From April 2026, the UK will raise visa costs, and applicants will feel the impact.
The government will introduce these changes on April 8, 2026 after reviewing immigration fees.
For visitors, costs will rise slightly, as a six-month visa will increase to £135.
UK Visa Fee Increases Introduced
In addition, longer visas will cost more, so two-year visas will reach £506.
Meanwhile, five-year and ten-year visas will rise to £903 and £1,128 respectively.
Furthermore, authorities will adjust other routes, including study, family, and transit visas.
As a result, academic visitors staying six to 12 months will pay £234.
Similarly, applicants for private medical treatment visas will also pay £234.
At the same time, transit travellers will pay more, with airside at £41.50.
Also, landside transit visas will rise to £74.50 under the new structure.
Moreover, crew members working on ships or aircraft will pay £74.50.
However, some services will remain unchanged, so costs will stay stable in key areas.
For instance, settlement applications will rise from £1,938 to £2,064.
In addition, dependent relatives will pay £3,635 under the new system.
Likewise, Armed Forces members and domestic abuse applicants will pay £3,226.
Read Also: Afreximbank Secures $2 Billion In Record Syndicated Loan Deal
Still, some services will remain steady, as administrative reviews will stay at £80.
Impact On Students And Migrants
These changes reflect wider shifts, and they connect to UK migration and education policy.
For example, demand for UK study visas has grown, especially among Nigerian students.
In 2025, over 30,000 Nigerian students received UK study visas, so numbers increased sharply.
As a result, this marked a 59% rise compared to the previous year.
Consequently, Nigeria now ranks among the fastest-growing sources of international students.
At the same time, the UK government is reshaping its education strategy.
It now targets £40 billion in education exports by 2030.
Therefore, this plan replaces earlier goals that focused on attracting large numbers of students.
Global Education Strategy Shift
In response, universities will expand offshore campuses and global partnerships.
This allows students to access UK education without leaving their countries.
However, overall study visa numbers have declined, so trends are shifting.
The UK granted fewer visas than during the 2023 peak, and numbers dropped further.
Ultimately, these new fees reflect a system that balances cost, demand, and global ambition.
