The United Kingdom Home Office has announced a broad increase in visa and immigration fees effective April 8, 2026, impacting hundreds of thousands of Nigerians seeking to visit, study, or settle in the UK.
The United Kingdom government is set to implement a significant increase in fees for a wide range of visas, residency applications, and citizenship processes starting April 8, 2026. The revised fee schedule, published by the UK Home Office and sighted by PUNCH Online on Thursday, March 26, affects Nigerians and other foreign nationals seeking to visit, study, work, or settle in the country. As Nigeria consistently remains one of the largest sources of applicants to the UK, the upcoming changes will impact hundreds of thousands of individuals who apply annually for various entry clearances.
The increases span virtually all categories, with the standard short-term visit visa rising from £127 to £135, and student visas increasing from £524 to £558. For those seeking a long-term future in the UK, the financial burden is even more pronounced; Nigerians applying for permanent residency will see costs climb to £3,226 from the previous £3,029, while naturalisation as a British citizen will now cost £1,709. However, in a rare exception to the upward trend, the Home Office is reducing the fee for registering a child as a British citizen from £1,214 to £1,000—a cut of £214 aimed at easing the path for younger applicants.
Despite the broad hikes, some specialized categories, such as the Tier 1 (Investor) visa and the High Potential Individual visa, will remain unchanged at £2,000 and £880, respectively. Applicants are advised to submit their paperwork before the April 8 deadline to take advantage of the current lower rates. This policy shift comes at a time of heightened global migration interest and represents the latest effort by the UK government to adjust its immigration revenue model amidst shifting domestic economic priorities.
New UK Visa Fee Schedule (Effective April 8, 2026)
VISIT VISAS
- Short-term (up to 6 months): Old: £127 | New: £135
- Long-term (up to 2 years): Old: £475 | New: £506
- Long-term (up to 5 years): Old: £848 | New: £903
- Long-term (up to 10 years): Old: £1,059 | New: £1,128
- Transit (Direct Airside): Old: £39 | New: £41.50
STUDENT & WORK VISAS
- Student (Main & Dependants): Old: £524 | New: £558
- Short-term Student (English): Old: £214 | New: £228
- Skilled Worker (Up to 3 years): Old: £769 | New: £819
SETTLEMENT & CITIZENSHIP
- Permanent Residency: Old: £3,029 | New: £3,226
- Naturalisation (Adult): Old: £1,605 | New: £1,709
- Child Registration: Old: £1,214 | New: £1,000 (Reduction)
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