Visa fees for Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the European Union (EU) will increase, impacting Indian travellers, students, and professionals. The revised charges will apply across various visa categories, including short-term visits, work sponsorships, and long-term university courses.
UK Visa Fee Hike
Under the new pricing structure, the cost of a six-month standard visitor visa for the UK will rise from GBP 115 (INR 12,700) to GBP 127 (INR 14,000). Other long-term visa categories will also see increases:
Two-year visa: GBP 475 (previously GBP 432)
Five-year visa: GBP 848 (previously GBP 771)
Ten-year visa: GBP 1,059 (previously GBP 963)
Australian Tuition Fees Set to Rise
In addition to visa hikes, Australian universities will increase tuition fees by over 7%. Notable fee hikes include:
Engineering programs: AUD 56,480 (INR 30.36 lakh) per year
Clinical medicine courses: AUD 112,832 (INR 60.66 lakh) in Melbourne
Sydney universities: Most courses priced at AUD 58,560 annually
New EU Digital Entry Permit
The European Union will introduce a GBP 7 digital entry permit for visa-exempt travellers, valid for three years. However, Indian citizens will still need a Schengen visa to visit EU countries.
These changes come as part of policy adjustments by immigration authorities, affecting thousands of Indian travellers planning to visit, work, or study abroad.