The cost of a UK visa is more than the application fee. Most people also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), and some need savings in the bank. This guide pulls the official figures together, shows how the surcharge is worked out and gives worked examples. Fees below are from the Home Office table that applies from 8 October 2026. Every line in it shows “Fee change £0” (Home Office fees table, 8 October 2026).
Key points
- In force now: Skilled Worker £819 or £1,618 from outside the UK; Graduate £937; Student £558; family visa £2,064 from outside the UK or £1,407 inside the UK; ILR £3,226; naturalisation £1,709 (Home Office fees table, 8 October 2026).
- The surcharge is £1,035 a year for most people. It is £776 a year for students, their dependants, Youth Mobility Scheme holders and under-18 applicants (GOV.UK healthcare surcharge page, updated 18 September 2026).
- Health and Care Worker visa holders and their dependants do not pay the surcharge (GOV.UK).
- Check the date: fees and surcharge amounts can change. This table is the one we checked on 4 November 2026.
How much do UK visas cost in 2026?
Visiting and travelling
| Application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard Visitor visa (up to 6 months) | £135 |
| Long-term visitor visa: 2 years / 5 years / 10 years | £506 / £903 / £1,128 |
| Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) | £20 |
| Extend your stay as a visitor (inside the UK) | £1,172 |
Visitor visas do not carry the surcharge (GOV.UK healthcare surcharge page). See our ETA guide.
Work and study
| Application | Outside the UK | Inside the UK |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker (up to 3 years / over 3 years) | £819 / £1,618 | £943 / £1,865 |
| Skilled Worker, Immigration Salary List job | £628 / £1,235 | £628 / £1,235 |
| Health and Care Worker | £324 / £628 | £324 / £628 |
| Global Talent | £766 (£205 with an approval letter) | See the fees table |
| Graduate | Apply from inside the UK | £937 |
| Student | £558 | £558 |
The table lists fees by type of application, not by nationality. For details see our Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker guide and our Graduate visa guide.
Family, settlement and citizenship
| Application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Family visa (partner, parent, child), outside the UK | £2,064 per person |
| Family visa, inside the UK | £1,407 per person |
| Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) | £3,226 |
| Naturalisation as a British citizen | £1,709, plus £130 for the ceremony |
| Adult / child registration as a British citizen | £1,540 / £1,000 |
| Life in the UK test | £50 |
These come from the Home Office fees table, 8 October 2026 and the family visa guide. Employers pay sponsor fees: a sponsor licence is £611 for small businesses and charities or £1,682 for large sponsors, and a certificate of sponsorship is £525 (Home Office fees table, 8 October 2026).
Faster decisions and reviews
A priority service costs £500 and a super priority service £1,000. An administrative review costs £80 (Home Office fees table, 8 October 2026). Not every route offers them, so check your application page. On the family route, a fee waiver may be possible in certain situations (family visa guide).
What is the Immigration Health Surcharge and how much is it?
The IHS pays for your use of the NHS during your visa. You pay it with your application, by debit or credit card, and you cannot avoid it with private insurance. The yearly amounts are (GOV.UK healthcare surcharge page):
- £776 a year: students, their dependants, Youth Mobility Scheme visa holders and under-18 applicants.
- £1,035 a year: everyone else.
For example, £3,105 for 3 years at the higher rate and £1,552 for 2 years at the lower rate (GOV.UK healthcare surcharge page).
How is the IHS worked out for part years?
- Outside the UK, a stay of 6 months or less: no IHS.
- Inside the UK, 6 months or less: half the yearly cost, which is £517.50 at the higher rate.
- More than 6 months but under a year: the full year.
- More than a year but 18 months or less: the yearly cost plus half.
- More than 18 months but under 2 years: 2 full years.
Dependants aged 18 or over usually pay the same as the main applicant (GOV.UK healthcare surcharge page).
Who does not pay the IHS?
You do not pay if you apply for a visitor visa, for ILR (unless you are only given limited leave), as a Health and Care Worker visa holder or dependant, or under the EU Settlement Scheme (GOV.UK healthcare surcharge page).
Worked examples (official figures)
1. Graduate visa for 2 years. £937 fee plus the surcharge for 2 years at £1,035 a year (£2,070) is £3,007. For an 18-month Graduate visa (for applications from 1 January 2027), the surcharge is £1,552.50, so the total is £2,489.50. The Graduate guide gives the surcharge figures; the totals are our arithmetic (Graduate visa).
