UK Raises Fast-Track Visa Processing Fees by 75% Effective October 21

Beginning October 21, 2025, the UK Home Office will raise fees for expedited immigration services. Sponsors will now pay £350 for fast-tracking sponsorship requests and £750 for priority licence processing. This change marks another significant increase in immigration costs.

The UK Home Office has implemented another round of fee hikes, specifically targeting expedited immigration processing. Effective October 21, the cost of fast-tracking certain in-country sponsorship services will rise considerably.

New Expedited Processing Fees

This update affects two primary services:

• Expedited Processing for Sponsorship Management Requests: The fee has surged from £200 to £350, a steep 75% increase. This applies to categories such as Worker, Temporary Worker, and Student Sponsors.
• Priority Service for Sponsor Licence Applications: The fee for this service has increased to £750, up 50% from the previous £500.

Though these adjustments may not dominate the news, they significantly impact universities, businesses, and licensed sponsors. These groups depend on quick immigration decisions to manage staffing and international recruitment effectively.

Understanding Expedited Processing

Expedited processing serves as a fast lane in the UK immigration system. It allows employers, educational institutions, or sponsors to receive decisions on specific applications much quicker than standard timelines—often within just a few working days.

Typically, sponsorship-related requests may take weeks to process. However, with expedited service, sponsors can bypass the queue by paying an additional fee. This option proves especially valuable when hiring overseas workers urgently or addressing time-sensitive licence management issues.

Reasons Sponsors Opt for Expedited Processing

Employers frequently turn to expedited processing when facing tight visa start dates or project deadlines. This service helps:

• Accelerate hiring for urgent roles.
• Prevent business interruptions when sponsorship permissions require immediate updates.
• Reinstate suspended or downgraded licences swiftly, ensuring compliance.
• For universities and colleges, expedited processing ensures that international student enrolments and compliance tasks are completed smoothly before the start of academic terms.

What Applicants Can Anticipate

With expedited processing, sponsors can typically expect:

• A dedicated caseworker or quicker file allocation.
• A response within a few working days instead of weeks.
• Email confirmation once the decision or update is finalized.

However, the Home Office emphasizes that paying for priority service does not ensure approval. It merely guarantees a quicker review of the application.

Another Increase in UK Fees

This update aligns with a broader trend of increasing fees. Over the past two years, the UK government has raised costs across nearly every immigration category, including Certificates of Sponsorship, Skilled Worker visas, visitor visas, and the Immigration Health Surcharge.

The government often cites funding public services and covering administrative costs as justifications for these increases. However, for employers and sponsors, this translates to higher operating expenses and narrower margins when managing foreign hires or student enrolments.

Conclusion

For licensed sponsors in the UK or those considering becoming one, navigating expedited processing has become more costly. While this service remains an essential tool for meeting tight deadlines, it now comes at a premium.

As immigration expenses continue to climb, sponsors must carefully plan their budgets. They should weigh the benefits of paying for quicker processing against the potential for longer lead times. As the landscape evolves, staying informed will be crucial for effective decision-making.