The UK Home Office has announced a comprehensive increase in visa, residency, and citizenship application fees, set to take effect from April 8, 2026. The changes will impact Nigerians and other foreign nationals planning to visit, study, work, or settle in the United Kingdom.
According to the revised fee schedule, the increases cut across nearly all visa categories, including visit visas, student visas, work permits, settlement applications, and naturalisation processes. Nigeria remains one of the largest sources of applicants to the UK, with significant numbers applying annually.
For instance, the short-term visit visa will rise from £127 to £135, while the student visa will increase from £524 to £558. Applicants seeking permanent residency will now pay £3,226, up from £3,029, and those applying for British citizenship will pay £1,709, up from £1,605.
In a notable exception, the fee for registering a child as a British citizen will drop from £1,214 to £1,000. Meanwhile, some visa categories, such as the Tier 1 (Investor) visa (£2,000) and the High Potential Individual visa (£880), remain unchanged.
Below is the full breakdown of updated UK visa and immigration fees relevant to Nigerians:
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
Visiting academic (more than 6 months, up to 12 months): Old: £220, New: £234
Private medical treatment (more than 6 months, up to 11 months): Old: £220, New: £234
Direct airside transit visa: Old: £39, New: £41.50
Landside transit visit visa: Old: £70, New: £74.50
STUDENT VISAS
Student (main applicant and dependants): Old: £524, New: £558
Child Student: Old: £524, New: £558
Short-term student (English language, over 6 months up to 11 months): Old: £214, New: £228
WORK VISAS
Skilled Worker – up to 3 years: Old: £769, New: £819
Skilled Worker – over 3 years: Old: £1,519, New: £1,618
Skilled Worker (Immigration Salary List) – up to 3 years: Old: £590, New: £628
Skilled Worker (Immigration Salary List) – over 3 years: Old: £1,160, New: £1,235
Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – up to 3 years: Old: £304, New: £324
Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – over 3 years: Old: £590, New: £628
Innovator Founder: Old: £1,274, New: £1,357
Start-up: Old: £465, New: £495
Scale-up: Old: £880, New: £937
High Potential Individual: Old: £880, New: £880 (unchanged)
Graduate Route: Old: £880, New: £937
T2 Minister of Religion: Old: £769, New: £819
International Sportsperson – up to 12 months: Old: £319, New: £340
International Sportsperson – over 12 months: Old: £769, New: £819
Temporary Work (Seasonal Worker, Religious Worker, Charity Worker, Creative Worker, International Agreement, Government Authorised Exchange, Youth Mobility Scheme, India Young Professionals Scheme): Old: £319, New: £340
Representative of an overseas business: Old: £769, New: £819
Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker (up to 3 years): Old: £769, New: £819
Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker (over 3 years): Old: £1,519, New: £1,618
Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee: Old: £319, New: £340
Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier: Old: £319, New: £340
Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker: Old: £319, New: £340
Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker: Old: £319, New: £340
SETTLEMENT AND INDEFINITE LEAVE
Route to Settlement: Old: £1,938, New: £2,064
Route to Settlement – other dependant relative: Old: £3,413, New: £3,635
Route to Settlement – refugee dependant relative: Old: £424, New: £452
Indefinite leave to remain: Old: £3,029, New: £3,226
Visitor Extension (in-country): Old: £1,100, New: £1,172
Leave to remain – Other: Old: £1,321, New: £1,407
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
Certificate of travel (adult): Old: £300, New: £320
Certificate of travel (child): Old: £151, New: £161
Convention travel document (adult): Old: £94.50, New: £102
Convention travel document (child): Old: £61.50, New: £66.50
NATIONALITY AND CITIZENSHIP
Naturalisation (British citizenship): Old: £1,605, New: £1,709
Registration as British citizen – adult: Old: £1,446, New: £1,540
Registration as British citizen – child: Old: £1,214, New: £1,000 (reduced)
Renunciation of nationality: Old: £482, New: £513
Nationality review: Old: £482, New: £513
Status Letter (Nationality): Old: £459, New: £489
Non-acquisition Letter (Nationality): Old: £459, New: £489
These adjustments reflect a broad policy shift by the UK government, with most application routes becoming more expensive for prospective migrants, including Nigerians seeking opportunities abroad.
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