The UK immigration system has introduced two important developments in 2026:

• Home Office fees increased on 8 April 2026, including significant rises for British citizenship applications and several visa routes.
• Changes to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) took effect on 30 July 2026, removing the fingerprint requirement for EUSS travel permit applicants.

These changes matter to EU citizens, EUSS status holders, family members, visa applicants, employers and anyone planning a future application for settlement or British citizenship.

This guide explains the new fee structure, the EUSS travel permit biometric change and the practical steps applicants should take when dealing with an increasingly digital UK border and immigration system.

Important: Immigration fees and requirements can change. The information in this article is accurate as at 10 August 2026, but applicants should check the relevant GOV.UK guidance before applying.

What changed in the Home Office fee structure from April 2026?

Most revised Home Office immigration and nationality fees took effect on 8 April 2026. The increases affect applications made both inside and outside the UK.

The most notable nationality fees are:

The £130 citizenship ceremony fee is generally added to the naturalisation or adult registration fee where a ceremony is required. This means the headline total for many applicants is:

• Naturalisation: £1,839, including the ceremony fee.
• Adult nationality registration: £1,670, including the ceremony fee.

The application fee is not the same as legal fees. Applicants should also budget for professional advice, document translations, English-language testing, the Life in the UK test and any expenses connected with obtaining evidence.

Who is most affected by the citizenship fee increases?

The naturalisation increase is particularly relevant to people who already hold, or are approaching, settled status or indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

For example, an EU citizen with settled status may later decide to apply for British citizenship. The person will need to consider whether they meet the naturalisation requirements, including:

• The required period of residence in the UK.
• The residence and absence limits.
• The intention to continue living in the UK, where applicable.
• The English-language requirement.
• The Life in the UK test.
• Good character requirements.
• The correct status and timing at the date of application.

A person who has lived in the UK for many years may assume that citizenship is automatic once they obtain settled status. It is not. Settled status and British citizenship are separate legal positions, with different eligibility requirements and application processes.

The increase also affects adults applying to register as British citizens under specific provisions of the British Nationality Act 1981 or other nationality routes. The correct route depends on the applicant’s personal history, parents, place of birth, immigration status and nationality circumstances.

There is, however, one important reduction. The child nationality registration fee has fallen from £1,214 to £1,000. Families should obtain advice before making an application, because the appropriate route for a child is not always the same as the route used by a parent.

Other 2026 fees visa applicants should know about

The April changes are wider than nationality applications. Examples include:

• Indefinite leave to remain: £3,226.
• Route to settlement applications made outside the UK: £2,064.
• Graduate Route applications made in the UK: £937.
• Skilled Worker applications made in the UK for up to three years: £943.
• Student applications: £558.
• Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA): £20.
• Adult Certificate of Travel: £320.

The fee payable depends on the route, the length of permission requested, whether the application is made inside or outside the UK and whether the applicant qualifies for a reduced fee category.

Some applicants must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). The IHS is separate from the visa application fee and can represent a substantial additional cost, particularly where an application covers several years or includes dependants.

Applicants should therefore calculate the complete cost before submitting an application. A failed or invalid application can create further expense and may affect immigration status if the application is made close to the expiry of existing permission.

The official Home Office immigration and nationality fees table contains the current published figures.

What changed for EUSS travel permits on 30 July 2026?

The EUSS travel permit change was introduced through HC 259.

From 30 July 2026, an applicant for an EUSS travel permit is no longer required to provide fingerprint biometrics. The applicant must still provide a facial photograph.

An EUSS travel permit is relevant to an existing EUSS status holder who needs to travel to the UK but cannot update their UKVI account from outside the UK. One example is where the person has obtained a new passport or travel document and the new details have not yet been linked to their UKVI account.

The travel permit is not a replacement for applying for EUSS status. It is also not a general travel document for every EU citizen. Its purpose is connected to an existing EUSS status and a specific difficulty with demonstrating that status when travelling to the UK.

