United Kingdom and Australia to Increase Visa Costs for Indian Applicants by Approximately 13% Commencing From...
Rewritten Article:
Get ready to shell out more bucks if you're an Indian eyeing a overseas adventure! April 1, 2025, marks the day when visa and education expenses escalate for international travelers, job seekers, and students in the UK, Australia, and the European Union.
Let's break it down:
UK, April 2025 - Visa Fee Hike
The British government is shaking things up, adjusting visa and immigration fees across several categories. Here's the lowdown:
- A six-month standard visitor visa swings from £115 to £127.
- Long-term visit visas are no longer a steal:
- Two-year visa: £432 to £475.
- Five-year visa: £771 to £848.
- Ten-year visa: £963 to £1,059.
- For students and child students, the visa fee will climb from £490 to £524.
- Short-term study visas, meant for English language courses of 6-11 months, will jump from £200 to £214.
- Skilled Worker visa, valid for up to three years, will now set you back £719 instead of £769.
- The Innovator Founder visa sees a boost from £1,191 to £1,274.
- For employers:
- Certificate of Sponsorship is now £239 instead of £525.
- Sponsor license fee for large companies climbs to £1,579 from £574, whereas small businesses and charities see a rise from £574 to £1,579.
- On top of this, the UK will introduce a £16 Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee for visa-exempt travellers, replacing the current £10 charge.
- In a move that might affect students starting in the 2025-26 academic year, university fees in the UK will gradually rise with inflation, with the annual cap increasing from £9,250 to £10,500 over five years.
Australia, April 2025 - Education Investment
While I couldn't find specific visa fee increases in Australia, you can expect some rise in visa fees in April 2025[2].
European Union, April 2025 - New Entry System
The EU is gearing up for a new travel system dubbed the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). This system will cost €7 and will be valid for three years. It applies to Schengen countries like France, Germany, Spain, and Italy.
Additional changes include the EU's Introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES), which replaces manual passport stamps with automated biometric checks, including facial scans and fingerprints. The system streamlines border processing and records all entries and exits.
US Visa Fees - Already Revised in 2024
In 2024, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) adjusted its fee structure. Most employment-based visas, including H-1B, saw a hike in fees. Form I-129 (for work visas) now costs up to $780, depending on the visa type and company size.
Between the UK, Australia, and the EU, rising visa and tuition costs are set to put a squeeze on international students, workers, and travelers.
Stay updated with DNA for the latest news from the UK, Australia, and the European Union, including sports, entertainment, lifestyle, and more!
- UK
- Australia
- EU
- visa fees
- April 2025
- study abroad
- foreign students
- travel permit
- visitor visa
- work visa
- student visa
- immigration
- UK tuition fees
- Australia tuition
- ETIAS
- Schengen
- Skilled Worker visa
- Innovator visa
- Certificate of Sponsorship
- sponsor licence
- Government Policy
- Higher Education
- inflation
- USCIS
- US visa fees
- employment-based visas
- Schengen Visa
- European Travel Authorisation
- ETA
- travel expenses
- cost increase
Insights:
- The UK has revealed clear changes in the fees associated with visit visas, student visas, short-term study visas, skilled worker visas, innovator visas, sponsorship, sponsor licenses, electronic travel authorization (ETA), and university tuition fees.
- Australia is expected to increase visa fees in April 2025, much like the UK and EU.
- The European Union will introduce the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and the Entry/Exit System (EES) from mid-2025, which aims to speed up border processing and record all entries and exits.
- In April 2025, the cost of a standard visitor visa in the UK will increase from £115 to £127.
- For those seeking long-term visit visas in the UK, the fees will see significant increases, with a two-year visa costing £475 instead of £432, a five-year visa costing £848 instead of £771, and a ten-year visa costing £1,059 instead of £963.
- The increased visa costs are not limited to visit visas alone, as student visas will also become costlier, with the fee climbing from £490 to £524.
- In addition to the visa fee hikes, university fees in the UK are expected to rise with inflation, with the annual cap increasing from £9,250 to £10,500 over five years.
- In the European Union, the EU is introducing the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and the Entry/Exit System (EES) in April 2025, which will cost €7 and be valid for three years.
