The UK government announced on 15 September 2023 that visa fees will increase from 4 October 2023. In July 2023, the UK announced that an additional surcharge would be introduced to cover the burden of non-immigrant travel.
UK visa application fees to increase
An increase in immigration and nationality fees to pay for vital services and allow more funding to be prioritised for public sector pay rises will come into effect on 4 October 2023, after legislation was laid before Parliament on 15 September 2023.
The changes mean that the cost of a visitor’s visa for less than six months will rise by £15 to £115, while the fee for applying for a student visa from outside the UK will increase by £127 to £490, bringing it in line with the amount charged for domestic applications.
In July, the government announced a 15% increase in the cost of most work and visitor visas and at least a 20% increase in the cost of priority visas, study visas and certificates of sponsorship.
According to a research briefing published on the UK Parliament’s website, the UK charges more than the cost of processing applications to fund the cost of border protection,
Immigration and citizenship fees will increase from 4 October 2023. These changes do not include the planned increase in the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). The IHS will increase at a date to be confirmed. The legal process for this increase takes longer and may not be completed until 2024.
