UK Student Visa Fee Hiked By 6.5%: Indian Students To Pay Around ₹70,000 From April 8
· Free Press Journal
Study In UK: For the Indian students, who are looking to pursue their higher education in the UK, the cost has also increase as the UK government has announced an increase in student visa fees, which will come into effect on April 8, 2026.
According to the new fee structure, the standard UK student visa fee will increase to £558, up from the previous fee of £524. The increase will amount to £34, or 6.5%. The increase will amount to around ₹70,000, considering the current exchange rate, which will add to the cost for the thousands of applicants preparing for the upcoming academic session.
Visit newsbetting.bond for more information.
The increase in fees is part of the overall revision in the fees for immigration and visas, announced by the UK Home Office. The fees for most of the visa types, such as visitor visas, work visas, and settlement visas, have increased by around 6-7%. However, the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) has seen the steepest increase.
Costs go beyond Visa fee
Students are also required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which allows access to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).
Currently set at £776 per year, the IHS must be paid in full at the time of application. This means that a student enrolling in a one-year master’s programme would need to spend around ₹1.66 lakh upfront on visa and health surcharge alone. For a three-year undergraduate course, this figure crosses ₹4 lakh.
Should students apply early?
With the new fees coming into effect from April 8, students whose applications are ready can think of applying earlier to avoid the increased fees.
In fact, applying with incomplete or unprepared applications can lead to rejection, which means the entire amount spent on the visa fee, which is non-refundable, will go to waste.
The latest revision only adds to the growing list of the increasing cost of studying abroad, especially in a country like the UK.
While Indian students are already advised to be more financially prepared for the expenses of studying abroad, the growing list of fees that have to be borne by the students only adds to the woes of the aspiring students planning to go to the UK this season.