UK Announces Hike in Visa and Citizenship Fees, Nigerians Among Those Affected

The UK Home Office has announced an increase in visa, residency, and citizenship application fees, effective April 8, 2026. The adjustment spans nearly all immigration categories, impacting Nigerians and other foreign nationals seeking entry into the UK for travel, study, work, or permanent settlement.

Under the new fee structure, short-term visit visas (up to six months) rise from £127 to £135, while student visas increase from £524 to £558. Indefinite leave to remain will now cost £3,226, up from £3,029, and naturalisation as a British citizen rises from £1,605 to £1,709.

Long-term visas also see increases: the two-year visa moves from £475 to £506, the five-year visa from £848 to £903, and the 10-year visa from £1,059 to £1,128. Work-related visas are affected as well, with the Skilled Worker visa for up to three years increasing from £769 to £819, and applications beyond three years from £1,519 to £1,618. Health and Care visa fees for up to three years rise from £304 to £324.

Other visa categories, including Innovator Founder, Start-up, Scale-up, and Graduate Route visas, also saw moderate hikes. Exceptions include the High Potential Individual visa, which remains at £880, the Tier 1 (Investor) visa at £2,000, and a reduction in fees for registering a child as a British citizen from £1,214 to £1,000.

Settlement-related applications have also been adjusted: the standard route to settlement now costs £2,064 (up from £1,938), while dependent relative applications rise to £3,635.

The fee review comes amid sustained interest from Nigerians in studying and working in the UK, despite stricter immigration policies and rising costs. The new rates apply to all applications submitted on or after April 8, 2026.