The UK Home Office has announced an increase in visa application fees across various categories, with the new rates set to take effect from April 9.
According to an update on the Home Office’s website on March 19, the fee for a student visa, applicable to both main applicants and dependants, has risen from £490 to £524. Similarly, the cost of a six-month visit visa has been raised from £115 to £127, while a two-year visa will now cost £475, up from £432. A 10-year visa has also seen an increase, now priced at £1,059 instead of the previous £963.
Transit visa fees have also been adjusted, with the direct airside transit visa rising from £35 to £39, and the direct landside visit visa increasing from £64 to £70.
The UK remains a popular destination for Nigerian students looking to further their education and seek better opportunities. However, the number of Nigerian applicants declined sharply in 2024 following the UK government’s decision to prohibit international students from bringing family members, except for postgraduate research students.
A March 2024 report by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) revealed that the policy led to a significant drop in study visa applications from Nigerians, Indians, and other international students, many of whom have begun exploring alternative study destinations.
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