UK introduces whopping increases in visa fees which look set to hit Nigerians hard

NIGERIANS wishing to travel to the United Kingdom will have to pay more for their visas from October 4 as the UK Home Office has announced a significant increase for various categories including visiting and student 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), representing a whopping 667% increase. Meanwhile a visiting 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), representing a 286% increase in. A student visa for more than three years will cost £556 (N540,906.36), up from £348 (N338,437.32).

According to the UK government, the visa fee hike is part of its plan to rebalance the immigration system and ensure that those who benefit most from it contribute fairly to its funding. Also, 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.

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

Historically, the UK has been 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 the fourth largest source of non-EU students in the UK in 2020, with 13,730 Nigerian pupils taking up courses. A former British colony which gained independence in 1960, Nigeria was created by the UK after her two protectorates were amalgamated on January 1 1914.