According to the British government, a proposed rise in visa fees would go into effect on October 4th. Indian tourists will now pay GBP 15 (approx ₹1544) more for a visit visa that lasts less than six months, along with travellers from all across the world. To acquire a student visa, students will have to pay about GBP 127 (approx ₹13,070)
British Government Announces Hike In UK Visa Fees
According to legislation introduced in Parliament on Friday, the visitor visa fee will increase to GBP 115 (approx ₹11,835). Its validity will be for six months. A student visa application fee submitted from outside the UK will now cost GBP 490(approx ₹50,428), the same as those submitted from within the nation.
It comes after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared in July that the National Health Service (NHS) fees and health surcharge paid by visa applicants would “significantly” rise in order to keep up with the country’s public sector compensation growth.
According to him at the time, the fees that immigrants must pay to enter the nation when they apply for visas and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which is a fee they must pay to use the NHS, will both increase.
All of those fees will increase, raising more than GBP 1 billion, so there will be a big increase in the cost of applying for visas overall as well as for the IHS, according to him. (As per India Today)
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Applicable To Majority Types
The Home Office reported that the majority of work and visit visas would cost 15% more, and priority visas, study visas, and sponsorship certificates would cost at least 20% more.
The revenue from fees collected is essential to the Home Office’s ability to run a functional immigration and nationality system. The Home Office stated this week that great care is taken when determining fees in order to lessen the financing contribution from British taxpayers while continuing to provide a service that remains appealing to people desiring to work in the UK and encourage greater prosperity for all.
The increase in costs is applicable to the majority of visa types, including health and care visas. Additionally, it covers payments for stays up to six months, two years, five years, and ten years, as well as applications for registration and naturalisation as British citizens.
The increase also affects the majority of fees for entry clearance, some requests for permission to work or study in the UK, fees for permission to enter and remain in the country indefinitely, and fees for sponsorship certificates and confirmation of enrollment in courses.
The Home Office stated that the modifications are pending parliamentary approval and are anticipated to take effect on October 4. (As per India Today)
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