Both the United Kingdom and Canada have announced fee increases for immigration and citizenship applications in 2026, affecting Nigerians and other foreign nationals seeking to visit, study, work or settle in either country.

The UK’s revised fees take effect from April 8, 2026, while Canada’s updated permanent residence and citizenship charges follow on April 30, 2026.

A comparison of the two countries’ revised fee schedules, drawn from rates published by the UK Home Office and Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, shows the cost difference across categories.

Naira conversions are based on exchange rates of £1 to N1,822.81 and CA$1 to N992.36 as of April 2, 2026.

Categories revised by both countries:

Permanent residence and settlement

Canada’s revised permanent residence fees from April 30 cover seven categories.

The Right of Permanent Residence Fee rises from CA$575 to CA$600 (N595,416).

Under the Provincial Nominee Programme, the principal applicant fee increases from CA$950 to CA$990 (N982,436).

Business Class fees rise from CA$1,810 to CA$1,895 (N1,880,022), while Family Class moves from CA$545 to CA$570 (N565,645).

Protected Persons and Humanitarian and Compassionate Grounds applicants will pay CA$660 (N654,958) each, up from CA$635.

Permit Holders will pay CA$390 (N386,820), up from CA$375.

In the UK, indefinite leave to remain costs £3,226 (N5,878,544), up from £3,029.

The route to settlement costs £2,064 (N3,760,279), up from £1,938.

A dependant relative on the settlement route pays £3,635 (N6,625,913), up from £3,413, and a refugee dependant relative pays £452 (N823,910), up from £424.

Visitor extensions in-country cost £1,172 (N2,136,333), up from £1,100, and other leave to remain applications cost £1,407 (N2,564,593), up from £1,321.

Nationality and citizenship

Canada’s Right of Citizenship Fee rose from CA$119.75 to CA$123 (N122,060), effective March 31, 2026.

Canada also charges CA$100 (N99,236) for minor citizenship processing and CA$75 (N74,427) for a citizenship certificate, both unchanged.

In the UK, naturalisation as a British citizen costs £1,709 (N3,115,480), up from £1,605.

Adult registration as a British citizen costs £1,540 (N2,807,127), up from £1,446.

Child registration has been reduced from £1,214 to £1,000 (N1,822,810).

Other nationality fees include renunciation at £513 (N935,100), up from £482, nationality review at £513 (N935,100), up from £482, and status or non-acquisition letters at £489 (N891,255) each, up from £459.

Categories revised by the UK only:

Canada did not revise its temporary residence fees in April 2026. The following UK categories were updated from April 8.

Visit visas

The UK short-term visit visa of up to six months costs £135 (N246,080), up from £127.

Long-term visit visas cost £506 (N922,341) for up to two years, up from £475; £903 (N1,645,397) for up to five years, up from £848; and £1,128 (N2,056,129) for up to 10 years, up from £1,059.

The visiting academic and private medical treatment visa for stays of more than six months up to 12 months costs £234 (N426,537), up from £220.

The direct airside transit visa costs £41.50 (N75,647), up from £39, and the landside transit visit visa costs £74.50 (N135,799), up from £70.

Canada’s visitor visa remains at CA$100 (N99,236) per person for single or multiple entry. Families of five or more pay a capped CA$500 (N496,180).

Student visas

The UK student visa covering the main applicant and dependants costs £558 (N1,017,127), up from £524.

The child student visa costs £558 (N1,017,127), up from £524.

A short-term English language student visa for stays of over six months up to 11 months costs £228 (N415,601), up from £214.

Canada’s study permit remains at CA$150 (N148,854).

Work visas

The UK Skilled Worker visa costs £819 (N1,492,881) for up to three years, up from £769, and £1,618 (N2,949,305) for over three years, up from £1,519.

Under the Immigration Salary List, the same visa costs £628 (N1,144,725) for up to three years, up from £590, and £1,235 (N2,251,170) for over three years, up from £1,160.

The Health and Care visa costs £324 (N590,590) for up to three years, up from £304, and £628 (N1,144,725) for over three years, up from £590.

Other UK work visa categories include the Innovator Founder at £1,357 (N2,473,133), up from £1,274; Scale-up at £937 (N1,707,952), up from £880; Graduate Route at £937 (N1,707,952), up from £880; Start-up at £495 (N902,291), up from £465; and the High Potential Individual visa at £880 (N1,604,073), unchanged.

The T2 Minister of Religion costs £819 (N1,492,881), up from £769. International Sportsperson visas cost £340 (N619,755) for up to 12 months, up from £319, and £819 (N1,492,881) for over 12 months, up from £769.

Temporary work categories, including Seasonal Worker, Religious Worker, Charity Worker, Creative Worker, International Agreement, Government Authorised Exchange, Youth Mobility Scheme and India Young Professionals Scheme, cost £340 (N619,755), up from £319. The representative of an overseas business visa costs £819 (N1,492,881), up from £769.

Global Business Mobility categories include Senior or Specialist Worker at £819 (N1,492,881) for up to three years and £1,618 (N2,949,305) for over three years; Graduate Trainee, Service Supplier, UK Expansion Worker and Secondment Worker each at £340 (N619,755), all up from £319.

Canada’s work permit remains at CA$155 (N153,816) per person.

Travel documents

The UK adult certificate of travel costs £320 (N583,299), up from £300, and the child certificate costs £161 (N293,472), up from £151. Convention travel documents cost £102 (N185,927) for adults, up from £94.50, and £66.50 (N121,217) for children, up from £61.50.

Canada’s permanent resident travel document remains at CA$50 (N49,618).

The UK charges an Immigration Health Surcharge on most visa categories, currently £1,035 per year, which is separate from the visa application fee. Canada charges a biometrics fee of CA$85 (N84,351) per individual or CA$170 (N168,701) per family, and the Right of Permanent Residence Fee of CA$600 from April 30 is charged separately on top of processing fees for most permanent residence applications. (PUNCH)

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