UK Announces Increase In visa fees From April 9 (See New Cost)

UK to Implement Significant Visa Fee Hikes Starting April 2025

The United Kingdom is poised to substantially increase visa fees in 2025, a decision that will affect travelers, students, and workers aiming to enter the country for various purposes. This development was highlighted in a report released on the official UK government website, which our correspondent reviewed on Tuesday.

The revised fees will come into effect on April 9, 2025, while additional price increases for travelers from visa-exempt countries requiring an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will commence as early as April 2, 2025.

For instance, the cost of a Standard Visitor Visa, valid for stays of up to six months, will see a 10% increase, rising from £115 to £127. The hikes for long-term visitor visas are even more pronounced: the two-year visa will go up from £432 to £475, the five-year visa will increase from £771 to £848, and the ten-year visa will now cost £1,059, up from £963. Furthermore, the ETA fee, currently set at $12, will surge by 60%, reaching $20 starting April 2, 2025. This change will impact those from countries that are exempt from visa requirements but still need ETA approval prior to traveling to the UK.

International students will also bear the burden of increased visa costs. The fee for the standard Student Visa, applicable to both primary applicants and their dependents, will rise from £490 to £524. This adjustment will equally apply to Child Student Visa applications, while those applying for short-term English language courses lasting between six to eleven months will face an increased charge of £214, compared to the previous fee of £200.

Work visa categories are set to experience notable fee spikes as well. The Health and Care Worker Visa will increase by 28.2%, climbing from £367 to £470. The Skilled Worker Visa for individuals in occupations facing shortages will see a 26.3% rise, also reaching £470. Entrepreneurs seeking the Innovator Founder Visa will encounter a new fee of £1,274, a jump from £1,191, while the Start-up Visa will now cost £465, up from £435.

In a statement from December 2024, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, remarked on Nigeria’s considerable benefits from the UK’s visa policies. He noted, “In the last couple of years, the UK has granted roughly 300,000 new visas to Nigerians, which significantly surpasses any other visa arrangement Nigeria has with different nations.”