KATHMANDU: The British government on Thursday hiked the visa fees by 2.5 per cent.

UK Border Agency has revised the fees which will come into effect from April 6, a press release issued by British Embassy Kathmandu on Thursday said, adding that visa fees are reviewed regularly and agreed on by the parliament.

According the fee changes, the short term visit visa fee increases from £67 to £68, tier 1 (general, investor, entrepreneur) increases from £675 to £690, tier 2 (skilled worker) increases from £265 to £270, the 5-year multiple entry visa increases from £400 to £420 and the 10-year visa increases from £500 to £610.

Similarly, the tier 4 student visa fee increases from £145 to £199, the settlement visa fee increases from £585 to £644 while the dependent relative visa is being introduced at a cost of £1680, the release states.

In most visa categories, the maximum fee increase is 2.5 per cent. Some fees continue to be set at a level lower than the actual processing cost because it is considered to be in the interests of the UK to do so, the release said, adding that a new visa category of “dependent relative” is being introduced. This category allows grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles and siblings who are over the age of 18 to join family members who are settled in the UK or being admitted for the purpose of settlement.

According to the release, the full list of new fee levels will be available at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas and given in rupees at www.vfs-uk-np.com.