The United Kingdom government will increase fees for a wide range of visas, residency applications and citizenship processes from April 8, 2026, with the hike affecting Nigerians and other foreign nationals seeking to visit, study, work or settle in the country.
The revised fee schedule, published by the UK Home Office and sighted by PUNCH Online on Thursday, shows increases across virtually all categories of visa applications made both inside and outside the UK, with affected categories spanning visit visas, student visas, work visas, settlement applications and naturalisation fees.
The increases, which take effect in less than two weeks, come as Nigeria remains one of the largest sources of visa applicants to the UK, with hundreds of thousands of Nigerians applying annually for visit, student and work visas.
The short-term visit visa rises from £127 to £135, while the student visa increases from £524 to £558. Nigerians seeking permanent residency will pay £3,226, up from £3,029, and those applying to naturalise as British citizens will pay £1,709, up from £1,605.
In a rare exception to the broad pattern of increases, the fee for registering a child as a British citizen is being reduced — from £1,214 to £1,000, a cut of £214. All other fees either rise or remain unchanged. Some categories, including the Tier 1 (Investor) visa and the High Potential Individual visa, are unchanged at £2,000 and £880, respectively.
Here is the full list of 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
(Punch)
