Prime Minister for the United Kingdom (UK), Rishi Sunak, has announced the increase in visa application fees as part of efforts to address revenue shortfalls.

In an address at Downing Street on July 13, Sunak outlined government priorities, including reducing inflation, economic growth, and debt reduction.

He also mentioned a substantial pay award for teachers to prevent a potential strike.

To bridge the revenue gap, Sunak announced two measures targeting migrants as a means of generating necessary funding.

“We are going to increase the charges for migrants when they are applying for visas to come to this country and indeed something called the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is the levy that they pay to access the NHS,” he told the press.

The charges for visa applications and the Immigration Health Surcharge, which grants access to the NHS, will both be increased. These tax measures are expected to generate over a billion pounds in revenue.

“So, across the board, visa application fees are going to go up significantly… none of these fees have been increased recently and we think it is appropriate given that cost of everything has gone up,” he added.

Sunak justified the fee hikes by stating that they hadn't been increased recently and that the cost of living has risen.

“So, across the board, visa application fees are going to go up significantly… none of these fees have been increased recently and we think it is appropriate given that cost of everything has gone up,” he added.

The Foreign Office will roll out the increases in the coming days and weeks. It's worth noting that the United States recently raised visa fees for certain non-immigrant visa categories, a practice criticized for potentially exploiting applicants even in the case of rejected applications.

UK visa application fees are about to increase “significantly,” says PM Rishi Sunakpic.twitter.com/2FUT430oqg— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) July 13, 2023