The cost of a temporary work permit is set to rise to $500 under new Government plans.

Finance Minister Paula Cox told the House of Assembly on Wednesday that the new fee ? tabled in the Government Fees Amendment Regulations 2006 ? was a rise of $207 or 71 percent.

The Government also plans to introduce a fee for anyone applying late for a permit. It will cost $200 per month or part of month overdue.

Ms Cox said: ?The intent of this provision is to discourage the late application of an expired permit and encourage timely applications to renew a permit.?

The cost for passengers who land in Bermuda without re-entry documents is being increased from $73 to $125.

But the fee for a temporary, one-year or five-year permit for non-Bermudians who provide care to seniors has been ditched.

Shadow Finance Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin said work permits were often processed late and re-entry documents not sent on time by the Government.

She suggested that as well as hiking the fees, Government should consider offering rebates to those whose permits or documents were overdue through no fault of their own.

The regulations also include a new $420 condominium licence charge and a 20 percent increase in fees for planning applications.

Mrs Gordon-Pamplin criticised the punitive planning applications fee rises. She said the Government should be encouraging the development of housing in both the Government and private sector, not upping the costs for potential developers.

Ms Cox replied that the fees did not only relate to housing.

The House also heard last night that the cost of registering a trade or service mark in Bermuda will now be $189, regardless of whether it is a single mark or one in a series. It was formerly $160 for one and $180 for the first in a series.

Ms Cox said agents tended to pay the $180 fee without realising the different costs.

?The workload for processing both of these types of applications is the same,? she said, adding that the new fee structure ? included in the Government Fees (Trade Marks and Service Marks) Amendment Regulations 2006 ? was simpler and in keeping with international trends.

Mrs Gordon-Pamplin said: ?You have got to be careful when sending extra money in because that becomes the standard by which you are measured.?

Ms Cox also told MPs that members of Government boards and committees are to get extra cash ? for the first time in 35 years.

The $50 meeting fees for chairmen and women and the $25 fee for members is to double under the Government Authorities (Fees) Amendment Order 2006.