Kathmandu. The UK Home Office has announced an increase in visa fees for various categories, including student, visitor and Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) applications. The new visa fees will come into effect from April 9. The increase varies depending on the type of visa.
There has been a significant increase in student and visitor visas in the UK. According to an ET report, the student visa fee applicable to both the main applicant and dependent will increase by 7 percent from the current 490 pounds to 524 pounds, or about 93 thousand Nepali rupees.
Similarly, the cost of a child student visa will also be 524 pounds (about 93 thousand Nepali rupees). Earlier, the student visa fee was increased by more than a third in October 2023. The UK government has announced that the cost of a short-term study visa for English language courses lasting between six and 11 months will increase by 7 percent, from £200 to £214 (about Rs 38,000).
The UK visitor visa fee will increase by 10 percent, with the cost of a six-month visa increasing from £115 to £127 (about Rs 22,500). Similarly, long-term visitor visas for 2, 5 and 10 years will also be more expensive. The fees will be 475 pounds (84 thousand rupees), 848 pounds (1 lakh 50 thousand rupees) and 1 thousand 59 pounds (about 1 lakh 88 thousand rupees) respectively.
The direct airside transit visa fee will be 39 pounds (6 and a half thousand rupees more). While the landside transit visa fee will be 70 pounds (about 12 and a half thousand rupees). The ETA fee required for citizens who do not require a visa to visit the UK will increase by 60 percent to 16 pounds.
The UK government had indicated this change in January before extending it to EU citizens from April 2. Emma English, executive director of the British Educational Travel Association (BETA), has expressed concern about the impact of these changes. She said, ‘Post-Brexit government policy will require international school groups to use passports instead of ID cards, which has led to a reduction in group travel. The rising cost of ETAs poses another barrier, adding to the challenges in this area.’
Working visa categories are also affected. The fee for a skilled worker visa valid for three years or less will increase from £719 to £769 (an increase of Rs 136,000). While the application fee for a period of more than three years will increase from £1,420 to £1,519 (about Rs 300,000).
The cost of the Innovator Founder visa will remain at £1,274, an increase of £83. While the cost of a Tier 1 investor visa will increase from £1,160 to £2,000. The visa fee for a dependent relative will increase from £3,250 to £3,413. –Agency
