UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Thursday that visa fees and the health surcharge for visa applicants will be going up significantly. The increase is expected to raise over £1 billion, which will be used to help meet the rising costs of the National Health Service (NHS).

The health surcharge is a fee that visa applicants have to pay to the NHS to help cover the cost of their healthcare while they are in the UK. The surcharge is currently £470 per year for a student or Youth Mobility Scheme visa, and £624 per year for all other visa and immigration applications.

The new fees have not yet been announced, but Sunak said that they would be "significantly" higher than the current levels. He also said that the government would be looking at ways to make the surcharge more progressive, so that those who can afford to pay more do so.

The announcement has been met with criticism from some quarters, who argue that the increase will make it more difficult for people to come to the UK to work and study. However, the government has said that the increase is necessary to ensure that the NHS is sustainable in the long term.

Here are some of the key details of the announcement:
  • Visa fees and health surcharge to go up significantly.
  • Increase expected to raise over £1 billion.
  • Money to be used to help meet rising costs of NHS.
  • Health surcharge to be made more progressive.
  • Announcement met with criticism from some quarters.

The increase in visa fees and the health surcharge is likely to have a significant impact on people who are planning to come to the UK. It is important to factor in these costs when making plans, and to check the latest information on the government website.