Nigeeians planning to travel to the United Kingdom for greener pastures or studies, will have to pay more as the government is set to implement significant increases in Visa fees.
The new charges expected to commence April 9, 2025, will include travellers from visa-exempt countries, who will have to pay more for Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
According to travelbiz, the cost of a Standard Visitor Visa, valid for up to six months, will rise by 10%, moving from £115 to £127. Those seeking long-term visitor visas will see even steeper increases.
The two-year visa fee will climb from £432 to £475, while the five-year visa will rise from £771 to £848. The costliest option, a 10-year visa, will jump by £96, reaching £1,059.
Also, the current ETA fee of $12 will increase by 60% to $20 from April 2, 2025. This change will impact travellers from countries that do not require a visa but must obtain ETA approval before flying to the UK.
“For international students, the rising visa costs mean additional financial strain. The standard Student Visa fee for both main applicants and their dependants will increase from £490 to £524. The same rate will apply to Child Student Visa applications.
“Additionally, those pursuing short-term English language courses of six to eleven months will have to pay £214, up from the current £200.
“The work visa category is also experiencing substantial increases, particularly for skilled professionals and healthcare workers”, it reported .
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Travelbiz also noted that the Health and Care Worker Visa will see one of the steepest hikes, rising by 28.2% from $367 to $470. Similarly, the Skilled Worker Visa for those in shortage occupations will increase to £470, reflecting a 26.3% rise.
It also reported that entrepreneurs applying for the Innovator Founder Visa will have to pay £1,274, up from £1,191, while the Start-up Visa will now cost £465 instead of £435.
“Individuals applying for permanent residency in the UK through Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) will also be affected. The application fee for ILR will rise from £2,885 to £3,029, an increase of £144”, it added.
Analysts say, with recent increase in international passport application fees by the federal government of Nigeria, hard time awaits prospective students and job seekers.
They argue that the only way out for applicants is to either use the window of opportunity existing between now and April to submit their applications or seek for alternative funding or sponsorships.
