The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has recently undertaken a review of the fees charged for visa and consular services overseas. On 12 March 2008 Her Majesty in Council approved the Consular Fees Order 2008. This revokes and replaces the Consular Fees Order 2007 and two Consular Fees (Amendment) Orders. The Government are today announcing changes to the consular fees to be charged under this order with effect from 1 April 2008.
Passport fees, at home and overseas, remain at current levels. However the order enables fees for passport applications made both overseas and in the United Kingdom to be non-refundable in the event that the application is unsuccessful, whereas previously they were not.
The order includes a premium service legalisation fee of £67 for companies, solicitors and notaries, to be charged from a new office in central London. The standard legalisation service both offered by consular officers at posts overseas and by the London legalisation office (to move to Milton Keynes later in the year) will remain at £27.
Fees for receiving applications for entry clearance to the United Kingdom, for passing through the United Kingdom, direct airside transit visas and certificates of entitlement of abode, which were previously charged under the Consular Fees Order, are now charged under section 51 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 and, in respect of those fees that are set at levels that exceed the administrative cost of the application, in reliance on section 42 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc.) Act 2004. However fees for receiving applications for entry clearance to Commonwealth countries, British overseas territories and Crown Dependencies continue to be charged in the order. Fees for applications for entry clearance to the Crown Dependencies made from outside the UK have in most cases been increased by approximately 3 per cent. in line with inflation.
It is right that those who benefit from consular services should meet the cost of them, rather than the UK taxpayer. The new fees represent the full economic cost of what we do, and will ensure that British missions overseas continue to provide a high standard of service to consular customers.
The new fees are included in the attached table.
| Part II |
|
Notarial and Related Matters |
|
| Fee |
|
£ |
| 2. |
Preparing any certificate, declaration or document not listed elsewhere in this Schedule — |
|
|
(a) |
in standard form, for every copy |
34.00 |
|
(b) |
not in standard form, for every 100 words — |
|
|
|
(i) in English |
42.00 |
|
|
(ii) in any other language |
67.00 |
| 3. |
Preparing or signing, or both, a declaration of existence — |
16.50 |
|
Except in connection with pay or pensions payable by a department of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, or the Government of any other Commonwealth country |
|
| 4. |
Administering an oath or attesting the signature on a declaration or affirmation except where — |
50.00 |
|
(a) |
the oath, declaration or affirmation is made under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995(a) or in connection with the loss of a passport |
|
|
(b) |
fee 16, 17, 27, 28, 29, 32, 38, 44, or 45 is to be taken |
|
| 5. |
Supplying witnesses, for each witness |
20.00 |
| 6. |
Initialling alterations in any document not prepared by the consular officer or marking exhibits, for each initialling or marking |
10.00 |
| 7. |
Making or verifying (including certifying when necessary) a copy of a document — |
|
|
(a) |
in typescript, for each page |
34.00 |
|
(b) |
reproduced by electronic means outside the consular premises, for each page |
34.00 |
|
(c) |
reproduced by electronic means within the consular premises, for each page (with a minimum charge of £25) |
5.00 |
| 8. |
Uniting documents and sealing the fastening (except where fee 45 is applicable) |
20.00 |
| 9. |
Affixing a photograph to a document not prepared by the consular officer, and if necessary, certifying it (except where fee 16 or 17 is applicable) |
20.00 |
| 10. |
Obtaining a legalisation or other certification from another authority upon any document (in addition to other direct costs if any) |
42.00 |
| 11. |
Supplying certified copies of documents which form part of the records of a court which is, or was formerly, established under the Foreign Jurisdiction Acts 1890(b) and 1913(c), for each page |
59.00 |
| 12. |
Making or verifying (including certifying when necessary) a written translation, for every 100 words or characters written in the foreign language (except where fee 31, 32 or 47 is to be taken) — |
|
|
(a) |
from or into Amharic, Chinese, Japanese, or Korean (three Japanese Kana count as one character when used independently) |
67.00 |
|
(b) |
from or into any other language |
42.00 |
| 13. |
Translating and interpreting viva voce except when performing official duties, for every 15 minutes |
30.00 |
| (a) 1995 c.21. |
| (b) 1890 c.37. |
| (c) 1913 c.16. |
| Part III |
|
Passport Applications Made to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office |
|
| Fee |
|
£ |
| 14. |
Administering an application made abroad, including applications for replacing an expired passport, replacing a passport of restricted validity with a new passport of full validity, issuing a new passport with amended personal details and replacing a lost or stolen passport and, if the application is successful, providing a 32 page passport — |
|
|
(a) where the applicant is aged 16 years or over |
119.00 |
|
(b) where the applicant is under 16 years old (for a passport valid for 5 years) |
76.00 |
| 15. |
Administering an application made abroad, including applications for replacing an expired passport, replacing a passport of restricted validity with a new passport of full validity, issuing a new passport with amended personal details and replacing a lost or stolen passport and, if the application is successful, providing a 48 page passport |
