https://www.expat.com/en/expat-mag/9490-global-study-destinations-tighten-rules-for-international-students-changes-in-visa-fees-and-financial-criteria.html
The UK's government has done the same thing, but the hike has been steeper there. Before October 2023, a student visa, which a non-citizen applied for outside the UK, cost £363. Now, it is £127 more expensive, that is £490. This is accompanied by a hike in the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fee that is automatically included in the visa application process. Currently, the IHS fee is £470, but the British government announced in September 2023 that it would soon be increased to £776. They have not given an exact date for the increase, but it will most definitely apply to international students coming to the UK in the autumn of 2024.
The total cost for the visa plus the IHS fee means that international students will now need to pay a dramatic £1,266 just to enter the country – much higher than other expensive student visas, including the American and Australian ones. The UK government has justified this dramatic hike by saying it is necessary to fund upcoming public sector pay rises and key public services.
The IHS fee for work visa applicants will also increase by a dramatic 66% in January 2024. This will affect international graduates applying for the Graduate Visa, the scheme that allows them to work in the UK for 2 years post-graduation. They will now need to pay £1,035 instead of £624 for the IHS for each year of their work visa. This means that for a 2-year work permit, they will need to pay a £2,070 healthcare surcharge. As this hike was only recently announced, current international students who are planning to apply for the Graduate Visa in 2024 might not have budgeted for an amount that's more than twice as high as they were expecting.
UK student & work visa fees increase
The UK's government has done the same thing, but the hike has been steeper there. Before October 2023, a student visa, which a non-citizen applied for outside the UK, cost £363. Now, it is £127 more expensive, that is £490. This is accompanied by a hike in the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fee that is automatically included in the visa application process. Currently, the IHS fee is £470, but the British government announced in September 2023 that it would soon be increased to £776. They have not given an exact date for the increase, but it will most definitely apply to international students coming to the UK in the autumn of 2024.
The total cost for the visa plus the IHS fee means that international students will now need to pay a dramatic £1,266 just to enter the country – much higher than other expensive student visas, including the American and Australian ones. The UK government has justified this dramatic hike by saying it is necessary to fund upcoming public sector pay rises and key public services.
The IHS fee for work visa applicants will also increase by a dramatic 66% in January 2024. This will affect international graduates applying for the Graduate Visa, the scheme that allows them to work in the UK for 2 years post-graduation. They will now need to pay £1,035 instead of £624 for the IHS for each year of their work visa. This means that for a 2-year work permit, they will need to pay a £2,070 healthcare surcharge. As this hike was only recently announced, current international students who are planning to apply for the Graduate Visa in 2024 might not have budgeted for an amount that's more than twice as high as they were expecting.