The UK Government announced on September 15, 2023, that Visa fees will increase from October 4, 2023. In July 2023, the UK announced that an additional surcharge would be introduced to cover the burden of non-immigrant travel.

Visa Application Fees to the UK to go up

Increases to immigration and nationality fees to pay for vital services and allow more funding to be prioritised for public sector pay rises are set to come into effect on October 4, 2023, following legislation being laid in Parliament on September 15, 2023.

The changes mean that the cost of a visit visa for less than six months is rising by GBP 15 to GBP 115, while the fee for applying for a student visa from outside the UK will rise by GBP 127 to GBP 490 to equal the amount charged for in-country applications.

In July, the government announced a 15% increase in the cost of most work and visit visas and an increase of at least 20% in the cost of priority visas, study visas and certificates of sponsorship.

As per a research briefing published on the UK Parliament’s website, the UK charges above the cost of processing applications to fund the cost of border protection,

Fees have risen significantly over the past 20 years: for example, applications to settle in the UK indefinitely used to be free but now cost £2,400. Further significant increases come into force from October 2023 despite complaints from migrants and businesses that fees are already too high. The Government deliberately charges above the cost of processing applications to help fund the wider borders and immigration system.

The immigration and nationality fees will increase from October 4, 2023. These changes do not include the planned increase to the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). The health surcharge will rise at a date to be confirmed. The legal process for increasing this takes longer and may not be complete until 2024.

The new UK Visa Fees effective October 4, 2023.

While different charges will come up for different categories of visas, here are the charges going up for the Visit Visas in October 2023.

• For up to six months: from GBP 100 to GBP 115
• Up to two years: from GBP 376 to GBP 400
• Up to five years: from GBP 670 to GBP 771
• Up to 10 years: from GBP 837 to GBP 963

Additionally, most work visa applications are also going up by 15%. Student Visa application costs, though, will go up by 35%.

Likewise, priority and Super Priority visa service fees for non-settlement and settlement visa applications made outside and inside the UK will be equalised. The priority service for overseas non-settlement visa applications will see a 100% increase (with fees rising from GBP 250 to GBP 500). The Super Priority service will increase to GBP 1,000 for all applicants (24-hour turnaround).

Bottomline

The price gouging on UK Visas is set to go up on October 4, 2023. If you need a visa in the immediate future and have an opportunity to file for it before that date, do make it a point to go for it. The hike will be a minimum of 15% and goes up all the way to 100% for 5-day priority services.

What do you make of the price hike of the UK Visa services and the fact that it could go up further in the future?

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