The UK Home Office has officially announced that, as of October 4, the fee for a visit visa to the United Kingdom, valid for less than six months, will increase to £115 (about ₦111,878.28) rather than £15 (₦14,592.70). This indicates a staggering 667 percent increase.
The student visa fee has been subject to a substantial increase, jumping from £127 (N123,537.58) to £490 (N476,677.59), marking a 286 percent increment.
The increase, according to the government, would help it to pay for ‘vital services and allow more funding to be prioritised for public sector pay rises’, further stating that the change would take effect on October 4.
The UK government disclosed this in a statement, ‘New visa fees set to come into effect next month’ published on its website, gov.uk, on Friday, after legislation was laid in parliament on Friday.
‘The changes mean that the cost for a visit visa for less than six months is rising by £15 (N14,592.70) to £115 (N111,878.28 ), while the fee for applying for a student visa from outside the UK will rise by £127 (N123,537.58) to £490 (N476,677.59), to equal the amount charged for in-country applications,’ the statement reads in part.
In the month of July, the government made an announcement, revealing a 15 percent uptick in the fees for the majority of work and visit visas. Additionally, priority visas, study visas, and certificates of sponsorship would see an increase of no less than 20 percent.
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The statement added, ‘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.’
As verified by Africa Today News, New York, the modifications include fees for visit visas spanning six months, two years, five years, and ten years.
Beyond visit visas, the rise in fees also impacted entry clearance and several applications for residing in the UK, which includes work and study.
Also affected were the fees for indefinite leave to enter and indefinite leave to remain; convention travel document and stateless person’s travel document; health and care visa; fees in relation to certificates of sponsorship and confirmation of acceptance for studies; the in and out of country fee for the super-priority service and the out of country fee for the priority service.
It was observed that the settlement priority service would be scaled down to match the expenses associated with using the priority service. Furthermore, fees for registering and naturalising as a British citizen, along with the User Pays Visa Application service, saw increments.
However, it was pointed out in the statement that, with the condition of parliamentary approval, immigration and nationality fees would see an increase effective October 4.
‘Today’s changes do not include the planned increase to the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is scheduled to be introduced later in the Autumn,’ it added.