UK Massively Hike Visit Visa Fees For Students, Visitors and Businessman

London September 16 2023: United Kingdom massively hike visa fees for visitors, students and business man effective from October 4 2023, according to the notification issued by the UK Home Office.

In July 2023, the Government announced an increase in both headline fees and the health surcharge. From 4 October, work and visit visa fees are going up by 15%, family visas, settlement and citizenship by 20%, and student visas by 35%.

The health surcharge will rise by 66% to £1,035 a year at a date to be confirmed. The legal process for increasing this takes longer and may not be complete until 2024.

Until 2003, the UK charged nothing at all for visa extensions, work permits and settlement. Fees for initial visas and citizenship were relatively modest. A student visa cost £33.

The Blair Government began charging above the processing cost in order to fund wider immigration activities. Later governments continued that process and added the health surcharge (2015) and an employer levy (2017). Government income from immigration and nationality fees rose from £184 million in 2003 to £1,500 million in 2021, not including another £1,400 million in surcharge and £349 million in employer levies.

1. Visas and applications made outside the UK

Fees category	Current Fee	New fee from 4 October 2023	Fee Change
Visit visa – short up to 6 months	£100	£115	£15
Visit visa – long up to 2 years	£376	£400	£24
Visit visa – long up to 5 years	£670	£771	£101
Visit visa – long up to 10 years	£837	£963	£126
Visiting academic – more than 6 months but no more than 12 months	£200	£200	£0
Private medical treatment visa – more than 6 months but not more than 11 months	£200	£200	£0
Transit visa (direct airside transit)	£35	£35	£0
Transit visit visa (landside transit)	£64	£64	£0
Visa for the purpose of joining a ship or aircraft as a member of the crew of that ship or aircraft	£64	£64	£0
Electronic Visa Waiver	£30	£30	£0
Single-entry visa to replace a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)	£154	£154	£0
Certificate of Entitlement Nationality Right of Abode (outside the UK)	£388	£388	£0
Transfer of Conditions (Vignette Transfer) application made overseas	£154	£154	£0
Other visa	£531	£637	£106
Hong Kong British National (Overseas) for 30 months – main applicant and dependants	£180	£180	£0
Hong Kong British National (Overseas) for 5 years – main applicant and dependants	£250	£250	£0
Route to Settlement	£1,538	£1,846	£308
Route to Settlement – other dependant relative	£3,250	£3,250	£0
Route to Settlement – refugee dependant relative	£388	£404	£16
Indefinite leave to enter the UK as the dependant of a member of the armed forces under Appendix Armed Forces to the Immigration Rules	£2,404	£2,885	£481
Indefinite leave to enter the UK as a foreign or Commonwealth citizen discharged from HM Forces under paragraph 13 of Appendix Armed Forces to the immigration rules	£2,404	£2,885	£481
Call out/ out of hours fee (per hour/part hour) – service of consular officers	£142	£142	£0
Receiving, preparing and forwarding documents – consular functions	£141	£141	£0
Administrative review	£80	£80	£0

2. Work – applications made outside the UK

Fees category	Current Fee	New fee from 4 October 2023	Fee Change
Innovator Founder – main applicant and dependants	£1,036	£1,191	£155
Endorsement fee under Innovator Founder route (payable to endorsing body) excluding VAT	£1000	£1,000	£0
Start-up – main applicant and dependants	£378	£435	£57
Approval letter from a competent body in respect of an initial application for Global Talent	£456	£524	£68
Global Talent – main applicant – where Approval Letter is required	£167	£192	£25
Global Talent – main applicant – where Approval Letter is not required	£623	£716	£93
Global Talent – dependants only	£623	£716	£93
Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) – dependants only	£623	£716	£93
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) – dependants only	£1,036	£1,191	£155
Tier 1 (Investor) – main applicant and dependants	£1,638	£1,884	£246
Skilled worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants	£625	£719	£94
Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants	£1,235	£1,420	£185
Skilled Worker – shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants	£479	£551	£72
Skilled Worker, shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants	£943	£1,084	£141
Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants	£247	£284	£37
Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants	£479	£551	£72
Skilled Worker – Shortage Occupation – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants	£247	£284	£37
Skilled Worker – Shortage Occupation – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants	£479	£551	£72
T2 Minister of Religion – main applicant and dependants	£625	£719	£94
International Sportsperson where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for 12 months or less – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	£39
International Sportsperson where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over 12 months – main applicant and dependants	£625	£719	£94
Temporary Work – Seasonal Worker, Religious Worker, Charity Worker, Creative Worker, International Agreement, Government Authorised Exchange and Youth Mobility Scheme – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	£39
Representative of an overseas business – main applicant and dependants	£625	£719	£94
Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – up to 3 years – main applicant and dependants	£625	£719	£94
Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – more than 3 years – main applicant and dependants	£1,235	£1,420	£185
Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	£39
Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	£39
Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	£39
Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	£39
Scale-up – main applicant and dependants	£715	£822	£107
High Potential Individual – main applicant and dependants	£715	£822	£107

