The UK government has confirmed a sweeping increase in visa fees starting in April 2025, a move that will impact tourists, students, and professionals seeking entry into the country.
A report published on the UK government’s official website and reviewed by our correspondent on Tuesday detailed the changes.
The new visa fees will take effect on April 9, 2025, while the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fees will be revised earlier, on April 2, 2025.
Among the key adjustments:
The Standard Visitor Visa (six months) will increase from £115 to £127.
Two-year visitor visa: From £432 to £475
Five-year visitor visa: From £771 to £848
Ten-year visitor visa: From £963 to £1,059
Travellers from visa-exempt nations who require an ETA will see their fees rise from $12 to $20, a 60 per cent increase.
For international students, the cost of a Student Visa will go up from £490 to £524, applying to both primary applicants and dependents.
Similarly, Child Student Visa applicants will pay the same amount. Fees for short-term English language courses (lasting six to eleven months) will rise from £200 to £214.
Work visas will also become more expensive:
The Health and Care Worker Visa will surge by 28.2 per cent, reaching £470.
The Skilled Worker Visa (for shortage occupations) will increase by 26.3 per cent to £470.
The Innovator Founder Visa will now cost £1,274, up from £1,191.
The Start-up Visa fee will rise from £435 to £465.
The UK has been a preferred destination for many Nigerians seeking work and education opportunities.
In December 2024, British High Commissioner Richard Montgomery highlighted Nigeria’s significant role in UK visa applications, revealing that over 300,000 visas had been granted to Nigerians in recent years, a figure unmatched by any other nation.