UK Announces New Visa Fee Changes for Nigerians From April 8
- The UK has decided to increase visa fees from April 8, affecting visitors, students, and workers
- Short-term visit visa fees to rise from 6.30% increase, while long-term visas see higher increases
- The government said the changes are part of ongoing efforts to manage migration levels
Legit.ng journalist Dave Ibemere has over a decade of experience in business journalism, with in-depth knowledge of the Nigerian economy, the stock market, and broader market trends.
The United Kingdom has announced plans to increase visa fees for individuals seeking to visit, study, work, or live in the country from April 8, 2026.
According to information published by the UK Home Office, the largest increase applies to the “Route to Settlement and other dependant relative,” which will rise by £222, from £3,413 to £3,635.
Source: Getty Images
New UK visa fees
Other notable increases include a £197 hike for indefinite leave to remain applications across multiple categories, as well as a £114 increase for Skilled Worker visas issued for more than three years within the UK.
Work-related visas also recorded upward adjustments, with the Innovator Founder route rising by £103 for in-country applications, while sponsor licence fees for large organisations will increase by the same margin.
Visit visa fees were also affected, though to a lesser extent. Short-term visit visas of up to six months will rise by £8, from £127 to £135, while long-term visit visas of up to 10 years will increase by £69.
Student visa fees will also be affected. The standard student visa will increase by £34 to £558, while the Graduate Route visa will rise from £880 to £937 for both main applicants and dependants.
Also, under the new measures, the government plans to offer failed asylum seekers up to £10,000 to voluntarily leave the country. Authorities will also withdraw taxpayer-funded accommodation from migrants found to be working illegally. Vanguard reports.
In addition, the government has introduced an “emergency brake” on student visas for applicants from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan.
The UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said the decision followed a surge in asylum applications from citizens of those countries.
Source: Getty Images
Settlement visa fees will also go up, with the standard route rising from £1,938 to £2,064. The visa allows foreign nationals to live and work in the UK and later apply for indefinite leave to remain.
Other visa changes
The UK government will also raise fees for applications leading to British citizenship. The cost of naturalisation will increase from £1,605 to £1,709.
For the full list of changes, use this link.
UK work visa
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the United Kingdom published an updated list of organisations authorised to sponsor foreign workers under its Skilled Worker visa scheme.
The latest update, released on Thursday, January 8, 2026, shows that the number of approved sponsors increased to 139,927, compared to 125,880 recorded in January 2025.
The UK Home Office periodically updates the register of licensed sponsors, listing employers permitted to hire skilled workers from overseas to fill roles that cannot be met within the domestic labour market.
Source: Legit.ng