Is the EUSS travel permit change the same as an EUSS family permit?

No. The terms can be confusing, but an EUSS travel permit and an EUSS family permit serve different purposes.

An EUSS travel permit generally concerns an existing EUSS status holder who needs to travel to the UK when their digital status or travel document details cannot be updated from overseas.

An EUSS family permit concerns an eligible family member seeking permission to travel to the UK to join or accompany a qualifying EUSS sponsor. Some family permit applicants may still be required to provide fingerprints, depending on the route and the eligibility provisions relied upon.

The removal of fingerprints for travel permit applications should not be treated as meaning that all EUSS-related applications are now photograph-only. Applicants must identify the correct route and follow the biometric instructions issued for that application.

The Home Office EUSS family permit guidance should be checked carefully before travel arrangements are made.

How should EU citizens manage digital border updates?

The UK’s border and immigration processes are increasingly digital. Physical residence documents are no longer the primary way many visa holders prove their status.

EU citizens and other migrants should take the following steps.

1. Check your UKVI account

Make sure you can access your UKVI account and that the information shown accurately reflects your immigration permission or EUSS status.

Check your:

• Name and date of birth.
• Current passport or travel document.
• Nationality.
• Immigration status.
• Permission expiry date, if applicable.
• Email address and telephone number.

2. Link every new passport promptly

If you renew your passport, update your UKVI account before travelling. A mismatch between the passport used for travel and the document linked to your digital status can lead to delays or difficulties with a carrier.

Our guide to the eVisa transition and digital status before 2027 explains the practical risks in more detail.

3. Do not assume an ETA is required

An ETA is a permission to travel for eligible visa-exempt visitors. It is not a visa and does not provide a right to live, work or study in the UK.

An EU citizen who holds valid EUSS status should use the appropriate digital evidence of that status when travelling. An EU citizen visiting the UK without UK immigration status may need an ETA, depending on their nationality and circumstances.

The correct travel permission depends on the purpose and length of the visit. Applying for an ETA when a visa is required, or relying on visitor permission for work or residence, can result in serious problems.

4. Plan applications around expiry dates

Higher fees can create pressure to delay an application. That can be risky. Waiting too long may result in:

• An application being made after current permission expires.
• Loss of eligibility for an in-country route.
• Insufficient time to obtain supporting documents.
• Travel restrictions while an application is pending.
• Additional costs if an urgent or alternative application becomes necessary.

The cheapest route is not always the legally available route. Applicants should first establish the correct immigration strategy and then consider timing and cost.

What if a visa application is refused?

A refusal should be reviewed against the exact wording of the decision letter and the Immigration Rules in force at the relevant time.

The correct response might involve:

• An administrative review.
• A fresh application.
• A correction of an invalid application.
• A human rights or family-life application.
• A challenge to an unlawful decision.
• A different immigration route.

Graduate visa applicants should take particular care because technical errors concerning course completion, timing, identity checks or previous immigration conditions can have serious consequences. Read our guide to common Graduate Visa refusal reasons before applying.

Applicants and employers should also understand how the latest Immigration Rules interact with their circumstances. Our analysis of HC 259 and the August 2026 rule changes covers additional changes affecting families, dependants, suitability and immigration bail.

How immigration solicitors can help

The 2026 changes make careful planning more important. A solicitor can help you:

• Identify the correct visa, settlement or nationality route.
• Confirm the fee and likely additional costs.
• Review residence, absence and status evidence.
• Check whether an EUSS travel permit is appropriate.
• Prepare for digital identity and border requirements.
• Assess refusal risks before an application is submitted.
• Advise employers and families on connected immigration applications.

Tyndel Solicitors advises private clients, families and businesses on immigration matters across England and Wales. If you need clear, tailored advice on the 2026 Home Office fees, EUSS travel permits, eVisas or a visa application, contact our immigration team.

This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Your eligibility, costs and application requirements will depend on your individual circumstances.