The cost of student and tourist visas will increase, according to the UK government.
The UK’s Home Office announced the changes on Friday, stating that “the changes mean that the cost for a visit visa for less than six months is rising by £15 to £115, while the fee for applying for a student visa from outside the UK will rise by £127 to £490, to equal the amount charged for in-country applications.”
The increases, according to the Home Office, were a result of legislation that was introduced by the Parliament on Friday.
It was stated that the increase in fees will allow the government to support essential services and give the public sector more financing priority.
The statement went on to say that the Home Office’s capacity to manage a viable immigration and nationality system depends critically on the income from fees collected.
Less than six months have passed since the UK announced increases in visa application fees and health surcharges.
The Home Office added that when fees are set, significant thought is given to how to lower the funding contribution from British taxpayers while maintaining a service that is appealing to people looking to work in the UK and supporting overall prosperity for everybody.
“Today’s changes do not include the planned increase to the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which are scheduled to be introduced later in the Autumn,” the statement further stated.
The increases in immigration and nationality costs, which require parliamentary approval, will go into effect on October 4.
