The United Kingdom has announced a broad increase in visa application fees for individuals applying from outside the country, with the new charges set to take effect from April 8, 2026, as part of a wider review of immigration-related costs.
Under the revised fee structure, short-term visit visas of up to six months will rise from £127 to £135, while long-term visit visas will also see notable increases.
Two-year visit visas will cost £506, up from £475, while five-year and ten-year visas will increase to £903 and £1,128 respectively.
The adjustments extend across multiple visa categories, including transit, study-related, and family migration routes, reflecting what authorities describe as routine fee indexation to align with administrative costs and service delivery.
The UK government has also revised fees under its settlement and long-term residency pathways, with more pronounced increases in this category.
Similarly, indefinite leave to enter the UK for members of the Armed Forces and their dependants will increase from £3,029 to £3,226. The same revised fee will apply to victims of domestic abuse applying under the relevant immigration provisions.
Despite the widespread adjustments, some services will not be affected. Administrative review fees will remain at £80, while consular service charges such as document processing and out-of-hours support will also stay unchanged.
The latest fee hike comes amid shifting migration trends and evolving education policy in the UK.
Under the revised framework, universities will be encouraged to establish offshore campuses and partnerships, enabling students to access UK education in their home countries or regions. Authorities say the strategy is aimed at diversifying institutional revenue and strengthening global partnerships while maintaining economic contributions from the education sector.
However, the shift comes against a backdrop of declining overall study visa volumes. In the year ending June 2025, the UK granted 431,725 sponsored study visas, marking an 18% decline year-on-year and a 34% drop from 2023 peak levels.