Friday, June 10 2005 09:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: In a move that could effect hundreds of visitors from India, including students, Britain yesterday (Jun 9, 2005) announced its decision to steeply hike the visa and passport fees effective from July 1.

The fee for a six-month visit visa will go up from the current 36 Pounds (Rs 2,880) to 50 Pounds (Rs 4,000) while the long term visas for stays of over six months, including student visa, work permit holders and working holiday makers, would go up to 85 Pounds (Rs 6,800).

The settlement visas would remain unchanged at 260 Pounds (Rs 20,800), an official announcement said.

The long-term validity visit visas would be reduced from 150 Pounds (Rs 12,000) for a 10-year visa and 88 Pounds (Rs 7,040) for a 5-year visa would be reduced to 85 Pounds (Rs 6,800).

The Government has also decided to increase fees for passports, and other consular services provided by British consular posts overseas. On the same date, the fee for legalisation services provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London and overseas would also go up.

The fee for a 32-page adult passport would go up from 56.50 Pounds (Rs 4,900) to 69 Pounds (Rs 5,340) while for a 48-page adult passport would increase from 67.70 Pounds (Rs 5,440) to 82 Pounds (Rs 6,560).

The fee for a child passport would go up from 36.50 Pounds (Rs 2,820) to 45 Pounds (Rs 3,600) and for emergency passport the fees would be 43.50 Pounds (Rs 3,520) - up from 35.50 Pounds (Rs 2,720).

For any amendments in the passport the fees would be up from 46.90 Pounds (Rs 3,760) to 57 Pounds (Rs 4,520) while for temporary passport it would be 55 Pounds (Rs 4,400) as against 45.60 Pounds (Rs 3,680) now.

For birth and death registrations the charge would go up from 55 Pounds (Rs 4,400) to 64.50 Pounds (Rs 5,200). For administering an oath the fee would be 53 Pounds (Rs 4,240) as against present 45 Pounds (Rs 3,600) and for supplying witnesses 14 Pounds (Rs 1,120) as against 12 Pounds (Rs 960).

In 2004-05 British posts issued or amended 4,82,000 passports and issued 6,500 emergency passports.

A new fee would be introduced to cover the costs of issuing Biometric Passports due to be implemented at overseas posts from December this year, the announcement said.

In 2004-05 British Posts and the London office legalized the signatures of officials, such as Notaries or Registrars, on more than 3,00,000 documents.

From July 1, 2005, the legalisation fee would increase from 12 Pounds (Rs 960) to 19 Pounds (Rs 1,520).