News
Kela cuts off social benefits for migrants without valid residence permits
18+ hour, 52+ min ago (303+ words) Kela cuts off social benefits for migrants without valid residence permits'VisaHQ From 1 April 2026, Finland's Social Insurance Institution (Kela) will no longer pay residence-based benefits'such as child allowance, housing support and basic subsistence'to anyone who lacks a valid residence permit The…...
UK visa, settlement and sponsor fees to increase 6-7 % on 8 April 2026
20+ hour, 53+ min ago (336+ words) The Home Office has confirmed that almost all UK visa, settlement and sponsor licence fees will rise by 6-7 % on 8 April 2026. Employers and individual applicants have one weekend left to file under the lower tariff, after which a standard Skilled Worker…...
UK raises Electronic Travel Authorisation fee by 25 %—Austrian travellers urged to budget and apply early
2+ day, 4+ hour ago (282+ words) UK raises Electronic Travel Authorisation fee by 25 %Austrian travellers urged to budget and apply early'VisaHQ From 8 April 2026, the British Home Office will increase the fee for its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) from "16 to "20 (about "23) The Austrian motorists" club "AMTC, which…...
France Posts Record Asylum Recognition Rate, Intensifying Policy Debate
3+ day, 4+ hour ago (189+ words) France Posts Record Asylum Recognition Rate, Intensifying Policy Debate'VisaHQ Fresh statistics released on 1 April by the National Court of Asylum (CNDA) show France granted protection to 78,782 applicants in 2025a 12 % year-on-year jump and the highest figure since records began The overall recognition…...
UK extends emergency Channel-patrol deal, paying France an extra £16.2 million
2+ day, 20+ hour ago (263+ words) UK extends emergency Channel-patrol deal, paying France an extra "16.2 million'VisaHQ Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has authorised a two-month extension of the UK-France agreement that funds French patrols aimed at stopping irregular Channel crossings Upday News reported on 2 April that London…...
Home Office confirms visa, sponsor and settlement fees will rise on 8 April 2026
3+ day, 4+ hour ago (290+ words) Home Office confirms visa, sponsor and settlement fees will rise on 8 April 2026VisaHQ British employers and would-be migrants now have just days to budget for the largest across-the-board fee rise since 2021 In a short written statement published on 1 April, the Home…...
UK Electronic Travel Authorisation to cost 25 % more from 8 April
3+ day, 4+ hour ago (280+ words) UK Electronic Travel Authorisation to cost 25 % more from 8 April'VisaHQ Travellers who do not need a full UK visa but must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will soon pay more Expat-focused outlet IamExpat confirmed on 1 April that the Home Office…...
Serco wins £63 million contract to modernise UKVI, HM Passport Office and MoJ contact centres
4+ day, 4+ hour ago (233+ words) Serco wins "63 million contract to modernise UKVI, HM Passport Office and MoJ contact centres'visahq.com Outsourcing giant Serco announced this morning that it has secured a "63 million, five-year contract to operate a consolidated contact-centre platform for UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI),…...
UK Electronic Travel Authorisation fee to jump 25 % on 8 April
4+ day, 4+ hour ago (226+ words) UK Electronic Travel Authorisation fee to jump 25 % on 8 April'visahq.com The two-year visa-waiver'mandatory since 25 February 2026 for all visa-exempt visitors, including EU, US and Australian nationals'was originally priced at just "10 when pilots began in 2025 Officials say the increase brings the cost…...
UK visa fees to rise by up to £222 amid wider immigration clampdown
4+ day, 4+ hour ago (248+ words) UK visa fees to rise by up to "222 amid wider immigration clampdown'visahq.com Nigerian daily Vanguard broke the news late last night (31 March 2026) that the UK government will raise a broad range of visa fees on 8 April, with some categories…...