Overview

This bill proposes to exempt NHS clinical staff from paying immigration and nationality fees under the Immigration Act 2014. The exemption is conditional upon meeting specific residency and employment criteria within the NHS.

Description

The bill mandates the Secretary of State to create regulations exempting NHS clinical staff from fees outlined in Section 68 of the Immigration Act 2014. To qualify for this exemption, applicants must have:

• Lawfully resided in the UK for at least five years.
• Worked lawfully in a clinical role for the NHS anywhere in the UK for an uninterrupted three-year period.

Crucially, if an exempted applicant leaves NHS employment within three years of their successful application, the fees become payable.

Any regulations created under this bill require parliamentary approval before they can be enacted.

The bill applies to the whole of the UK (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland) and comes into effect upon parliamentary passage.

Government Spending

The bill will likely reduce government revenue from immigration and nationality fees. The exact financial impact will depend on the number of NHS clinical staff who meet the eligibility criteria and apply for the exemption. No specific figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

This bill primarily affects:

• NHS Clinical Staff: Those meeting the residency and employment criteria will benefit from fee waivers, potentially saving them a significant amount of money on immigration applications.
• UK Government: Will experience a reduction in revenue from immigration and nationality fees.
• Parliament: Will need to approve the regulations created under the bill.

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