United Kingdom Increases Visa Fees

The United Kingdom government, through its United Kingdom — Home Office, announced a comprehensive increase in fees for a wide range of visa, residency, and citizenship applications, effective April 8, 2026. This move will significantly impact foreign nationals, especially those from Nigeria, who are among the largest groups applying for United Kingdom visas annually. The revised fee schedule shows increases across nearly all categories, including visit visas, student visas, work visas, settlement applications, and naturalisation fees. For example, a short-term visit visa will rise from £127 to £135, and a student visa from £524 to £558. The fee for indefinite leave to remain will increase from £3,029 to £3,226, and British citizenship through naturalisation will cost £1,709, up from £1,605. In a rare exception, the fee for registering a child as a British citizen will be reduced from £1,214 to £1,000. These changes are expected to strain prospective applicants due to the rising cost of living and fluctuating exchange rates between currencies like the Nigeria — Nigerian naira and the United Kingdom — Pound sterling.