVI has confirmed increases to immigration fees, covering visa, sponsorship and nationality services, to take effect from 9 April 2025.

One of the most common visas is the Skilled Worker Visa (“SWV”). This visa allows foreign internationals to come to the UK to work for a UK employer. To make a successful application for a SWV, you must: -

• have a valid job offer from a licensed UK employer before you apply.
• have the necessary skills and/or experience to fulfil the role for which you are being hired and the job for which you are being employed must be on the list of eligible occupations.
• be paid a minimum salary (the standard minimum salary for a SWV is £38,700. This means your job must provide you with the standard salary rate of at least £38,700 or the "going rate" for your job, whichever is higher). However, you might still meet the SWV salary requirements with a salary lower than £38,700 if your job is on the Immigration Salary List or you are classed as a “new entrant”.
• have sufficient funds to show you can support yourself in the UK.
• prove you have sufficient knowledge of the English language.

The SWV is a long-term work visa and will be initially granted for a period of up to five years. The process of applying for a SWV from outside of the UK is completed online on the Home Office website. There are various costs involved in the SWV process. The applicant will have to pay the visa application fee, with the amount payable depending on factors such as whether the job is on the Immigration Salary List. In addition to processing fees, applicants also have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for each year of leave. SWV applications generally take up to 3 weeks if the application is made from outside the UK. It may be possible to pay for fast-tracked processing, depending on where the application is being processed.

The Fishing Industry

As one of Scotland’s leading and longest standing marine law firms, Mackinnons navigate the changing currents of fisheries and offshore law to protect your interests in the waters of the North Sea and beyond. The fishing industry is well known for its reliance on non-UK crew, both within and outside the UK territorial waters. Following immigration rule changes that have been implemented in recent years, it has become harder to legally employ crew on UK vessels who are not UK citizens.

For those seafarers who work outside the 12-mile UK territorial waters, the process for entering the country is by way of a Transit Visa. This is a restrictive visa which permits crew to enter the country wholly on the basis that they shall immediately board a vessel that shall leave UK territorial waters within a short period following boarding. If seafarers are to be working at any point during their contract within the 12-mile limit, they must have the relevant “right to work” consents for the UK. The only current visa option that is suited to seafarers is the SWV.

It’s important to choose the correct type of visa for your visit to the UK. Applying for the wrong visa can result in your application being rejected. If you are looking for assistance with your UK visa application, Mackinnons can assist. For more information, please contact Cameron Milne or call 01224 632464.