UK Revises Immigration Fees from April 2026: Full List of New Charges

The UK government has introduced a revised structure of immigration and nationality fees, effective from 8 April 2026, increasing costs across major visa categories including work, student, and visitor routes.

The updated fee schedule, published by the Home Office, reflects a continued push toward a self-funded immigration system, with applicants now expected to cover a greater share of administrative costs.

Major UK Visa Fee Changes: Before vs After (2026)

Below is a comparison of key visa categories showing previous vs. updated fees:

Visitor Visas

• 6-month Visitor Visa
  Before: £127 → After: £135
• 2-year Visitor Visa
  Before: £475 → After: £505
• 5-year Visitor Visa
  Before: £848 → After: £901
• 10-year Visitor Visa
  Before: £1,059 → After: £1,123

Student Visas

• Student Visa (main applicant)
  Before: £490 → After: £520
• Child Student Visa
  Before: £490 → After: £520

Work Visas

• Skilled Worker Visa (up to 3 years)
  Before: £719 → After: £769
• Skilled Worker Visa (over 3 years)
  Before: £1,420 → After: £1,519

Settlement & Nationality

• Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
  Before: £2,885 → After: £3,029
• British Citizenship (Naturalisation)
  Before: £1,500 → After: £1,580

Other Key Charges

• Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
  Before: £16 → After: £20

What This Means for Applicants

The increase affects a broad range of applicants worldwide, including:

• Students planning higher education in the UK
• Skilled professionals seeking employment
• Tourists and long-term visitors

Even modest increases can add up significantly, especially for families or applicants applying for long-term visas.

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Why the Fees Have Increased

The Home Office has stated that the revised fees are intended to:

• Support a fully digital immigration system
• Improve service delivery and processing times
• Reduce reliance on public funding

This aligns with the UK’s long-term strategy of making immigration services financially self-sustaining.

Advice for Applicants

With the new fees now in effect, applicants should:

• Carefully review updated costs before applying
• Budget for additional expenses like the Immigration Health Surcharge
• Apply early to avoid further potential increases

Conclusion

The April 2026 fee revision marks another step in the UK’s evolving immigration policy. While the increases are incremental, the overall cost of moving to or visiting the UK continues to rise, making financial planning more important than ever for prospective applicants.