The United Kingdom government has announced an increase in visa fees for individuals seeking to visit, study, work, or settle in the country, as part of broader efforts to curb immigration.
According to the UK Home Office, the new charges rising by as much as £222, will take effect from April 8, 2026. The adjustments form part of a wider package of measures aimed at reducing migration levels and strengthening border controls.
In addition to the fee increases, the government is introducing stricter immigration policies, including a controversial plan to offer failed asylum seekers up to £10,000 to voluntarily return to their home countries. Authorities will also withdraw taxpayer-funded accommodation from migrants found to be working illegally.
The Home Office further disclosed the introduction of an “emergency brake” on student visa applications from certain countries, including Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan, following a surge in asylum claims.
UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the measures were necessary to address rising immigration pressures and maintain the integrity of the system.
Under the revised fee structure, the cost of short-term visit visas of up to six months will increase from £127 to £135. Two-year visit visas will rise to £506, while five-year and ten-year visas will cost £903 and £1,128 respectively.
Applications for British citizenship will also become more expensive, with naturalisation fees increasing from £1,605 to £1,709. Similarly, settlement visa fees will rise from £1,938 to £2,064 under the standard route.
Visa fees for individuals seeking to join relatives in the UK for care purposes will see one of the largest increases, rising by £222 to £3,635. Fees for refugee-dependent relatives will also increase to £452.
Work visa applicants will not be exempt from the changes. Skilled worker visa applications submitted outside the UK for stays of up to three years will increase from £769 to £819, with longer-term visas also experiencing proportional rises.
The new fee regime will apply to both primary applicants and their dependants, marking a significant shift in the UK’s immigration policy landscape.
Credit: TheCable
