The Consular Fees Order 2005

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order revokes and replaces the Consular Fees Order (No 2) 1999.

The Order sets out fees to be charged for consular services. The overall effect is to continue full recovery of costs for fee-bearing consular services by revising charges levied for these services.

This Order consolidates and re-categorises some of the fees that have previously been charged. The Order increases fees for notarial services, estate administration, attendances, matters undertaken relating to legal proceedings and repatriation and financial assistance. The Order raises fees for consular assistance in births, deaths, marriages and shipping, seamen and kindred matters. The Order also increases fees for certain passports and visas and for certain searches undertaken by consular officials.

Where consular fees have been raised then, in most cases, these fees have been raised by between 10 and 20%. Overseas passport fees are raised from £56.50 to £69 (standard passport for those 16 years or over), from £36.50 to £45 (standard passports for those under 16) and from £67.70 to £82 (48 page passport). The fee for amending an existing passport abroad will be increased from £46.90 to £57. The Order also raises the fee for issuing emergency passports from £35.50 to £43.50 and temporary passport fees are increased from £45.60 to £55.

Fees for multiple entry visas valid for between one and ten years that ranged from between £60 and £150 have been consolidated in this Order to one fee of £85. This Order increases the fees for six month multiple entry visas from £36 to £50. The Order also raises previously anomalous fees for returning residents, working holiday-makers, au pairs and those in employment or self-employed under six months from £36 to £85. The fee for receiving an application for entry clearance (other than to the United Kingdom or the Crown Dependencies) is raised from £22 to £30 and entry clearance for students is increased from £36 to £85.

This Order reduces the fees for a certificate of entitlement to right of abode from £110 to £85. Following the introduction of photo vignette visas the fee for a declaration of identity became obsolete and has been removed. This Order also deletes provision for gratis visas to be issued to citizens of the former Soviet Union following the abrogation of a bi-lateral agreement with Former Soviet Union States.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the costs for business.