The United Kingdom Home Office has announced an increase in student visa fees to £490 (N476,677.59) from the current £127 (N123,537.58), representing a 286 per cent increment.
The fee for a visitor’s visa to the UK for less than six months will now cost £115 (about N111, 878.28 ) as opposed to £15 (14,592.70) effective from October 4, 2023, translating to about a 667 per cent increment.
The UK government made this known in a statement: ‘New visa fees set to come into effect next month,’ published on its website, following legislation being laid in parliament.
The increase, the statement stated, would enable it to pay for ‘vital services and allow more funding to be prioritised for public sector pay rises’, adding that the review would take effect on October 4.
“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.
“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.”
The changes include fees for up to six months, two-, five- and 10-year visit visas.
The majority of fees for entry clearance and certain applications for leave to remain in the UK, including those for work and study were also increased.
The UK also increased indefinite leave fee to enter and indefinite leave fee to remain; conventional travel documents and stateless person’s travel documents; health and care visa; fees concerning 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.
The statement noted that the settlement priority service would be reduced so it would be aligned with the cost of using the priority service.
Applications to register and naturalise as a British citizen and the fee for the User Pays Visa Application service were also increased.
However, the statement noted that subject to parliamentary approval, the immigration and nationality fees would increase from 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.
Chinedu Eze
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