There will have been a 210% increase in the Immigration Health Surcharge after plans announced in the budget.

The charge, which is a compulsory extra fee, levied on the majority of UK visa applications was first introduced in 2015. At the time it was set at £200 and will now rise to £620 per person per year.

Daniel Zeichner MP said:

“This is not attracting the brightest and best – it’s making it harder for researchers from around the world and the companies they work for, to do business.”

“This tax is now over £12 000 for a family of four living and working in the U.K. for 5 years. That’s a lot of money.

“People are paying double tax. First in the bumper Immigration Health Surcharge and then again like everyone else through tax and National Insurance.

“The success of our life sciences sector in places like Cambridge relies on our ability to attract and retain scientists, researchers and their families from around the world. If we make this more costly and more difficult, the outcome will be fewer people want to come. We are shooting ourselves in the foot.”