There are upcoming changes to visa fees in the United Kingdom in 2025 that will affect travelers, students, and workers planning to visit, study, or work in the country.
The fee adjustments were outlined in an official report on the UK government’s website. These modifications will come into effect from April 9, 2025, with additional increases for Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fees for travelers from visa-exempt countries starting April 2, 2025.
For instance, the cost of a Standard Visitor Visa, valid for up to six months, will rise by 10 percent, from £115 to £127. Longer-term visitor visas will see more significant hikes, with the two-year visa increasing from £432 to £475, the five-year visa from £771 to £848, and the ten-year visa from £963 to £1,059.
The ETA fee, currently at $12, will spike by 60 percent to $20 from April 2, 2025, affecting travelers from visa-exempt countries requiring ETA approval before traveling to the UK.
International students will face higher visa fees, with the standard Student Visa fee, for both main applicants and dependents, going up from £490 to £524. The Child Student Visa fee will also increase to £524, and short-term English language course applicants will pay £214, up from £200.
Similarly, work visa categories will experience notable fee rises. The Health and Care Worker Visa fee will go up by 28.2 percent to £470, the Skilled Worker Visa for shortage occupations will rise by 26.3 percent to £470, the Innovator Founder Visa fee will be £1,274, up from £1,191, and the Start-up Visa fee will increase to £465 from £435.
In December 2024, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria mentioned that Nigeria has benefited significantly from the UK’s visa policies, granting around 300,000 new visas to Nigerians in recent years, surpassing other visa relationships Nigeria has with different countries.