[ad_1]
The UK government is to put up the prices of visas by 15 to 20 per cent for international visitors from next month to help pay for public sector pay rises.
From 4 October, the cost of a visa for less than six months will rise by £15 to £115, while the price of a student visa will go up by £127 to £490.
“Income from fees charged plays a vital role in the Home Office’s ability to run a sustainable immigration and nationality system,” said the government in a statement.
“Careful consideration is given when setting fees to help reduce the funding contribution from British taxpayers, whilst continuing to provide a service that remains attractive to those wishing to work in the UK and support broader prosperity for all.”
The government had already announced a 15 per cent rise in the cost of most UK work and visiting visas in July. There will be an even higher increase in the fees for priority visas, study visas and certificates of sponsorship, which will rise by at least 20 per cent.
The UK is also to start implementing its new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system for visitors coming from visa-free countries, which will be phased in from October when it will initially only apply to visitors from Qatar. The ETA will have an initial fee of £10 per passenger.
The UK’s ETA will operate in a similar way to the US’s longstanding ESTA system for non-visa travellers and once granted it will be valid for multiple visits over a two-year period.
It will allow visitors to come to the UK for up to six months for tourism, business, study and visiting family and friends. It is also required for those transiting through a UK airport to another destination even if they are not going through border control.
Qatari nationals will be able to apply for the new online authorisation from 25 October for travel to the UK from 15 November onwards.
The system will then be expanded to visitors from other Gulf states – Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – in early 2024. People from these countries will be able to apply for an ETA from 1 February for travel to the UK from 22 February.
The requirement to apply for an ETA will then be rolled out to citizens of other countries, including those from the 27 EU member states.
The EU is also planning to introduce its own new travel authorisation system, known as ETIAS, in the works as well, although its introduction has been delayed until 2024.
[ad_2]
Source link