UK Government Announces Significant Hikes in Visa and Citizenship Fees
Foreign nationals aspiring to live, study, work, or settle in the United Kingdom will face increased application costs starting April 8, 2026. The UK government has confirmed a substantial rise in fees for a wide array of visa categories, residency applications, and citizenship processes. This adjustment will impact individuals from all nations, including a significant number of Nigerian applicants who constitute one of the largest groups seeking entry to the UK each year.
The revised fee structure, detailed by the UK Home Office, indicates a broad increase across almost every type of visa application, whether submitted from within or outside the UK. The affected categories encompass visit visas, student visas, various work permits, and applications for permanent settlement and naturalisation.
The impending fee increases come at a time when Nigeria consistently ranks as a major source of visa applications to the UK, with hundreds of thousands of Nigerians applying annually for different visa types.
Key Fee Adjustments and Notable Changes
The upcoming fee hikes will see several common application types become more expensive. For instance, the fee for a short-term visit visa (up to six months) will increase from £127 to £135. Student visa applications will rise from £524 to £558. Those seeking to secure permanent residency in the UK will now be required to pay £3,226, an increase from the previous £3,029. Similarly, individuals applying to become British citizens through naturalisation will see their fees climb from £1,605 to £1,709.
In a rare deviation from the general trend of increases, there is a notable reduction in the fee for registering a child as a British citizen. This fee will decrease from £1,214 to £1,000, representing a saving of £214 for applicants in this specific category. All other fees are either set to increase or will remain at their current levels. Some specific visa routes, such as the Tier 1 (Investor) visa and the High Potential Individual visa, will remain unchanged at £2,000 and £880, respectively.
Detailed Breakdown of Fee Increases
The following lists provide a comprehensive overview of the revised fees for various visa and immigration categories relevant to international applicants:
Visit Visas
- Short-term (up to 6 months):
- Old Fee: £127
- New Fee: £135
- Long-term (up to 2 years):
- Old Fee: £475
- New Fee: £506
- Long-term (up to 5 years):
- Old Fee: £848
- New Fee: £903
- Long-term (up to 10 years):
- Old Fee: £1,059
- New Fee: £1,128
- Visiting academic (more than 6 months, up to 12 months):
- Old Fee: £220
- New Fee: £234
- Private medical treatment (more than 6 months, up to 11 months):
- Old Fee: £220
- New Fee: £234
- Direct airside transit visa:
- Old Fee: £39
- New Fee: £41.50
- Landside transit visit visa:
- Old Fee: £70
- New Fee: £74.50
Student Visas
- Student (main applicant and dependants):
- Old Fee: £524
- New Fee: £558
- Child Student:
- Old Fee: £524
- New Fee: £558
- Short-term student (English language, over 6 months up to 11 months):
- Old Fee: £214
- New Fee: £228
Work Visas
- Skilled Worker – up to 3 years:
- Old Fee: £769
- New Fee: £819
- Skilled Worker – over 3 years:
- Old Fee: £1,519
- New Fee: £1,618
- Skilled Worker (Immigration Salary List) – up to 3 years:
- Old Fee: £590
- New Fee: £628
- Skilled Worker (Immigration Salary List) – over 3 years:
- Old Fee: £1,160
- New Fee: £1,235
- Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – up to 3 years:
- Old Fee: £304
- New Fee: £324
- Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – over 3 years:
- Old Fee: £590
- New Fee: £628
- Innovator Founder:
- Old Fee: £1,274
- New Fee: £1,357
- Start-up:
- Old Fee: £465
- New Fee: £495
- Scale-up:
- Old Fee: £880
- New Fee: £937
- High Potential Individual:
- Old Fee: £880
- New Fee: £880 (unchanged)
- Graduate Route:
- Old Fee: £880
- New Fee: £937
- T2 Minister of Religion:
- Old Fee: £769
- New Fee: £819
- International Sportsperson – up to 12 months:
- Old Fee: £319
- New Fee: £340
- International Sportsperson – over 12 months:
- Old Fee: £769
- New Fee: £819
- Temporary Work (Seasonal Worker, Religious Worker, Charity Worker, Creative Worker, International Agreement, Government Authorised Exchange, Youth Mobility Scheme, India Young Professionals Scheme):
- Old Fee: £319
- New Fee: £340
- Representative of an overseas business:
- Old Fee: £769
- New Fee: £819
- Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker (up to 3 years):
- Old Fee: £769
- New Fee: £819
- Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker (over 3 years):
- Old Fee: £1,519
- New Fee: £1,618
- Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee:
- Old Fee: £319
- New Fee: £340
- Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier:
- Old Fee: £319
- New Fee: £340
- Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker:
- Old Fee: £319
- New Fee: £340
- Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker:
- Old Fee: £319
- New Fee: £340
Settlement and Indefinite Leave
- Route to Settlement:
- Old Fee: £1,938
- New Fee: £2,064
- Route to Settlement – other dependant relative:
- Old Fee: £3,413
- New Fee: £3,635
- Route to Settlement – refugee dependant relative:
- Old Fee: £424
- New Fee: £452
- Indefinite leave to remain:
- Old Fee: £3,029
- New Fee: £3,226
- Visitor Extension (in-country):
- Old Fee: £1,100
- New Fee: £1,172
- Leave to remain – Other:
- Old Fee: £1,321
- New Fee: £1,407
Travel Documents
- Certificate of travel (adult):
- Old Fee: £300
- New Fee: £320
- Certificate of travel (child):
- Old Fee: £151
- New Fee: £161
- Convention travel document (adult):
- Old Fee: £94.50
- New Fee: £102
- Convention travel document (child):
- Old Fee: £61.50
- New Fee: £66.50
Nationality and Citizenship
- Naturalisation (British citizenship):
- Old Fee: £1,605
- New Fee: £1,709
- Registration as British citizen – adult:
- Old Fee: £1,446
- New Fee: £1,540
- Registration as British citizen – child:
- Old Fee: £1,214
- New Fee: £1,000 (reduced)
- Renunciation of nationality:
- Old Fee: £482
- New Fee: £513
- Nationality review:
- Old Fee: £482
- New Fee: £513
- Status Letter (Nationality):
- Old Fee: £459
- New Fee: £489
- Non-acquisition Letter (Nationality):
- Old Fee: £459
- New Fee: £489
