There are fears that the visa fees under the new points-based system may make visas too expensive for most
According to the UK government’s new immigration policy, visas will cost £1,220 per person, or £900 for those on the shortage occupation list, making them some of the highest in the world. According to the Institute for Government (IfG) think tank, a family of five with a five-year work visa for one individual would have to pay £21,299 before they could enter in the UK.
This figure is twice as much as the fee charged by Australia and approximately 30 times the amount charged by Canada where it costs just over £10,000 for a family for five years.
Single people looking to migrate also face similar costs and will be charged up to £3,220 for a five-year visa, while in Canada, a similar visa would only set an individual back £220 for three years.
From January 1, 2021 the fees will also impact EU citizens wishing to work in the UK. Such persons will be required to pay at least £1,620 for the visa and £400 health charge for one year.
It is thought is excessive fees might deter some migrants, particularly those in the (scarce) category, such as the lab technicians, engineers and scientists from applying. Lower fees and other jurisdictions such as Germany or the Netherlands may make those countries more attractive prospects.
The cost of bringing in EU workers will also create new financial burdens for employers from the start of next year as they they will now have to pay a skills-charge fee of £1,000 per person, an employer visa fee of £610 for a visa up to three years, as well as £1,220 for a visa of more than three years, along with a £199 certificate of sponsorship.
A Home Office spokesperson said fees were set at a level to provide the resources needed for border control but that a new fast track system would be introduced with “reduced fees for certain medical professionals”. A spokesman said: “In fairness to UK taxpayers, it is only right that those who directly benefit from our immigration system contribute to its funding.”
