UK Increases Visa, Citizenship Fees

UK Cuts Post-Study Visa to 18 Months UK Cuts Post-Study Visa to 18 Months
UK Cuts Post-Study Visa to 18 Months. Credit: Cartwright King

The UK Home Office has announced increases in fees for a wide range of visas, residency applications and citizenship processes, with the changes set to take effect on April 8, 2026.

The revised fee schedule, published by the Home Office, affects foreign nationals applying to visit, study, work or settle in the United Kingdom, including applicants from Nigeria, one of the largest sources of visa applications to the UK.

Under the new fees, the short-term visit visa (up to six months) will increase from £127 to £135, while the student visa will rise from £524 to £558.

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Applicants seeking indefinite leave to remain will pay £3,226, up from £3,029, while the fee to naturalise as a British citizen will increase from £1,605 to £1,709.

Most visa categories recorded increases, including work visas such as the Skilled Worker visa, which will rise from £769 to £819 for applications covering up to three years.

Fees for longer-term skilled worker visas will increase from £1,519 to £1,618.

The Home Office also raised fees for several other work routes, including the Innovator Founder, Start-up, Scale-up, and Graduate Route visas.

However, the government reduced the cost of registering a child as a British citizen, cutting the fee from £1,214 to £1,000, marking the only notable reduction in the new schedule.

Some visa categories remain unchanged, including the High Potential Individual visa, which will stay at £880.

The updated fee structure covers nearly all immigration processes, including visit visas, transit visas, student visas, work visas, settlement applications, travel documents and nationality services.

The changes come as the UK continues to review immigration-related costs, with the revised fees expected to affect thousands of applicants globally each year.

Nigeria remains among the countries with a high number of applications for UK visit, study, and work visas.

UK Says Angola, Namibia, DR Congo Accept Deportees
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Credit: BBC News.

The complete list of immigration and UK visa costs that apply to Nigerians is as follows:

VISIT VISAS

Short-term (up to 6 months): Old: £127, New: £135

Long-term (up to 2 years): Old: £475, New: £506

Long-term (up to 5 years): Old: £848, New: £903

Long-term (up to 10 years): Old: £1,059, New: £1,128

Visiting academic (more than 6 months, up to 12 months): Old: £220, New: £234

Private medical treatment (more than 6 months, up to 11 months): Old: £220, New: £234

Direct airside transit visa: Old: £39, New: £41.50

Landside transit visit visa: Old: £70, New: £74.50

STUDENT VISAS

Student (main applicant and dependants): Old: £524, New: £558

Child Student: Old: £524, New: £558

Short-term student (English language, over 6 months up to 11 months): Old: £214, New: £228

WORK VISAS

Skilled Worker – up to 3 years: Old: £769, New: £819

Skilled Worker (Immigration Salary List) – up to 3 years: Old: £590, New: £628

Skilled Worker (Immigration Salary List) – over 3 years: Old: £1,160, New: £1,235

Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – up to 3 years: Old: £304, New: £324

Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – over 3 years: Old: £590, New: £628

Innovator Founder: Old: £1,274, New: £1,357

Start-up: Old: £465, New: £495

Scale-up: Old: £880, New: £937

High Potential Individual: Old: £880, New: £880 (unchanged)

Graduate Route: Old: £880, New: £937

T2 Minister of Religion: Old: £769, New: £819

International Sportsperson – up to 12 months: Old: £319, New: £340

International Sportsperson – over 12 months: Old: £769, New: £819

Temporary Work (Seasonal Worker, Religious Worker, Charity Worker, Creative Worker, International Agreement, Government Authorised Exchange, Youth Mobility Scheme, India Young Professionals Scheme): Old: £319, New: £340

Representative of an overseas business: Old: £769, New: £819

Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker (up to 3 years): Old: £769, New: £819

Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker (over 3 years): Old: £1,519, New: £1,618

Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee: Old: £319, New: £340

Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier: Old: £319, New: £340

Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker: Old: £319, New: £340

Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker: Old: £319, New: £340

SETTLEMENT AND INDEFINITE LEAVE

Route to Settlement: Old: £1,938, New: £2,064

Route to Settlement – other dependant relative: Old: £3,413, New: £3,635

Route to Settlement – refugee dependant relative: Old: £424, New: £452

Indefinite leave to remain: Old: £3,029, New: £3,226

Visitor Extension (in-country): Old: £1,100, New: £1,172

Leave to remain – Other: Old: £1,321, New: £1,407

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

Certificate of travel (adult): Old: £300, New: £320

Certificate of travel (child): Old: £151, New: £161

Convention travel document (adult): Old: £94.50, New: £102

Convention travel document (child): Old: £61.50, New: £66.50

NATIONALITY AND CITIZENSHIP

Naturalisation (British citizenship): Old: £1,605, New: £1,709

Registration as British citizen – adult: Old: £1,446, New: £1,540

Registration as British citizen – child: Old: £1,214, New: £1,000 (reduced)

Renunciation of nationality: Old: £482, New: £513

Nationality review: Old: £482, New: £513

Status Letter (Nationality): Old: £459, New: £489

Non-acquisition Letter (Nationality): Old: £459, New: £489

 

Author

  • Jimisayo Opanuga

    Jimisayo Opanuga is a web writer in the Digital Department at News Central TV, where she covers African and international stories. Her reporting focuses on social issues, health, justice, and the environment, alongside general-interest news. She is passionate about telling stories that inform the public and give voice to underreported communities.

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