The UK immigration minister has proposed an increase to immigration and nationality application fees in Britain.
Under to proposals, Damian Green explained in his written ministerial statement, a Tier 2 work permit would cost in the region of £350. This is a significant increase on the current fee of £227.
According to the UK Border Agency (UKBA), the increase in UK visa fees is needed to help to address funding shortfalls.
Under the current spending review the Home Office is implementing a budget reduction of up to 20 per cent, leaving the UKBA and other departments to make efficiency savings of approximately £500 million by reducing support costs and boosting productivity.
However, the UKBA stated that simply reducing costs "will not go far enough" and explained that the fees will be needed for the financial year 2011/12 in order to avoid a shortfall.
Mr Green noted that the fee increases cannot be approved until they have been set out in regulations before both Houses of Parliament and are "subject to an affirmative procedure".
But assuming they are passed through, they will come into effect on April 6th 2011, along with the other changes to UK immigration being implemented by the coalition government.