2. Partner visa from outside the UK, first grant of 2 years 9 months. £2,064 fee plus £3,105 surcharge is £5,169. The fee and the £3,105 surcharge figure come from GOV.UK (family visa guide); the total is our arithmetic. A child on the same visa pays the lower surcharge rate of £776 a year: £2,328 for 2 years 9 months, or £3,880 for 5 years (family visa guide).
3. Skilled Worker for 2 years from Argentina. £819 + 2 × £1,035 = £2,889 (Skilled Worker guide).
4. Family of 3 on a Skilled Worker visa (illustration). For a 3-year visa from outside the UK, a worker, a partner and a child under 18 pay 3 × £819 = £2,457 in fees, and £3,105 + £3,105 + £2,328 = £8,538 in surcharge. The total is £10,995. On a Health and Care Worker visa, the same family pays 3 × £324 = £972 and no surcharge. This is our arithmetic, not a real case.
What happens if I do not pay the IHS, or pay too much?
If the surcharge is unpaid, UKVI emails you. You must pay within 10 working days if you are inside the UK or 7 working days if outside, or the application is turned down. You get a full refund if you paid twice, your application is refused or you withdraw before a decision. You get a partial refund if you are granted less time or a dependant is refused. There is no refund if you withdraw after the grant, do not come to the UK or leave early. Refunds usually take up to 6 weeks, and the IHS reference number can only be used once (GOV.UK healthcare surcharge page).
Some health and care workers can claim back surcharge for periods worked of 6 months or more (GOV.UK healthcare surcharge page). Check the page for the current process.
What to do now: step by step
- Find your visa in the Home Office fees table, 8 October 2026, and check whether you are applying inside or outside the UK.
- Work out your visa length. Check the surcharge rate and the part-year rule on the GOV.UK healthcare surcharge page.
- Add up fees and surcharge for every family member. Dependants usually pay in full.
- Check any savings requirement on your visa page. For example, Skilled Worker needs £1,270 held for 28 days.
- Pay only on gov.uk pages. Keep the IHS reference number and receipts.
Common mistakes
- Budgeting for the fee but not the surcharge, which is often the bigger cost.
- Using the £1,035 rate for a student or child. Check which rate applies.
- Forgetting to include every dependant, including children.
- Treating savings that must be shown in your bank account as money you pay. They are shown, not paid.
- Applying near 31 December 2026 without checking the new Graduate visa length.
Key dates
| Date | What happens | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 8 October 2026 | Current fees table applies, with no fee changes (Home Office fees table, 8 October 2026) | In force |
| 30 November 2026 | Student maintenance funds rise (HC 584) | Announced, with a date |
| 31 December 2026 | Last day to apply for a 2-year Graduate visa. After that it is 18 months, so the surcharge is lower (Graduate visa) | Announced, with a date |
Frequently asked questions
How much is the visa fee for a child?
It depends on the visa. A child on a family visa pays the same fee as an adult: £2,064 from outside the UK or £1,407 inside the UK. The surcharge for children is lower at £776 a year.
Do I have to pay the IHS for a Skilled Worker visa?
Yes, usually £1,035 a year. Health and Care Worker visa holders and dependants do not pay it.
How much is ILR in 2026?
£3,226 inside the UK, according to the Home Office fees table. ILR applicants do not normally pay the IHS.
Can I get a refund of the surcharge?
Yes in some cases: full if your application is refused or withdrawn before a decision, or if you paid twice. Partial if you are granted less time. Usually within 6 weeks.
Do fees differ by nationality?
The Home Office table lists fees by type of application, not nationality. Check the exact visa page for your route.
Will fees go up?
Fees can change. The table we checked shows no change on 8 October 2026. Check GOV.UK before you apply.
Related Visa Tide guides
- Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visas
- Graduate visa: 18 months from January 2027
- Family visa: the £29,000 minimum income requirement
- UK ETA guide for visitors
This is general information, not immigration advice. Check GOV.UK or speak to an IAA-regulated adviser for your situation.
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Sources
- Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 October 2026 – GOV.UK, public update 10 September 2026
- Healthcare surcharge – GOV.UK, updated 18 September 2026
- Skilled Worker visa – GOV.UK
- Health and Care Worker visa – GOV.UK
- Graduate visa – GOV.UK, updated 27 October 2026
- UK family visa – GOV.UK, updated 23 October 2026
- Statement of changes HC 584 – GOV.UK
All sources checked on 4 November 2026. Rules and fees change, so check the linked pages for the latest version.
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