By Oluwatosin Maliki
The United Kingdom (UK) Home Office has recently announced a substantial increase in visa fees, sparking concerns and discussions among potential applicants.
The changes, set to take effect on October 4, 2023, will see a significant rise in fees for various visa categories.
One of the most notable increases is for visiting visas with a duration of less than six months, which will now cost £115 (approximately N111,878.28), a considerable jump from the previous fee of £15 (N14,592.70). This adjustment represents a staggering 667 percent increment.
Likewise, student visa fees have seen a substantial increase, rising from £127 (N123,537.58) to £490 (N476,677.59). This marks a 286 percent increase, effectively tripling the cost.
The UK government has attributed these fee hikes to the need to finance crucial services and allocate more funding for public sector pay increases. This decision follows the government’s announcement in July, which included a 15 percent increase in the cost of most work and visit visas, as well as a minimum 20 percent increase in the cost of priority visas, study visas, and certificates of sponsorship.
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According to the UK government’s statement, “Income from fees charged plays a vital role in the Home Office’s ability to run a sustainable immigration and nationality system. Careful consideration is given when setting fees to help reduce the funding contribution from British taxpayers, whilst continuing to provide a service that remains attractive to those wishing to work in the UK and support broader prosperity for all.”
These changes affect various visa categories, including fees for visit visas spanning six months, two years, five years, and ten years. Fees for entry clearance and specific applications for leave to remain in the UK, such as those for work and study programs, have also been raised. Additionally, fees for indefinite leave to enter and remain, convention travel documents, and health and care visas have seen increases.
The settlement priority service fee will also be adjusted to align with the cost of using the priority service. Applications to register and naturalize as a British citizen and the fee for the User Pays Visa Application service have not been exempt from these changes.
While these alterations are subject to parliamentary approval, they are set to take effect from October 4, 2023. However, it’s worth noting that these changes do not encompass the planned increase in the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is scheduled to be introduced later in the Autumn.