The United Kingdom has announced an increase in visa application fees across multiple categories, with the cost of a standard short-term visitor visa rising to about ₦249,000 for Nigerian applicants.
The changes affect visitor visas, student visas, work visas, settlement applications, citizenship-related fees, and employer sponsor licences.
Some estimates indicate that Nigerians may now need between ₦5.5 million To ₦27 million to “Japa.”
The increase will affect the Electronic Travel Authorisation, or ETA, which many travelers now need before boarding for the UK.
Under the revised fee schedule released by the UK Home Office, the six-month visitor visa will increase from £127 to £135, while long-term visitor visas of two, five, and ten years will also see notable hikes.
Student visa applications will rise from £524 to £558, while the cost of naturalisation as a British citizen will increase to £1,709, reflecting broader adjustments across immigration routes.
The changes, which take effect from April 8, 2026, will affect thousands of Nigerians planning to visit, study, work, or settle in the United Kingdom, as nearly all visa categories have been impacted by the new pricing structure.
However, in a rare reduction, the fee for registering a child as a British citizen has been cut from £1,214 to £1,000, providing some relief for families.
The ETA will rise from £16 ($21) to £20 ($27).
A six-month visitor visa will increase from £127 ($171) to £135 ($181).
A student visa will go from £524 ($704) to £558 ($749).
Skilled Worker visa fees will also rise, including the main categories used by employers bringing staff into the country.
International students already face high tuition and living costs, so another visa increase adds pressure at the start of the journey. Employers sponsoring overseas staff will also pay more. A large Worker Sponsor Licence will rise from GBP 1,579 ($2,120) to GBP 1,682 ($2,259), while the small sponsor fee will increase from GBP 574 ($771) to GBP 611 ($820).
Settlement routes are becoming more expensive too.
Indefinite leave to remain will rise from GBP 3,029 ($4,067) to GBP 3,226 ($4,332), and citizenship-related fees are also increasing.
