UK Hikes Visa Fees for Nigerians by Up to 667 Percent

Nigerians who wish to travel to the United Kingdom will have to pay more for their visas from October 4, 2021.The UK Home Office has announced a significant increase in the visa fees for various categories, including visit, study, and work visas.

According to the new visa pricing table, a standard visit visa for less than six months will cost £115 (N111,878.28), up from £15 (N14,592.70). This is a whopping 667 percent increase in the visa fee.

A visit visa for more than six months but less than two years will cost £470 (N457,333.18), up from £361 (N351,118.98).

Similarly, a student visa for up to three years will cost £490 (N476,677.59), up from £127 (N123,537.58). This is a 286 percent increase in the visa fee. A student visa for more than three years will cost £556 (N540,906.36), up from £348 (N338,437.32).

The UK government said that the visa fee hike is part of its plan to “rebalance the UK’s immigration system” and “ensure that those who benefit most from it contribute fairly to its funding”.

The government also said that the increased revenue will help pay for “vital services and allow more funding to be prioritised for public sector pay rises”.

The visa fee increase has been met with criticism and dismay by many Nigerians who see it as a barrier to travel, education, and business opportunities in the UK. Some have also questioned the rationale behind the hike, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact.

The UK is one of the most popular destinations for Nigerians who travel abroad for various reasons, such as tourism, education, medical treatment, family reunion, and work.

According to the UK Office for National Statistics, Nigeria was the fifth largest source of non-EU visitors to the UK in 2019, with 205,000 visits. Nigeria was also the fourth largest source of non-EU students in the UK in 2020, with 13,730 students.

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