HOME

The Royal Society reports that upfront immigration costs for scientists coming to the UK exceed £5,900, dramatically higher than most competitor nations. Critics argue these fees undermine Britain’s ambition to become a global research hub despite government initiatives to attract top talent.

Substantial Cost Barrier for Scientific Talent

The United Kingdom charges scientists more than 20 times the average upfront immigration fees of other leading research nations except the United States, according to research commissioned by the Royal Society. The analysis indicates this significant cost difference is hampering efforts to recruit international scientific talent at a time when global competition for researchers is intensifying.