UK visa fee hike for visitors, students to be effective from October 4

The British government has declared that a planned escalation in visa charges will be implemented on October 4th. This entails a rise of GBP 15 for visit visas of less than six months and an increase of GBP 127 for student visas, applicable to tourists from all nations, including India.

After the introduction of new legislation in Parliament on Friday, the UK Home Office has declared that the price of a visit visa for a duration of less than six months will rise to GBP 115. Additionally, the fee for applying for a student visa from outside the UK will increase to GBP 490, aligning it with the amount charged for in-country applications.

In July, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issued a warning that taxes and health surcharges for visa applicants in the UK’s state-funded National Health Service (NHS) would increase “significantly” in order to align with the country’s public sector compensation increase.

“We will raise the fees for migrants applying for visas and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which is the payment they make to use the NHS,” he declared.

“The increase in all of these fees will result in a total of over GBP 1 billion. As a result, visa application fees will experience a significant across-the-board increase, as will the IHS fees,” he declared.

The Home Office has announced a 15% surge in the fees for the majority of work and visit visas, along with a 20% hike in the fees for priority visas, study visas, and sponsorship certificates.

“Generating revenue through fees is essential for the Home Office to maintain a sustainable immigration and nationality system.” This week, the Home Office stated that when determining fees, they prioritize minimizing the financial burden on British taxpayers while still offering an attractive service for individuals seeking employment in the UK and promoting overall prosperity.

The fee hike impacts a wide range of visa categories, encompassing health and care visas, applications for British citizenship registration and naturalization, as well as fees for visit visas spanning durations of six months, two years, five years, and ten years.

The fee hike also encompasses the majority of entry clearance fees and specific applications for permission to stay in the UK, such as those for employment and education purposes; fees for permanent residency upon entry and permanent residency during one’s stay; and fees for sponsorship certificates and confirmation of acceptance for educational purposes.

The revisions are contingent upon legislative endorsement and are expected to be implemented on October 4, as stated by the Home Office.