The United Kingdom has announced a significant increase in visa fees, set to take effect from April 9, 2025. This change will impact visitors, students, and workers seeking entry into the UK. According to a report published on the official UK government website, the price hikes will also affect travelers from visa-exempt countries who require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). The new ETA fees will apply from April 2, 2025.
For visitors, the cost of a Standard Visitor Visa (valid for up to six months) will increase by 10%, rising from £115 to £127. Fees for longer-term visas will see even steeper hikes, with the two-year visa increasing from £432 to £475, the five-year visa from £771 to £848, and the ten-year visa from £963 to £1,059. Additionally, the ETA fee, which currently costs $12, will rise by 60% to $20. This change will affect travelers from visa-exempt countries who must obtain ETA approval before traveling to the UK.
International students will also face higher visa fees, further adding to their financial burden. The standard Student Visa fee, applicable to both main applicants and their dependents, will increase from £490 to £524. The same fee will apply to Child Student Visa applications, while those applying for short-term English language courses (lasting six to eleven months) will now pay £214, up from £200.
Work visa categories are also experiencing significant fee increases. The Health and Care Worker Visa will rise by 28.2%, from £367 to £470. The Skilled Worker Visa for those in shortage occupations will increase by 26.3%, reaching £470. Entrepreneurs applying for the Innovator Founder Visa will face a new fee of £1,274, up from £1,191, while the Start-up Visa will now cost £465, an increase from £435.
In December 2024, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, noted that Nigeria has been a major beneficiary of the UK’s visa policies. He stated that in the past few years, the UK had granted approximately 300,000 new visas to Nigerians, surpassing the visa relationships Nigeria holds with any other country.