3. Study – applications made outside the UK

Fees category	Current Fee	New fee from 4 October 2023	Fee Change
Student – main applicant and dependants	£363	£490	£127
Child Student	£363	£490	£127
Short term student studying English language for more than 6 months but not more than 11 months	£200	£200	£0

3. Study – applications made outside the UK

Fees category	Current Fee	New fee from 4 October 2023	Fee Change
Student – main applicant and dependants	£363	£490	£127
Child Student	£363	£490	£127
Short term student studying English language for more than 6 months but not more than 11 months	£200	£200	£0

5. Optional premium services in the UK

Fees category	Current Fee	New fee from 4 October 2023	Fee Change
Super Priority service	£800	£1000	£200
Expedited processing – Priority service	£500	£500	£0
On-Demand service (Mobile Biometric Enrolment) (per hour per representative of the contractor providing the service)	£650	£650	£0
The provision of an immigration officer to deliver any premium service, to a Government Department, relating to entry into or transit through the United Kingdom	£57.33	£57.33	£0
The provision of an immigration officer to deliver any premium service, relating to entry into or transit through the United Kingdom (per hour per officer)	£77.40	£77.40	£0
Premium status checks and advice – Administrative Officer (per minute)	£0.80	£0.80	£0
Premium status checks, advice or training – Executive Officer (inside office hours) (per minute)	£0.88	£0.88	£0
Premium status checks, advice or training – Executive Officer (outside office hours) (per minute)	£1.10	£1.10	£0
Premium status checks, advice or training – Higher Executive Officer (inside office hours) (per minute)	£0.97	£0.97	£0
Premium status checks, advice or training – Higher Executive Officer (outside office hours) (per minute)	£1.23	£1.23	£0

6. Premium services at the border

Fees category	Current Fee	New fee from 4 October 2023	Fee Change
Registered Traveller (Adult) – Yearly Subscription (per year)	£50	£50	£0
Registered Traveller (Child) – Yearly Subscription (per year)	£24	£24	£0
Registered Traveller – Registration of New Documents	£20	£20	£0
Fast Track – Heathrow	£5.20	£5.20	£0
Fast Track – Other ports of entry	£3.00	£3.00	£0

7. Work – applications made in the UK

Fees category	Current Fee	New fee from 4 October 2023	Fee Change
Innovator Founder – main applicant and dependants	£1,292	£1,486	£194
Endorsement fee under Innovator Founder route (payable to endorsing body) excluding VAT	£1000	£1,000	£0
Start-up – main applicant and dependants	£508	£584	£76
Approval letter from a competent body in respect of an initial application for Global Talent	£456	£524	£68
Global Talent – main applicant – where Approval Letter is required	£167	£192	£25
Global Talent – main applicant – where Approval Letter is not required	£623	£716	£93
Global Talent – dependants only	£623	£716	£93
Graduate Route – main applicant and dependants	£715	£822	£107
Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) – dependants only	£623	£716	£93
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) – main applicant and dependants	£1,292	£1,486	£194
Tier 1 (Investor) – main applicant and dependants	£1,638	£1,884	£246
Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants	£719	£827	£108
Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants	£1,423	£1,500	£77
Skilled Worker, shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants	£479	£551	£72
Skilled Worker, shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants	£943	£1,084	£141
Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants	£247	£284	£37
Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants	£479	£551	£72
Skilled Worker – Shortage Occupation – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants	£247	£284	£37
Skilled Worker – Shortage Occupation –Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants	£479	£551	£72
T2 Minister of Religion – main applicant and dependants	£719	£827	£108
International Sportsperson where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for 12 months or less – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	£39
International Sportsperson where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over 12 months – main applicant and dependants	£719	£827	£108
Temporary Worker – Seasonal Worker, Religious Worker, Charity Worker, Creative Worker, International Agreement Worker, Government Authorised Exchange Worker and Youth Mobility Scheme – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	£39
Representative of an overseas business – main applicant and dependants	£719	£827	£108
Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – up to 3 years – main applicant and dependants	£719	£827	£108
Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – more than 3 years – main applicant and dependants	£1,423	£1,500	£77
Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	£39
Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	£39
Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	£39
Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker – main applicant and dependants	£259	£298	£39
Scale-up – main applicant and dependants	£715	£822	£107
High Potential Individual – main applicant and dependants	£715	£822	£107

