Planning a trip to the UK? you’ll want to stay informed about the latest changes to UK visa fees and services. The increase in the current UK visa application fee seems to be creating a buzz as prospective immigrants are worried that the cost of relocating abroad seems to be increasing.
This article is a total breakdown of the UK Visa system and the current UK visa application fee.
Table of Contents
The Current UK Visa Application Fee
On the 4th of October 2023, the UK visa application fee experienced a surge in price. These changes come after an announcement made in July 2023, which hinted a substantial fee increase.
These current UK visa application fee are:
1. Student Visa Application Fee
The most notable increase affects international students. The current UK visa application fee witnessed an increase to £490 per applicant, marking a 35% increase from the previous fee of £363.
2. Short-Term Visit Visa
The short-term visitor visa is also affected by this increase. Travelers planning short visits of less than six months would have to pay an application fee of £115.
3. Priority Visa
The government aims to equalize priority and Super Priority visa service fees for both non-settlement and settlement visa applications, whether they are made from outside or inside the UK.
4. Non-Settlement Visa Priority Services
For non-settlement visa applications from overseas, the priority service fee will increase dramatically from £250 to £500.
5. Settlement Visa Priority Services
The current UK visa application fee for settlement priority service for overseas settlement is £500, experiencing a decrease from £573.
6. In-Country Application Services
If you’re applying from within the UK, the priority service fee will remain at £500, offering a 5-working-day turnaround.
7. Super Priority Services
For swift visa application service, the current Super Priority service increased to £1,000 for all applicants, providing a 24-hour turnaround.
8. Other Visa Types
In July 2023, the UK government announced a 15% cost increase for most work and visit visas, along with at least a 20% increase in the cost of priority visas, study visas, and certificates of sponsorship.
Visa application fee hikes play a crucial role in the Home Office’s ability to maintain a sustainable immigration and nationality system. The fees help to cover the costs of processing visa applications, conducting security checks, and providing support to immigrants and their families.
The Home Office has stated that the current UK visa application fee hikes are necessary to ensure that these services can be maintained and improved. The department has also mentioned that the fees are still competitive with other countries and that they do not represent an unreasonable barrier to entry for those who wish to visit, study, work, or live in the UK.
However, some critics have argued that the visa application fee hikes are unfair and discriminatory. They argue that the hikes will disproportionately impact low-income applicants and applicants from developing countries. They also argue that the fees will make it more difficult for businesses to recruit skilled workers from overseas.
Despite these criticisms, the Home Office has defended the current UK visa application fee hikes. The department has said that the current UK visa application fees are necessary to ensure that the UK’s immigration system is sustainable and that it can continue to attract the talent and skills that the country needs.
For numerous international applicants, the current changes may pose delays in their plans to relocate to the UK. Nevertheless, viable options exist that ensure your journey to the UK without draining your finances.
Pursuing and obtaining scholarships such as the Chevening Scholarship provides a pathway to relocating to the UK, with many expenses, including the visa application fee, covered.
