Prime Minister Keir Starmer is exploring proposals to abolish some visa fees for top global talent.
The move comes as the UK plans to stimulate economic growth by luring the world’s best scientists, academics and digital experts, the Financial Times reports.
One option being considered is abolishing visa charges for top-level professionals, according to people briefed on the discussions inside Number 10 and the Treasury.
Notably, the decision has been given an extra push by US President Donald Trump who last week announced that the country would increase the application fee for an H-1B visa to $100,000, which is heavily relied on by US tech groups.
“This isn’t about diluting our determination to bring down net migration but it’s about getting the brightest and best into Britain. There is unity across government on this,” an unnamed official told the Financial Times.
Mixed messages
Starmer’s movbe to relax visas for some workers could bee seen as mixed messaging at a time when his government is pushing heavily to reduce both legal and illegal migration.
Notably, Government’s Immigration White Paper promises a raft of further changes before the end of the year – including a rise in costs for skilled workers.
The Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) for Skilled Worker and Senior or Specialist Worker sponsors is due to rise by 32%.
This will mean an uplift:
- From £364 to £480 per year for small and charitable sponsors;
- From £1,000 to £1,320 per year for medium and large sponsors.
This will effectively add up to £1,600 to the cost of sponsoring a five-year visa under the affected routes.
Earned settlement and earned citizenship
Another a mahjor change is that default qualifying period for settlement in most routes is due to rise (with some exceptions) from five years to ten years.
Individuals who can meet points-based criteria relating to their contributions to society and the economy may be eligible to settle earlier than ten years.
The criteria for citizenship eligibility will be amended to align with the implementation of earned settlement.
The consultation process is due to begin sometime during the Autumn, and any changes are likely to be implemented next year.
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