The Home Office has officially announced that the United Kingdom (UK) government has hiked visa fees for migrants moving to, staying in, or visiting the country.
Effective April 8, 2026, the UK hiked most visa fees by 6% to 7%. The government stated that these adjustments are necessary to move toward a self-funded immigration system, reducing the burden on general taxation while accounting for rising administrative costs.
The price hikes affect almost every major immigration category, from short-term tourists to high-skilled professionals and international students.
ETA Fees
The UK government increased the fee for the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) which has become mandatory for the vast majority of visa-exempt travelers, including those from Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
When the system was launched in October 2023, the ETA fee was set at £10, before being raised to £16 a year ago, the current rate in effect.
According to the official immigration and nationality fee schedule, updated by the UK Home Office, the ETA fee will rise to £20 (approximately US$27) as of April 8, 2026, an increase of £4.
UK Visit Visas
The updated fee schedule also confirms increases across the main visit visa categories, with rises generally ranging between 6% and 7%.
The standard short-term visit visa (up to six months) will increase from £127 to £135.
Long-term visit visas follow the same trend:
2 years: £475 → £506
5 years: £848 → £903
10 years: £1,059 → £1,128
While these adjustments remain moderate, they apply across all visit visa categories, including travel for tourism, business, or family purposes.
Skilled Workers & Professionals
Skilled Worker (Up to 3 years): Rising from £769 to £819.
Skilled Worker (More than 3 years): Rising from £1,519 to £1,618.
Health and Care Visa: While still discounted compared to the standard route, these fees will also see a proportional increase, starting at £324.
International Students
Education in the UK is set to be more expensive for overseas applicants. The cost of a Student Visa (for both main applicants and dependents) will increase from £524 to £558. This change applies to applications made both inside and outside the UK, adding to the cumulative cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).
This adds to the restrictions already slammed on international students. Since January 2025, only students enrolled in PhD, other doctoral programs, or research-based higher degrees (RQF level 8) are permitted to bring dependants (partners and children) to the UK. Taught Master’s and undergraduate students are no longer eligible for family visas.
Routes to Settlement are also affected, with more significant increases. The fee for settlement applications will now reach £2,064, compared to £1,938 previously.
Nationality and other applications
The fee increases extend beyond visas to include British nationality applications and certain residence permits.
The naturalization fee will rise from £1,605 to £1,709, while the fee for adult registration of citizenship will reach £1,540.
One notable exception: registration fees for children are being reduced, dropping from £1,214 to £1,000, a decrease of £214.
All of these new fees will take effect on April 8, 2026. Applications submitted before that date will remain subject to the current rates, while any application initiated from that point onward will fall under the new fee schedule.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that UK visa application fees are mandatory charges that applicants have to pay when submitting their applications for a UK visa. These fees cover the cost of processing the application by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), the government department responsible for operating the UK immigration system.
Visa fees generally include the cost of assessing and processing the visa application. This includes the review of the application, the decision-making process, and the production of the visa document itself if the application is successful.
