The British government has announced a hike in visa fees that will take effect immediately from today.?
With this, tourists from all over the world will need to pay an additional GBP (Great Britain Pound) 127 (about Rs 12,750) for a student visa and an additional GBP 15 (Rs 1,500) for a visit visa to the United Kingdom for stays under six months.?
According to the UK Home Office, the cost of a visit visa lasting less than six months will increase to GBP 115 (about Rs 11,500), and the fee for requesting a student visa from outside the UK will increase to GBP 490 (around Rs 50,000).??
The increase in visa fees applies to a majority of categories, including fees for up to six months, two-, five-, and 10-year visit visas; a 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 visas; fees for certificates of sponsorship and confirmation of acceptance for studies; and app.?
"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," a spokeswoman for the Home Office stated.
The new cost structure for UK visas for foreigners, including Indians, will take effect on October 4. The cost of UK visas for students, skilled workers, and immigrants will rise.?
According to the official website, the cost of family, settlement, and citizenship visas will rise by 20%, while work and visit visas will rise by 15%.?
The annual immigration health surcharge (IHS) will be increased to GBP 1,035 as well.??
The charge for applying for a UK Student Visa from outside the UK has been increased to Rs 50,428 (GBP 490).?
If you are coming to the UK on a skilled worker visa (with a certificate of sponsorship for three years or less), you must pay GBP 718 (Rs 77,147). The current fee for this visa category is GBP 625.?
According to the UK Home Office, the cost of a UK Visit Visa for less than six months will rise to Rs 11,835 (GBP 115).?
The visa fee for skilled employees with a certificate sponsorship for three years or less will be GBP 719 (Rs 65,000). However, if the sponsorship certificate has been issued for more than three years, the immigration cost will be GBP 1420, or roughly 129,000.
When applying for a visa, you will often require:
Additional documentation may be required if you are:?
If you need a prior visa to enter the UK (depending on your nationality), you must apply for the Standard Visitor visa online before travelling to the UK. The earliest you can apply is three months before your anticipated trip to the UK.?
For up to six months, a standard visitor visa costs ?95. As a normal tourist, you can stay in the UK for up to six months.?Under some conditions, you may be entitled to apply for an extended stay.?
A long-term visit visa (multiple entries) for the UK provides for numerous visits of up to six months at a time over a two-year, five-year, or ten-year period.
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