21 January 2026
Dear PRs
Due to cost increases driven by the continuing high level of inflation, the HFEA will increase clinic activity fees in 2026/27
In order to ensure that we have sufficient funds to deliver our statutory duties in 2026/27, the Authority agreed in November to increase the fees for IVF to £120 and DI to £45, subject to continuing discussions with the DHSC and HM Treasury.
We endeavour to keep the cost of regulation as low as possible and were able to maintain current fees in 2025/26 since our last fee increase in April 2024. However, continuing cost pressures driven by inflation and growing IT costs, as well as ongoing variability in clinic activity, mean that we cannot avoid increasing fees in 2026/27. We will continue to explore opportunities for efficiencies in order for us to keep fees as low as we can, in particular through our current IT change programme.
The HFEA is funded by a mix of fees levied on the sector we regulate and Grant In Aid (GIA) from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), with the majority (around 95%) coming from sectoral fees. We are waiting for confirmation of our GIA budget from the Department for 2026/27, and the final fee increase could be slightly lower depending on our settlement.
We are currently discussing HFEA fees with DHSC and will need approval from HM Treasury for the increase, which we expect to be confirmed in February or March, but we wanted to give you advance warning. We will write to every clinic with formal notice of this as soon as we receive approval. The increase will take effect from 1 April 2026.
The HFEA is committed to undertaking a full review of our fee structure in the coming year, as discussed with the Authority in July 2024 (Authority meeting - 3rd July 2024). We will provide further information as the work progresses and hope to engage with clinics later in 2026.
Yours,
Peter Thompson
Chief Executive