Proposed UK Visa Fee Hike: Impact on Travelers from India and Worldwide

Proposed UK Visa Fee Hike: Stay informed about the proposed increase in UK visa fees, set to take effect on October 4.

OpEd Desk September 17, 2023

Proposed UK Visa Fee Hike: Travelers from India and other countries would be impacted by the proposed hike in visa fees, which the British government indicated will take effect on October 4. These adjustments will result in a GBP 15 rise in the rate for visit visas for stays of less than six months, including for Indian citizens, and a GBP 127 increase in the fee for student visas.

The UK Home Office announced these changes after the law was introduced in Parliament on Friday. As a result, the fee for a visit visa for stays of less than six months will increase to GBP 115, and the application fee for student visas from outside the UK will rise to GBP 490, which is the equivalent of applying in 490 different countries.

This development follows British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement in July that visa applicants will be required to pay higher fees in order to support the nation’s National Health Service (NHS). He declared, that the government is increasing the visa fees for visitors which is called as the immigration health surcharge (IHS), and this IHS let the visitors use the British NHS, as and when required.

According to him, “all of those fees are going up, and that will result in more than GBP 1 billion in revenue, so there is a significant increase in visa application fees across the board, and similarly for the IHS.”

The majority of work and study visa categories, most health and care visas, naturalization as a British citizen, applications for indefinite leave to remain and leave to remain, as well as fees associated with confirmation of acceptance for studies, are all subject to fee changes.

The Home Office asserted earlier this week that the fee increases are necessary to manage the immigration and nationality system effectively. Furthermore, to help lower the funding contribution from British taxpayers while maintaining an alluring offer for those who wish to work or study in the UK this step in important.

The majority of applications for entry clearance, indefinite leave to remain, nationality registration fees, and citizenship payments are also subject to the fee rise. These modifications, according to the Home Office, are anticipated to take effect on October 4th and are pending parliamentary approval.