144.00 |
| 16. |
Administering an application made abroad and, if the application is successful providing an Emergency Passport (or other document not otherwise provided for in lieu of a passport) |
55.50 |
| 17. |
Administering an application made abroad and, if the application is successful providing a Temporary Passport valid for not more than one year |
70.50 |
| Part IV |
|
Passport Applications Made in the United Kingdom |
|
| Fee |
|
£ |
| 18. |
Administering an application made in the United Kingdom, including applications for replacing an expired passport, replacing a passport of restricted validity with a new passport of full validity, issuing a new passport with amended personal details and replacing a lost or stolen passport and, if the application is successful, issuing a 32 page passport — |
|
|
(a) |
for applications made by post — |
|
|
|
0) |
where the applicant is aged 16 years and over |
72.00 |
|
|
(ii) |
where the applicant is under 1 6 years old (for a passport valid for 5 years) |
46.00 |
|
(b) |
for applications made in person — |
|
|
|
(i) |
where the applicant is aged 16 years or over using the fast-track service |
97.00 |
|
|
(ii) |
where the applicant is under 16 years old (for a passport valid for 5 years) using the fast-track service |
81.00 |
|
|
(iii) |
where the applicant is aged 1 6 years or over using the fast-track collect service |
109.00 |
|
|
(iv). |
where the applicant is under 1 6 years old (for a passport valid for 5 years) using the fast-track collect service |
91.00 |
|
|
(v) |
where the applicant is aged 16 years or over using the premium service |
114.00 |
|
|
(vi) |
where the applicant is under 16 years old (for a passport valid for 5 years) using the premium service |
94.00 |
| 19. |
Administering an application made in the United Kingdom, including applications for replacing an expired passport, replacing a passport of restricted validity with a new passport of full validity, issuing a new passport with amended personal details and replacing a lost and stolen passport and, if the application is successful, issuing a 48 page passport — |
|
|
(a) |
for applications made by post |
85.00 |
|
(b) |
for applications made in person — |
|
|
|
(i) |
using the fast-track service |
105.00 |
|
|
(ii) |
using the fast-track collect service |
109.00 |
|
|
(iii) |
using the premium service |
123.00 |
| 20. |
Administering an application made in the United Kingdom and, if the application is successful, issuing a collective passport — |
|
|
(a) |
for applications made by post |
39.00 |
|
(b) |
for applications made in person |
54.00 |
| Part V |
|
Other Documents Relating to Travel or Entry into the UK, Commonwealth, Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies |
|
| Fee |
|
£ |
| 21. |
Preparing or forwarding, or both, any letter, certificate, declaration or other document which may be required by an authority in any country or territory in connection with an application for or the issue or renewal of an entry clearance (for a country or territory for which the consular officer does not himself have authority to issue entry clearance), a residence permit or identity card or forwarding any other certificate or document (except a Home Office travel document and applications for registration and naturalisation) |
59.00 |
| 22. |
Renewing a Travel Certificate, a certificate of identity or other travel document on behalf of a Commonwealth country or of a dependency of a Commonwealth country (except where fee 24 is to be taken) |
59.00 |
| 23. |
Renewing a Travel Certificate, a certificate of identity or other travel document on behalf of a Crown Dependency or a British overseas territory (except where fee 24 is to be taken) |
59.00 |
| 24. |
Revalidating or renewing a Seaman's Certificate of Nationality and Identity or a Seaman's Identity Book (in addition to fee 21 where applicable) |
59.00 |
| 25. |
Receiving an application for entry clearance to a Commonwealth country or British overseas territory |
44.00 |
| 26. |
Receiving, outside the United Kingdom, an application for — |
|
|
(a) |
entry |
clearance to the Crown Dependencies — |
|
|
|
(0 |
as a visitor, in each case for single, double and multiple entries valid for up to six months from the date of issue |
65.00 |
|
|
(ii) |
for settlement |
515.00 |
|
|
(iii) |
as a student |
99.00 |
|
|
(iv) |
outside the Immigration Rules on an application by entertainers in accordance with Chapter 17 Section 3 of the Home Office Immigration Directorate's Instructions |
99.00 |
|
|
(v) |
outside the Immigration Rules on an application by sportsmen and women in accordance with Chapter 17 Section 8 of the Home Office Immigration Directorate's Instructions |
99.00 |
|
|
(vi) |
outside the Immigration Rules on an application by voluntary workers in accordance with Chapter 17 Section 9 of the Home Office Immigration Directorate's Instructions |
99.00 |
|
|
(vii) |
for any purpose other than those listed sub-paragraphs (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) listed above |
205.00 |
|
(b) |
a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode in the Crown Dependencies |
200.00 |
| Part VI |
|
Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships |
|
| Fee |
|
£ |
| 27. |
Receiving notice of an intended marriage, civil partnership or overseas relationship |
59.00 |
| 28. |
Solemnising or attending a marriage under the Foreign Marriage Acts 1892 (d) and 1947 (e): administering oaths to the parties and registering the marriage |
126.00 |
| 29. |
Registering a civil partnership under the Civil Partnership (Registration Abroad and Certificates) Order 2005 (f) |
