The United Kingdom government has announced plans to raise visa fees for individuals seeking to visit, study, work, or settle in the country.
According to the UK Home Office, the new charges—set to take effect from April 8—will increase by as much as £222, depending on the visa category.
The adjustments form part of broader efforts by the government to curb immigration, alongside stricter measures targeting asylum seekers and migrants.
Among the new policies is a scheme offering up to £10,000 to failed asylum seekers who choose to leave the country voluntarily. Authorities will also withdraw taxpayer-funded accommodation from migrants found to be working illegally.
In addition, an “emergency brake” has been placed on student visas for applicants from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan.
Shabana Mahmood said the move follows a rise in asylum applications from citizens of those countries.
Under the revised structure, short-term visit visas of up to six months will increase by £8, rising from £127 to £135. Two-year visit visas will go up by £31 to £506, while five-year and ten-year visas will rise to £903 and £1,128 respectively.
Fees for British citizenship applications will also increase, with naturalisation costs rising from £1,605 to £1,709. Settlement visa fees will climb from £1,938 to £2,064.
Applications for visas allowing relatives to receive care in the UK will see one of the highest increases, rising by £222 to £3,635. Meanwhile, settlement visa fees for refugee-dependent relatives will increase slightly to £452.
Work visa fees are also affected, with skilled worker applications made outside the UK for up to three years increasing from £769 to £819. Similar adjustments apply to longer-term work visas.
Student visa fees will rise as well, with the standard application increasing by £34 to £558, while the graduate route visa will move from £880 to £937 for both main applicants and their dependants.