The UK Home Office has announced an increase in fees for a wide range of visa, residency and citizenship applications, with the new charges set to take effect from April 8, 2026.
The development will directly affect Nigerians and other foreign nationals seeking to travel, study, work or settle in the United Kingdom, one of the top destinations for migrants from Nigeria.
According to the revised fee schedule released by the Home Office, nearly all visa categories will see an upward review. These include visit visas, student visas, work permits, settlement applications and naturalisation processes.
The changes are coming barely two weeks before implementation and are expected to impact hundreds of thousands of Nigerian applicants annually, given Nigeria’s position as one of the largest sources of UK visa applications.
Key Changes for Nigerians
Under the new structure:
The standard short-term visit visa (up to six months) will rise from £127 to £135.
Student visa fees will increase from £524 to £558.
The cost of applying for indefinite leave to remain (permanent residency) will rise from £3,029 to £3,226.
Naturalisation as a British citizen will increase from £1,605 to £1,709.
However, in a rare move, the fee for registering a child as a British citizen has been reduced from £1,214 to £1,000.
Breakdown of Visa Categories
Visit Visas
Fees for all visit visa categories are increasing. Long-term visas now range from £506 for two years to £1,128 for 10 years. Transit visas have also been adjusted slightly upward.
Student Visas
All student-related visas, including those for dependants and short-term English language courses, will see increases, with the main student visa now costing £558.
Work Visas
Most work visa categories are affected:
Skilled Worker visas will rise to £819 (up to three years) and £1,618 (over three years).
Health and Care visas will increase to £324 and £628 respectively.
Other categories such as Innovator Founder, Start-up, and Scale-up visas have also been adjusted upward.
However, some visa types, including the High Potential Individual visa (£880) and Tier 1 (Investor) visa (£2,000), remain unchanged.
Settlement and Residency
Applicants seeking long-term stay or settlement will also face higher costs:
Indefinite leave to remain: £3,226
Settlement route: £2,064
Dependant relative route: up to £3,635
Citizenship and Nationality
Citizenship-related fees have also increased:
Naturalisation: £1,709
Adult registration: £1,540
Child registration: reduced to £1,000
Other services such as renunciation, nationality review, and status letters have also recorded modest increases.
The fee hike is expected to place additional financial pressure on Nigerians planning to relocate or travel to the UK, especially students and families.
With rising living costs globally, the increase may also influence migration decisions, particularly for those seeking long-term residency or citizenship.
Despite the increases, the UK remains a major destination for Nigerians due to its education system, job opportunities and established diaspora community.
The Home Office has not provided detailed reasons for the adjustments, but such reviews are typically aimed at covering administrative costs and managing immigration demand.
As the new fees take effect from April 8, prospective applicants are advised to review the updated charges carefully and make early applications where possible to avoid higher costs.
