UK mulls scrapping visa fees for top talent amid US’ move to hike H-1B charges: Report

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is considering scrapping visa fees for elite foreign professionals to attract top scientists and digital experts, the Financial Times reported on Monday, citing people briefed on internal government discussions.

Starmer’s “global talent task force,” chaired by business adviser Varun Chandra and Science Minister Patrick Vallance, is exploring ways to lure world-class researchers and tech specialists to the UK in a bid to spur economic growth, the FT said.

One proposal under review would eliminate the £766 application charge for the Global Talent visa, which also carries a £1,035 annual health surcharge.

Officials told the newspaper the plan targets individuals from leading universities or winners of prestigious prizes.

A UK government spokesperson said the Global Talent route is designed to attract high-skilled applicants in fields such as science, research and technology, but declined to comment on potential fee changes.

The proposal comes at a time when the United States is moving in the opposite direction. The Trump administration last week announced a one-time $100,000 application fee for new H-1B visa petitions, a program heavily used by technology companies.

US authorities later clarified that the increase applies only to new filings and not to current visa holders, easing immediate concerns for thousands of foreign professionals.

While some industry experts noted that they foresee no immediate adverse impact over the next 6-12 months as the hike takes effect only in the upcoming application cycle, others cautioned that, the delay notwithstanding, there will be a deferred impact requiring eventual reassessment of business strategies by the IT companies, if the rule stays.

According to the FT, Trump’s move has added momentum to those in London arguing for visa reforms ahead of Britain’s November 26 budget.

While the Home Office is not yet actively discussing the proposal, officials said immigration routes remain under review as the Labour government seeks to balance tighter migration controls with the need to “get the brightest and best into Britain.”