UK to Increase Visa Fees for Foreign Applicants in 2026

The UK government announced a broad increase in visa application fees for foreign study and work applicants, set to take effect on April 8, 2026. This fee adjustment is part of a wider review of immigration-related costs and aims to revise the fee structure across multiple visa categories.

Short-term visit visas will rise from £127 to £135, while long-term visit visas will see significant increases; a two-year visit visa will cost £506, and five and ten-year visas will increase to £903 and £1,128, respectively. The changes also affect various immigration routes, including those for indefinite leave to remain and dependents of armed forces members.

Despite these increases, the administrative review fee will remain unchanged at £80. This fee hike occurs amid a decline in overall study visa volumes, with the UK granting 431,725 sponsored study visas by the end of June 2025, marking an 18% decline year-on-year and a 34% drop from the peak level in 2023.