UK Visa Fee Hiked For Students, Workers: Here's How Much It'll Cost

Planning to travel to Britain? Be prepared to shell out more for a visa, starting now.

UK visa

What's happening?

The UK government has implemented a substantial hike in visa fee?for students and skilled workers.?The cost of family, settlement, and citizenship visas will increase by 20 per cent while work and visit visas has increased by 15 per cent. Student visa fees have been increased by 35 per cent.

Where and when?

The changes became effective from 4 October.

Credit: iStock

Who is affected?

The hike in visa fees applies to most of the categories, including fees for up to 6 months, 2, 5 and 10-year visit visas; the majority of fees for entry clearance and certain applications for leave to remain in the UK, including those for work and study; fees for indefinite leave to enter and indefinite leave to remain; health and care visa; fees in relation to certificates of sponsorship and confirmation of acceptance for studies; and applications to register and naturalise as a British Citizen, the official site mentioned.??

Why?

The move comes after British prime minister Rishi Sunak had said in July that fees and health surcharges paid by visa applicants to support the UK’s state-funded National Health Service (NHS) would increase significantly to accommodate public sector wage increases.

Justifying the hike in visa application fees, a Home Office spokesperson said: “It is right and fair to increase visa application fees so we can fund vital public services and allow wider funding to contribute to public sector pay.”

London

How much is the hike?

As per the new rule, the British Government has announced that a UK Tourist Visa for under six months will cost ?1,543 (? 15) more.

UK Student Visas will be ?13,070 (?127) more expensive for travelers from around the world.

For skilled workers, visa fees are ?719 (approximately ?65,000) if the sponsorship certificate is issued for three years or less, and ?1420 (approximately ?129,000) if the certificate is for over three years.Visa fees have risen for skilled workers in shortage occupations in the UK with a sponsorship certificate.

For certificates valid for three years or less, the cost is GBP 551 (around ?50,351), while certificates exceeding three years incur a fee of GBP 1,084 (about ?99,125).

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