UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has revealed plans to substantially raise the visa fees and healthcare surcharges paid by visitors, including those from India, to support the country’s state-funded National Health Service (NHS). While the government has not confirmed the exact increase, reports indicate it might be around 15-20 per cent.
UK PM Lays Down The Reason For The Hike
"If we're going to prioritise paying public sector workers more, that money has to come from somewhere else because I'm not prepared to put up people's taxes, and I don't think it would be responsible or right to borrow more because that would just make inflation worse," Sunak told reporters.
"So, what we have done are two things to find this money. The first is we are going to increase the charges that we have for migrants who are coming to this country when they apply for visas and indeed something called the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which is the levy that they pay to access the NHS," he said.
For Indian nationals moving to the UK, the most popular route is the skilled worker visa. In 2022, in the UK, Indian nationals received nearly 103,000 work visas, a 148 per cent increase over the previous year. Moreover, 46 per cent of all skilled work visas granted in 2022 went to Indian nationals, according to Yash Dubal, director of AY&J Solicitors, a London-based UK immigration solicitor who caters to Indians.
Costs Of Moving To The UK
When it comes to the UK, there are also various costs associated with different types of visas. "The application fee for a skilled worker visa, for example, ranges from £625 to £1,423 depending on circumstances. Applicants must also pay the healthcare surcharge, which is usually £624 per year and must have at least £1,270 available to them.
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) applies to long-term migrants, including students, who are relocating to the UK. The cost of the IHS starts from approximately £470 per year and increases for visa applications covering multiple years. The exact amount can vary depending on the specific visa category and the duration of the visa. It is important to note that the IHS is typically payable upfront for the entire duration of the visa application. The revised rates will increase the costs of moving to the UK as a skilled worker.
The UK Home Office is expected to provide detailed information on the categories of visas that will see fee hikes and the implementation dates for the new higher rates. These specific details are anticipated to be announced in the coming months. It is advisable to stay updated with government sources or consult with immigration advisors to obtain the latest and most accurate information regarding visa fee changes.
