UK Student Visa Fees Increased by £34 for all International Students in 2026

The UK Home Office has announced an increase in UK student visa fees for all international applicants coming to study in the UK in 2026-27. This change will come into practice from 08 April 2026. 

The UK government has just announced a fee hike for the UK student visa which will be implemented from 08 April 2026. The Student Visa fee will rise from £524 to £558 - a £34 or roughly 6.5% increase. Hence, all those applying for a UK visa on or after 8th April 2026 will now have to pay a higher amount than last year. 

Indian nationals, who constitute the largest group of international student visa applicants in the UK, will be affected across almost every visa pathway. 

What Has the UK Government Announced? 

The UK Home Office has recently confirmed the revision of immigration and visa fees. The increase in fees for most visa categories ranges from 6-7%; however, the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee will see the sharpest increase of over 25%. This is applicable for prospective students, skilled workers, temporary workers, visitors and those seeking long-term settlement or British citizenship. Indian applicants (the largest visa applicants in the UK) will be affected for almost every pathway.

Impact on Indian Students: The Full Picture

The UK student visa application fee is only one component of what Indian applicants must pay upfront. The other, significantly larger component is the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) which covers access to the National Health Service (NHS) during the course of study for students. IHS is calculated per year of the course and must be paid in full at the time of application, not annually.

At the current student rate of £776 per year for IHS, here is what Indian applicants are looking at before they pay a single rupee in tuition - 

At current exchange rates, a student enrolling in a one-year master's program in the UK must have approximately ₹1.66 lakh available upfront - just for the visa fee and health surcharge combined. For a three-year undergraduate degree, that figure rises to over ₹4.09 lakh.
This is the money that must be arranged before the student boards a flight, before paying a security deposit and before any cost of living in the UK begins.

All UK Visa Fee Changes: April 8, 2026

The fee revision is not limited to UK student visas. Here are the UK Visa Fees changes that are going to be implemented from 08 April 2026 - 

Should You Apply Before April 8?

So, if your UK study or work plans are confirmed and your application is ready to submit, applying before April 8, 2026 would lock in current fees and save you between £34 (for student visas) to £197 (for settlement (ILR) applications). 

However, rushing an incomplete or under-prepared application solely to save on fees is rarely advisable. An unsuccessful application wastes the full fee, which is non-refundable in most cases. Ensure your documents, finances and supporting evidence are in order before applying.

Key Takeaways for Indian Applicants

• The UK student visa fee rises from £524 to £558 from April 8, 2026.
  • This does not include the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which adds £776 per year of study on top.
  • Total upfront costs for a 1-year Master's: approximately ₹1.66 lakh. For a 3-year undergraduate degree: approximately ₹4.09 lakh.
• Skilled Worker and ILR applicants also face significant fee increases.
• Child Citizenship Registration is the only category where fees have been reduced.
• Only apply early if your application is fully prepared - rushed, incomplete applications risk losing the entire fee.

This was all about the latest changes in UK Visa Fees in 2026 for Indian applicants. Those in the process should hurry and apply - to avoid the hiked fee.