VISA fees rise for UK : How much you need to pay

 

UK Prime Minister Sunak announced that fees and health surcharges paid by visa applicants, including Indians, to the National Health Service (NHS) will up significantly to support for the public sector wage increases.

 UK PM Rishi Sunak announced that fees and health surcharges paid by visa applicants, including Indians, to the state-funded National Health Service (NHS) will increase significantly. Though there is no confirmation from the government yet, reports suggest that the hike is likely to be around 15% to 20%.

 

This adjustment aims to support the country's public sector wage increase, which includes teachers, police, junior doctors, and other public sector workers. Rishi Sunak confirmed a general rise of 5 to 7% across the board. However, he pointed out that the government would not rely on increased borrowing to cover these costs due to concerns about inflation. Hence, alternative funding sources would be sought.

 All of those VISA fees are going to go up and that will raise over GBP 1 billion, so across the board visa application fees are going to go up significantly and similarly for the IHS," he added.

 Rishi Sunak justified that the move is entirely right as these fees have not been increased recently. And cited that the hike is appropriate given that the costs have risen since the last hike.

 

the government have confirmed that work and visa fees will rise by 15%.  So, All other visa fees will rise by at least 20%. 

 The immigration health surcharge, introduced in 2015 at £200 per application, has seen significant increases. It doubled to £400 in 2018 and further rose to £624 in 2020 for adults (£470 for discounted applicants). The government has now announced a substantial hike, with the surcharge increasing to £1,035 per person per year and the discounted rate rising to £776, FREETH also pointed out

 The rising VISA fees for migrants seeking work in the UK pose a significant financial burden for business owners relying on overseas labor, especially when compared to countries like the United States or France, potentially increasing recruitment spending.