UK to Raise Visa Fees for Visitors, Workers, & Students by Up to £222 from April
The United Kingdom has announced an increase in visa fees for individuals seeking to visit, study, work, or settle in the country.
According to the UK Home Office, the new charges—rising by as much as £222—will take effect from April 8. The adjustment is part of a broader strategy aimed at reducing immigration and tightening border controls.
As part of these measures, the government plans to introduce stricter policies affecting asylum seekers and migrants. One such policy includes offering up to £10,000 to failed asylum seekers who agree to leave the country voluntarily. Authorities will also withdraw taxpayer-funded accommodation from migrants found to be working illegally.
In addition, the government has introduced an “emergency brake” on student visas for applicants from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the move follows a surge in asylum applications from citizens of these countries.
Breakdown of New Visa Fees
Under the revised fee structure:
- Short-stay visas (up to six months) will increase by £8, from £127 to £135.
- Two-year visit visas will rise by £31 to £506.
- Five-year visas will increase by £55 to £903.
- Ten-year visas will go up by £69 to £1,128.
Applications for British citizenship will also become more expensive, with naturalisation fees increasing from £1,605 to £1,709.
Settlement visa fees are set to rise as well. The standard route will increase from £1,938 to £2,064. This visa allows foreign nationals to live and work in the UK and eventually apply for indefinite leave to remain.
For individuals receiving care from relatives in the UK, visa fees will increase by £222 to £3,635. Meanwhile, settlement visa fees for refugee-dependent relatives will rise slightly, from £424 to £452.
Work and Student Visa Changes
Work visa application fees will also see increases. Skilled worker visas applied for outside the UK (for stays of up to three years) will rise from £769 to £819, with similar percentage increases expected for longer-term applications. These changes will apply to both primary applicants and their dependants.
Student visa fees are also affected. The standard student visa will increase by £34 to £558, while the graduate route visa will rise from £880 to £937 for both main applicants and dependants.