Introduction
On 27 August 2020, the UK Home Office announced changes to the UK visa application fees. Under the new rules, the cost of applying for a UK visa is set to rise, with a number of new fees and charges being introduced. In this article, we will explore the new UK visa fees and how they will impact visa applicants.
New UK visa fees
The new UK visa fees will be applicable from 29 October 2020. The fees will differ depending on the type of visa and the length of time that the applicant intends to stay in the UK. Here is a breakdown of the new UK visa fees:
Standard Visitor visa – ￡95 for a six-month visit, ￡190 for a two-year visit, and ￡361 for a five-year visit
Short-term study visa – ￡97 for a six-month visit, and ￡186 for an 11-month visit
Work visa (Tier 2) – ￡464 for a three-year visa, ￡928 for a five-year visa, and ￡1,220 for a 10-year visa
Spouse, partner or family visa – ￡1,523 for a six-month visa, ￡2,389 for a two-and-a-half-year visa, and ￡3,250 for a five-year visa
It is important to note that these fees do not include additional charges that may apply, such as the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Impact on visa applicants
The new UK visa fees will represent a significant increase for many visa applicants, particularly those seeking longer-term visas. For example, the cost of a five-year standard visitor visa has increased by over ￡100, while the cost of a 10-year work visa has increased by almost ￡300. This will make it more difficult for some individuals to meet the financial requirements for a UK visa.
In addition to the increased costs, some applicants may also experience longer processing times as a result of the ongoing global pandemic. This could further impact their ability to travel to the UK.
Conclusion
The new UK visa fees represent a considerable increase for many visa applicants and may make it more difficult for some individuals to meet the financial requirements for a UK visa. It is important that visa applicants carefully review the new fees and plan accordingly to ensure that they can afford to apply for a UK visa.
