Increase In UK Immigration Fees From October

23 Sep 2010

UK Border Agency stated that the UK immigration for Student visas, UK work visas and UK visitor visas fees is likely to be hiked from 1^st October 2010.  The increase is introduced to meet the budgetary strains and proposals for increasing in-year UK immigration fees and this increase is subject to approval by the parliament. The increase on 1 October 2010 is expected to affect anyone looking for a UK visa to move to the UK or simply to visit Great Britain.

UK immigration department had already introduced a hike in UK visa fees in April this year.

Immigration Minister Damian Green said:

"Our fee proposals will allow the UK to continue to attract the brightest and the best who can make a valued contribution to society while balancing our need to maintain a secure border.

He added: "I believe that those who benefit from coming to the UK should contribute towards operating our immigration system.”

Meanwhile, the UKBA has justified its plans of increasing the UK visa fees for different UK visas since it will not only help in better border security but also help the UK attract the best and the brightest immigrants to the UK to make valuable contributions towards the UK economy.

The new proposed UK visa fees for different categories of UK visas are as follows---

• UK Tier 1 visa fees( at Consular Post not within the UK)-- £690 to £750

• UK Tier 2 visa fees-- £270 to £350

• UK Tier 1 visa fees(from within the UK)- £840 to £850

• UK Tier 2 visa fees(in-country)- £475 to £500

• UK Tier 4 visa fees - £199 to £220

• UK Tier 4 visa fees(within the UK)- £357

• UK Tier 5 visa fees- £128 to £130

• UK visitor visa fees-2 years-from £230 to £245

• UK visitor visa fees-5 year from £420 to £450

• UK visitor visa fees-10 year from £610 to £650

• UK settlement visas(permanent residence) - £644 to £750

The UK dependent visa fees is also set to go higher by 20-30%. 

The government says the increase will help pay for better protection of the country’s borders, as well as covering the processing costs to prevent tax-payers having to shell out to cover UK immigration costs. The increases are to affect visa, nationality and immigration services

Fee increases will be implemented on applications for Tier 1 transition and post-study UK work visas, on short visit visas and applications for Tier 4 and 5 visas.

Other fees are already charged at above the price of processing in order to generate income for the government. These are subject to parliamentary affirmation and any further rises are expected to come into effect in November.