126.00 |
| 30. |
Issuing in English or in the local language a certificate that no impediment to an intended marriage or civil partnership has been shown to exist or issuing a ““certificate de coutume”” for an intended marriage or intended overseas relationship in accordance with local law |
59.00 |
| 31. |
Forwarding a record of a marriage under the local law to the appropriate Registrar General in accordance with the Foreign Marriage Order 1970 (g), including the provision of any necessary certification |
34.00 |
| 32. |
Forwarding a record of an overseas relationship to the appropriate Registrar General in accordance with the Civil Partnership (Registration Abroad and Certificates) Order 2005 (h), including the provision of any necessary certification |
34.00 |
| 33. |
Registering a birth or death (in addition to fee 35 where applicable) |
92.00 |
| 34. |
Making an addition to or correction in the consular register of births, deaths, marriages or civil partnerships at the request of the parties concerned |
34.00 |
| 35. |
Issuing a certified copy of an entry in the consular register of births, deaths, marriages or civil partnerships (in addition to fee 36 or 33 where applicable) |
59.00 |
| (d) 1892 c.23 |
| (e) 1947 c.33. |
| (f) S.I. 2005/2761 |
| (g) S.I. 1970/1539. |
| (h) S.I. 2005/2761 |
| Part VII |
|
Searches |
|
| Fee |
|
£ |
| 36. |
Making a search in (in addition to fee 2(a) and 35 where applicable) — |
|
|
(a) |
the consular registers of births, deaths, marriages or civil partnerships where the number or date of entry is not provided |
59.00 |
|
(b) |
the records of the Identity and Passport Service where the request originates in the United Kingdom |
14.00 |
|
(c) |
any other records or archives of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom |
103.00 |
|
(d) |
naturalisation or registration records kept by a consular officer |
72.00 |
| 37. |
Having a search made for, or attempting to obtain copies of, or both, entries in the local registers or records of local authorities responsible for births, marriages or overseas relationships or for any other document, irrespective of whether an entry or record or any other document is found or obtained after a period of 18 months (in addition to direct costs exceeding £5.00 if any) |
121.00 |
| Part XI |
|
Matters Relating to Legal Proceedings |
|
| Fee |
|
£ |
| 44. |
Presiding at the taking of evidence under a commission or order from a Court, including any action by the consular officer as examiner — |
|
|
(a) |
for up to two hours on the first day |
241.00 |
|
(b) |
for each additional hour or part hour |
121.00 |
| 45. |
Providing evidence of service or attempted service (in addition to fee 43 or 46) |
121.00 |
| 46. |
Providing the services of a consular officer or consular employee — |
|
|
(a) |
to assist the consular officer in the taking of evidence under a commission or order from a Court, for each such person — |
|
|
|
for each hour or part hour |
121.00 |
|
(b) |
to affect or endeavour to affect service of a document, for each hour or part hour outside the consular premises — |
|
|
|
during office hours |
121.00 |
|
|
outside office hours |
151.00 |
| 47. |
Forwarding a request to a local authority for the taking of evidence or the service of a document, where necessary, certifying the accuracy of a translation accompanying the document |
121.00 |
| Part XIII |
|
Shipping, Seamen and Related Matters |
|
| Fee |
|
£ |
| 50. |
Granting or considering whether to grant a provisional certificate of registry, whether the owner is a private individual or body corporate |
352.00 |
| 51. |
Receiving a return of the birth or death of any person on board a ship and endorsing the agreement with the crew accordingly |
51.00 |
| 52. |
Examining or arranging for the examination of provisions or water, payable by the party who proves to be in default (in addition to any cost of a survey) |
51.00 |
| 53. |
Noting a marine protest and furnishing one certified copy if required and for each further copy |
42.00 |
| 54. |
Extending a marine protest, filing the original and furnishing one certified copy is required (in addition to fee 1 and 2 where applicable) — |
|
|
(a) |
for up to 200 words, excluding the declaratory clause |
101.00 |
|
(b) |
for every subsequent 100 words or less |
42.00 |
| 55. |
Making a request, or issuing or arranging for the issue of a document, in connection with a survey of a ship (in addition to fee 7 where applicable) — |
|
|
(a) |
for the purposes of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974 (SOLAS) or of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 as modified by its Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL) |
67.00 |
|
(b) |
for any other purpose |
121.00 |
| 56. |
Issuing a bill of health |
42.00 |
| 57. |
Preparing or signing, or both, any document, whether required by the Merchant Shipping Acts or by the local authorities, relating to the master or the members of the crew of a ship, to their numbers, names or other details, or to their engagement, discharge, desertion or death (except where fee 51 is taken in addition to fee 43, or a death inquiry is held under section 271 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995(k)) |
67.00 |
| 58. |
Signing and, if required, sealing any documents at the request of the master of the ship (except where this is required under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, or fee 57 is taken) |
67.00 |
| 59. |
Inspecting — |
|
|
(a) |
a ship's papers when required to enable a consular officer to do any matter or thing in respect of a ship (except where fee 57 is taken in addition to fee 43) |
50.00 |
|
(b) |
the marking of a ship, irrespective of the number of visits (in addition to fee 43) |
50.00 |
| (k) 1995 c.21. |