International students who applied for Student and Child Student visas from outside the UK between Autumn 2023 and April 2026 may be entitled to a refund of up to £161 due to a Home Office error.
The House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee (SLSC) has identified that the statutory instruments intended to increase Student and Child Student Entry Clearance application fees in 2023 and 2025, incorrectly referred to part of the underlying legislation that had previously been deleted. This meant that the fee charged had not aligned with the legislation.
Incorrect fees can be refunded, according to UKVI guidance. The request must be made within 5 years of the payment being made.
Who does this apply to?
If you applied for a Student or Child Student visa from outside the UK between Autumn 2023 and April 2026, you may be entitled to a partial refund.
How much were students overcharged?
This will depend on when the application was made:
- If you applied between 4 October 2023 and 8 April 2025, you may be owed a refund of £127
- If you applied between 9 April 2025 and 8 April 2026, you may be owed a refund of £161
Refunds will not be automatic and students must submit individual refund requests to UKVI.
If you need further assistance, please contact our Business and Skilled Migration team.