The United Kingdom government has announced a fresh increase in visa application fees, with charges set to rise by as much as £222 from April 8 as part of broader efforts to curb immigration.
In a statement, the UK Home Office said the new fee structure will affect visitors, students, workers and those seeking permanent residency or citizenship.
According to the breakdown, short-stay visit visas of up to six months will rise slightly from £127 to £135, while longer-term visit visas will see steeper increases. Two-year visas will now cost £506, five-year visas £903, and ten-year visas £1,128.
In addition, the cost of applying for British citizenship will increase from £1,605 to £1,709, while settlement visa applications a key route to permanent residency will rise to £2,064.
The changes also extend to work and study routes. Skilled worker visa fees for applicants outside the UK will increase to £819 for stays of up to three years, while student visa applications will rise to £558. The graduate visa route will also increase to £937.
Explaining the move, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the decision follows a surge in migration pressures, particularly asylum applications from countries such as Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan.
Beyond fee hikes, the UK government is rolling out tougher immigration measures, including plans to pay failed asylum seekers up to £10,000 to leave voluntarily and withdraw state-funded accommodation from migrants found working illegally.
Authorities have also introduced what they described as an “emergency brake” on student visas from high-risk countries, signalling a stricter approach to migration control.
Taken together, the measures reflect a hardening stance on immigration policy, with the UK seeking to balance economic migration needs against growing political and public pressure to reduce inflows.
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