Starting April 9, 2025, the United Kingdom will increase fees across nearly all visa categories, including visitor, student, and work visas. The UK Home Office said the adjustments are part of efforts to reduce taxpayer subsidies and make the immigration system financially self-sustaining.
Most visa categories will see a 5 to 10 percent increase. However, significant hikes will apply to sponsorship fees, with the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for Skilled Worker applicants more than doubling from £239 (Dh1,138.4) to £525 (Dh2,500.7).
Visitor visa fees will also go up, with the standard six-month visa increasing from £115 (Dh547.7) to £127 (Dh604.9). Long-term visit visas for two, five, and ten years will also see price increases.
The fee for electronic travel authorisation (ETA) will rise from £10 (Dh47.6) to £16 (Dh76.2) per traveller, following a review of the scheme’s pilot phase. This change is expected to bring in over £128 million (Dh610 million) in revenue by 2026.
Work visas under the Skilled Worker route will increase depending on duration and location of application. For example, a three-year visa applied for outside the UK will now cost £769 (Dh3,662.9), up from £719 (Dh3,424).
Student visas will also rise to £524 (Dh2,495.9) from £490 (Dh2,334). Fees for nationality applications, such as British citizenship naturalisation, will increase to £1,605 (Dh7,645).
Meanwhile, fast-track services like the Priority Visa and Super Priority Visa will retain their current fees.
The UK government says these changes are aimed at shifting the cost burden to applicants instead of the public, while supporting border operations and essential services.