8. Study – applications made in the UK

Fees category	Current Fee	New fee from 4 October 2023	Fee Change
Student – main applicant and dependants	£490	£490	£0
Child student	£490	£490	£0

9. Other applications made in the UK

Fees category	Current Fee	New fee from 4 October 2023	Fee Change
Visitor Extension – main applicant and dependants	£1000	£1,000	£0
Leave to enter for persons in the UK who are liable to immigration detention	£1,048	£1,258	£210
Leave to remain– Other	£1,048	£1,048	£0
Hong Kong British National (In-country) for 30 months – main applicant and dependants	£180	£180	£0
Hong Kong British National (In-country) for 5 years – main applicant and dependants	£250	£250	£0
Processing an application which is subsequently rejected as invalid	£25	£25	£0
Indefinite leave to remain – main applicants and dependants	£2,404	£2,885	£481
Replacement Biometric Residence Card (issued under the EU Settlement Scheme) which has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed	£19	£19	£0
Replacement Biometric Residence Permit which has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed	£19	£19	£0
Travel Document – Certificate of travel – adult	£280	£280	£0
Travel Document – Certificate of travel – child	£141	£141	£0
Travel Document – Convention travel document – adult	£75	£82	£7
Travel Document – Convention travel document – child	£49	£53	£4
Administrative Review	£80	£80	£0
Life in the UK test	£50	£50	£0

10. Nationality

Fees category	Current Fee	New fee from 4 October 2023	Fee Change
Naturalisation (British citizenship)	£1,250	£1,500	£250
Naturalisation British overseas territory citizens	£1,000	£1,000	£0
Nationality registration as a British citizen – adult	£1,126	£1,351	£225
Nationality registration as a British citizen – child	£1,012	£1,214	£202
The arrangement of a citizenship ceremony (including the administration of a citizenship oath and pledge at the ceremony).	£80	£80	£0
The administration of a citizenship oath, or oath and pledge where the oath, or oath and pledge, are not administered at a citizenship ceremony or by a justice of the peace.	£5	£5	£0
Nationality registration – British overseas territory citizen, British overseas citizens, British Subjects, British protected persons – adult	£901	£901	£0
Nationality registration – British overseas territory citizen, British overseas citizens, British Subjects, British protected persons – child	£810	£810	£0
Renunciation of nationality	£372	£372	£0
Certificate of Entitlement Nationality Right of Abode (In the UK)	£372	£372	£0
Nationality review	£372	£372	£0
Status Letter (Nationality)	£250	£250	£0
Non-acquisition Letter (Nationality)	£250	£250	£0
Nationality correction to certificate	£250	£250	£0
Nationality – supply of a certified copy of a notice, certificate, order or declaration	£250	£250	£0
Nationality reissued Certificate	£250	£250	£0

11. Sponsorship

Fees category	Current Fee	New fee from 4 October 2023	Fee Change
Premium Sponsor Service (12 months) Worker sponsor and Temporary worker sponsor – large sponsors	£25,000	£25,000	£0
Premium Sponsor Service (12 months) Worker sponsor and Temporary worker sponsor – small sponsors	£8,000	£8,000	£0
Premium Sponsor Service (12 months) Student sponsors	£8,000	£8,000	£0
The expedited processing of a sponsorship management request made by a Worker sponsor or Temporary worker sponsor	£200	£200	£0
Priority service for expedited processing of sponsor licence applications	£500	£500	£0
Worker sponsor licence (large sponsor )	£1,476	£1,476	£0
Worker sponsor licence (small sponsor)	£536	£536	£0
Student sponsor licence	£536	£536	£0
Temporary Worker sponsor licence	£536	£536	£0
Worker and Temporary Worker sponsor licence (large sponsor)	£1,476	£1,476	£0
Worker and Student sponsor licence (large sponsor)	£1,476	£1,476	£0
Worker, Temporary Worker and Student sponsor licence (large sponsor)	£1,476	£1,476	£0
Temporary Worker and Student sponsor licence	£536	£536	£0
Worker sponsor licence (large sponsor), where sponsor currently holds a Temporary Worker and/or Student Sponsor Licence	£940	£940	£0
Endorsement fee for a Scale-up sponsor licence under Endorsing Body Pathway (payable to the endorsing body) excluding VAT	£1,500	£1,500	£0
Student sponsor basic compliance assessment	£536	£536	£0
Sponsor action plan	£1,476	£1,476	£0
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): Skilled Worker, T2 Minister of Religion, Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker	£199	£239	£40
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) – Temporary Worker including Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier and Secondment Worker route, and Scale-up route	£21	£25	£4
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for International Sportsperson route – Over 12 Months	£199	£239	£40
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for International Sportsperson route – Up to 12 months or less	£21	£25	£4
Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS) for student, child student	£21	£25	£4