The UK Home Office has declared a significant overhaul of visa fees set to take effect from October 4. These changes, outlined on the official government website, gov.uk, are designed to bolster essential services and allocate more funds for public sector salary increases.
For short-term visit visas (valid for less than six months), the fee will surge from £15 (approximately N14,592.70) to £115 (about N111,878.28), marking an astonishing 667% increase.
Student visa fees are also poised for a substantial uptick, escalating from £127 (roughly N123,537.58) to £490 (approximately N476,677.59), signifying a significant 286% increase.
These alterations will bring the fees for student visa applications both within and outside the UK in line with each other. The government’s rationale behind these changes is to alleviate the financial burden on British taxpayers while maintaining an appealing immigration system for those aspiring to work or study in the UK.
These revisions encompass fees for various visa durations, including stays of up to six months, two years, five years, and ten years. Moreover, most fees associated with entry clearance and applications for leave to remain, including work and study visas, will witness an increase.
Additional fee hikes encompass charges for indefinite leave to enter and remain, convention travel documents, health and care visas, certificates of sponsorship, and confirmation of acceptance for studies. Fees for priority services, both within and outside the country, will also see adjustments.
It’s imperative to note that the settlement priority service fee will be realigned to correspond with the cost of using the priority service. Additionally, fees linked to applications for British citizenship and the User Pays Visa Application service have been raised.
It’s important to emphasize that these fee adjustments are contingent upon parliamentary approval and do not encompass the planned increase in the Immigration Health Surcharge, scheduled to be introduced later in the Autumn. These changes are intended to underpin the sustainability of the UK’s immigration and nationality system while promoting the nation’s overall prosperity.
