Visiting, working or naturalising in the UK just got more expensive
Yep, visa fees have increased, making it even more expensive for South Africans to visit, work or remain in the UK
The Home Office has just released the visa fee increases for entry into the UK, and it’s not looking good for us Saffas. It’s hard enough getting into the UK, and now it’s that much more expensive to visit, work, set up shop or gain British citizenship.
While a visitors visa for less than six months has only gone up from £83 to £85, visiting for less than a year will cost you £162 instead of £150. A visitor’s visa for less than two years has risen from £300 to £324.
Those wishing to work temporarily in the UK will have to pay £225 instead of £208 for their Tier 5 Temporary Visa.
The fee for Indefinite Leave to Remain has increased from £1093 to £1500. A great number of Australians in the UK apply for this status each year, making the increase rather significant, Immigration Manager at 1st Contact Visas John Dunn told TheSouthAfrican.
“A large majority of all visas end in a person being eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, after a five year continuous stay in the UK. The £407 increase can also be compounded, if a person needs to use the fast track service, as that would increase their total fee payable to £1900 for their application,” said Dunn.
Those hoping to naturalise as a British citizen will now have to pay £925 instead of £826. And those wishing to register as a British citizen will have to cough up £833, as opposed to last year’s rate of £743. Registering your child has gone up from £669 to £749.
Settlement visas (spousal and fiancé visas) have increased by £71.
“With the maintenance requirement for the settlement visas currently sitting on £18,600 without dependents, it just adds to the cost and makes it more difficult to enter the UK as a spouse or Fiancé of a British citizen,” said Dunn.
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