- The United Kingdom set to implement new visa, ETA, and citizenship fee increases starting April 8, 2026
- The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee rises to £20, continuing a steady increase from £10 in 2023
- The UK continues a trend of rising immigration costs since 2023, including a 385% spike in student visa fees
- Meanwhile, international students must still meet strict financial requirements, especially for living costs in London
The United Kingdom government has announced a new round of increases to visa, travel authorisation, and citizenship fees, with the revised rates scheduled to take effect from April 8, 2026.
The changes will affect a wide range of applicants, including tourists, international students, skilled workers, and individuals applying for permanent residency or citizenship.
The move reflects the government’s continued upward review of immigration-related costs, with some categories experiencing moderate adjustments and others recording steeper increases, particularly for long-term stay applications.
One of the key updates involves the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which is mandatory for most visa-exempt travellers entering the UK.
The ETA fee will increase to £20. It applies to visitors from regions such as Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
This latest revision continues a steady upward trend since the ETA’s introduction in 2023 at £10. The fee was later raised to £16 and will now reach £20 within just over two years.
Despite the increase, the authorisation remains valid for two years, offering some cost efficiency for frequent travellers.
Short-term visitor visa fees will also see adjustments across different durations. A six-month visa will rise from £127 to £135, while the two-year option increases from £475 to £506.
The five-year visa will move from £848 to £903, and the 10-year visa will rise from £1,059 to £1,128.
Although these increases may appear modest individually, they apply broadly to travellers visiting the UK for tourism, business, or family-related purposes.
Applicants seeking to work or study in the UK will also be affected. The Skilled Worker visa fee for stays of up to three years will increase from £769 to £819, while applications exceeding three years will rise from £1,519 to £1,618.
Similarly, the Student visa fee will increase from £524 to £558, impacting applicants both within and outside the UK.
More significant adjustments are seen in settlement-related applications.
The fee for Indefinite Leave to Remain will increase from £1,938 to £2,064, marking one of the most notable hikes in the latest review.
Citizenship application fees are also set to rise. Naturalisation will increase from £1,605 to £1,709, while adult registration remains unchanged at £1,540.
However, there is a slight relief for families, as the cost of child registration will decrease from £1,214 to £1,000.
In 2023, the UK government had earlier introduced a sharp increase in student visa application fees, raising them from £127 to £490, an increase of 385%.
Beyond student visa fees, visit visa application charges were also increased from £100 to £115 during the same period.
By January 2025, international students applying for UK study visas were required to demonstrate higher financial capacity for living expenses.
Students studying in London must show £1,483 per month, while those outside London are required to provide proof of £1,136 monthly.