The United Kingdom will increase visa fees for people seeking to visit, study, work, or live in the country.
The UK home office said the visa charges will rise by up to
£222 and take effect from April 8.
The increase forms part of a wider set of measures aimed at
reducing immigration. The government also plans to introduce stricter policies
affecting asylum seekers and migrants.
The measures include paying failed asylum seekers up to
£10,000 to voluntarily leave the country.
Authorities will also withdraw taxpayer-funded accommodation
from migrants found working illegally.
The government has also introduced an “emergency brake” on
student visas for migrants from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan.
Shabana Mahmood, UK home secretary, said the decision
followed a surge in asylum applications from citizens of those countries.
Under the new fee structure, short-stay visas for visits of
up to six months will increase by £8. The application fee will rise from £127
to £135.
Visit visas allowing stays of up to two years will increase
by £31 to £506. Five-year visit visas will rise by £55 to £903. Ten-year visit
visas will increase by £69 to £1,128.
The UK government will also increase fees for applications
leading to British citizenship. The cost of naturalisation will rise from
£1,605 to £1,709.
Fees for settlement visas will also increase. The standard
route to a settlement visa will rise from £1,938 to £2,064.
The visa enables foreign nationals to reside and work in the
UK, and subsequently apply for indefinite leave to remain.
Visa fees for people receiving care from relatives in the UK
will increase by £222 to £3,635. Settlement visa fees for refugee-dependent
relatives will increase by £28 to £452.
Work visa application fees will also increase under the new
structure. Skilled worker visa applications made outside the UK for stays of up
to three years will rise from £769 to £819.
Longer-term work visa applications will also see comparable
percentage increases. The changes will apply to both main applicants and their
dependants.
Student visa fees will also increase. The standard student
visa will rise by £34 to £558. The graduate route visa will increase from £880
to £937 for both main applicants and dependants.
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