Britain: The United Kingdom has implemented an across-the-board increase in visa fees, affecting visit, study, and work categories, with changes effective from April 8. The revision is expected to directly impact a significant number of Indian applicants.
Under the updated structure, a short-term visit visa of up to six months now costs £135, up from £127. Longer-duration visit visas have also become more expensive: two-year visas have risen from £475 to £506, five-year visas from £848 to £903, and 10-year visas from £1,059 to £1,128.
Education and employment segments, particularly relevant to Indian nationals, have seen hikes as well. Study visa fees have increased from £524 to £558, while skilled worker visas of up to three years are now priced at £819, up from £769.
India continues to be a major source of students and skilled professionals for the UK, and the fee increase could add to the financial strain on applicants already managing currency fluctuations and high living costs abroad.
The British High Commission in India explained that the adjustments are aimed at supporting a “streamlined, digital immigration system” while ensuring the service remains “strong, secure and efficient.” Officials also emphasized that there is no cap on applications and most visas continue to be processed within three weeks, in line with service standards.
The revision comes amid sustained interest from Indian students and professionals in UK opportunities, although rising costs may influence decisions on applications in the coming months.
