Visas to the UK and Australia will now cost much more for Indians: What is changing is as follows:
Indians who intend to travel to Australia or the United Kingdom would have to pay more for their visas starting on April 1. The UK and Australia have announced a new visa fee structure for foreign applicants in accordance with the United States of America’s increase in immigration fees.
According to reports, this increase in visa fees is over 13% higher than the going prices.
Who Will It Affect?
A number of visa types, including work-related, student, and regular guest visas, will be affected by this increase in visa fees.
It is anticipated to have an effect on Indian professionals and students looking for work in Australia and the UK.
New Cost Schedule For UK Visas
The UK government will now levy the following fees in accordance with the updated visa and immigration fee structure:
- A six-month regular visiting visa will now cost roughly ₹14,000 (£127), instead of the previous £115 (₹12,700).
- Long-term visit visas: Previously costing £432, a two-year visa will now cost ₹52,392 (£475).
- The cost of the five-year visas has increased from £771 to £93,533 (£848).
- The fee for ten-year visas has increased from £963 to ₹116,806 (£1,059).
- Student visa charges
- The standard charge for a student visa will increase from £490 to ₹57,796 (£524). The Child Student visa is subject to the precise rate.
- For English language courses lasting six to eleven months, short-term study visas will now cost ₹23,604 (£214) instead of £200.
- Work-related permits
- The cost of a skilled worker visa will go up to ₹84,820 (£769) for stays of up to three years.
- The new price for the Innovator Founder visa is ₹140,520 (£1,274).
- Sponsorship costs for employers
- The cost of sponsorship for employers has increased to ₹57,907 (£525) for a Certificate of Sponsorship. The current amount of £239 is more than doubled.
- The cost of sponsor licences for big businesses would increase to ₹174,162 (£1,579).
- Charities and small enterprises will now be required to pay £574 for sponsor licence costs.
Additionally, there is now a new ₹1,765 (£16) cost for the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Travellers from nations like the US and the EU that do not require a visa will be affected by this. The fee is £10 at the moment.
Fees For Tuition
In light of the present inflation, the UK government has permitted institutions in England to increase tuition costs. Since 2017, this fee has been frozen.
Over the course of five years, the present annual cap of ₹10,20,265 (£9,250) will progressively rise to ₹11,58,139 (£10,500). Students who begin their academic year in 2025–2026 are anticipated to be impacted by this.
International tuition costs at several Australian universities have also gone up since 2025; certain courses have had increases of more than 7%.
Engineering students at the University of Melbourne will pay AUD 56,480 (about ₹30.36 lakh) a year, while clinical medicine students will pay AUD 112,832 (about ₹60.66 lakh).
The majority of courses at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) cost AUD 58,560 annually. “A significant amount of revenue is contributed by international students, and cost pressures have necessitated adjustments,” it stated.