UK Visa Fees
UK visa fees vary considerably, depending mainly on the visa categories. What you pay depends on the type of visa you need, how long it covers, and where in the world you’re applying from.
If you’d like to talk through your options before you apply, call Newcastle Immigration Lawyers at 0191 303 8965 or contact us online.
UK Visa Fees Overview
UK visa fees are set by the Home Office and revised periodically, often upwards.
The amount you pay depends on your visa type, the length of permission you need, and whether you’re applying from inside or outside the UK.
The latest increase came into effect on 8 April 2026. Most categories were affected, including visitor, work, study, and settlement routes.
Fee exemptions do exist, but they are narrow in scope, covering specific human rights and family applications made from within the UK.
Page Contents
- UK Visa Fees Overview
- Home Office Immigration and Nationality Fees History
- Current UK Visa Fees (From 8 April 2026)
- Understanding the Costs: UK Visa Application Fees
- Breakdown of UK Visa Fees by Application Category
- Additional Costs for UK Visa Applications
- Exemptions, Waivers, and Fee Reductions
- Payment Methods and Refund Rules
- Common Myths About UK Visa Application Fees
- How Newcastle Immigration Lawyers Can Help
- Frequently Asked Questions
Home Office Immigration and Nationality Fees History
The Home Office has published immigration and nationality fees tables for many years, and the schedule is updated regularly.
The latest fee update took effect on 8 April 2026, affecting most visa, settlement, nationality, and sponsorship categories.
Many fee increases have outpaced general inflation in recent years, reflecting the government’s policy of recovering more of the immigration system’s cost through application fees.
Current UK Visa Fees (From 8 April 2026)
The tables below show the current Home Office fees for common UK visa categories, effective from 8 April 2026. Fees vary depending on the visa route, length of stay, and whether the application is made inside or outside the UK.
UK Visitor Visa Fees
| Visa Type | Duration | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Standard visitor visa | Up to 6 months | £135 |
| Long-term visitor visa | Up to 2 years | £506 |
| Long-term visitor visa | Up to 5 years | £903 |
| Long-term visitor visa | Up to 10 years | £1,128 |
| Direct Airside Transit visa | Single journey | £41.50 |
| Visitor in Transit visa | Single journey | £74.50 |
The 6-month Standard Visitor visa is the most common option for tourism and short visits. It is valid for multiple visits, each of which must be no more than 6 months.
For those planning to travel to the UK repeatedly over several years, the 5-year UK visa fee (£903) often represents better value. Similarly, the 10-year option at £1,128 may suit frequent travellers.
UK Work Visa Fees (Applications made outside the UK)
If you are already in the UK on another visa and are switching to a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK, your application fee is slightly higher than if you applied from overseas, and you must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for each year of your visa.
Example 1: Single applicant, Skilled Worker (3-year visa, job not on Immigration Salary List):
- Application fee (in-country, up to 3 years): £943
- IHS: £1035 per year × 3 years = £3,105
- Total payable at application: £4,048
| Visa Category | Duration | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker visa – main applicant and dependants | Up to 3 years | £819 |
| Skilled Worker visa – main applicant and dependants | Over 3 years | £1,618 |
| Health and Care Worker visa – main applicant and dependants | Up to 3 years | £324 |
| Health and Care Worker visa – main applicant and dependants | Over 3 years | £628 |
| Temporary Work visas (Seasonal, Creative, etc.) – main applicant and dependants | Varies | £340 |
| Global Talent visa – dependants only | Varies | £766 |
| Innovator Founder visa – main applicant and dependants | — | £1,357 |
| Scale-Up visa – main applicant and dependants | — | £937 |
UK Study Visa Fees
| Visa Category | Duration | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa – main applicant and dependants | Course duration | £558 |
| Child Student visa | Course duration | £558 |
| Short-term student (English language course, up to 11 months) | Up to 11 months | £228 |
UK Settlement and Nationality Fees
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Route to Settlement — main applicant and dependants | £2,064 |
| Route to Settlement — refugee dependent relative | £452 |
| Indefinite leave to enter (Armed Forces) — main applicant and dependants | £3,226 |
| Certificate of Entitlement — Nationality Right of Abode | £589 |
| British citizenship — naturalisation (standard) | £1,709 |
| British citizenship — registration (adult) | £1,540 |
| British citizenship — registration (child) | £1,000 |
| Citizenship ceremony fee | £130 |
| Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) | £20 |
| Administrative review | £80 |
Family visa fees (spouse and other family routes)
Family visas cover applications to join or remain with a partner, parent or child in the UK, and most routes can lead to settlement if the requirements are met.
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Family visa – joining a partner, parent, or child (application made outside the UK, per person) | £2,064 |
| Family visa – each additional dependant added from outside the UK | £2,064 |
| Family visa – joining a partner, parent, or child (application made inside the UK, per person) | £1,407 |
| Family visa – refugee family member, applying from outside the UK | £452 |
| Adult dependant relative, applying from outside the UK | £3,635 |
British National (Overseas) visa (BN(O)) fees
| Hong Kong British National Route | Duration | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| British National (Overseas) — main applicant | 30 months | £206 |
| British National (Overseas) — main applicant | 5 years | £285 |
The British National (Overseas) visa is open to BN(O) status holders and certain eligible family members, spouses, partners, and children. Each applicant pays the fee separately.
Dependants are not covered under a single payment. Each person, including children, must pay both the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge upfront for the full duration of their visa at the time of application.
The route leads to settlement and, after meeting the residence and eligibility requirements, to British citizenship.
What is the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)?
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a mandatory charge that most visa applicants pay upfront to access National Health Service (NHS) treatment in the UK during their stay.
You pay it as part of the online application, at the same time as the visa fee, for the full length of the BN(O) visa you are requesting (either 30 months or 5 years).
For the BN(O) route, the current IHS is £1035 per year for adults and £776 per year for children under 18, and it is charged for each person separately.
Understanding the Costs: UK Visa Application Fees
The visa fee is the highest cost in most applications, but it’s rarely the only one.
What you pay depends on:
- Visa type — visitor, work, study, and settlement visas sit in different fee brackets
- Duration of permission — longer visas cost more, particularly for visitor and work categories
- Application location — the same visa can carry a different fee depending on whether you apply from inside or outside the UK
- Number of applicants — most work and study categories charge a separate fee per person, including dependants
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) — payable on most visas lasting over 6 months, on top of the visa fee
The IHS currently stands at £1035 per year for adults and £776 per year for children under 18, students, and Youth Mobility applicants.
It is paid upfront for the full duration of the visa at the time of application.
Breakdown of UK Visa Fees by Application Category
Visitor Visas
The standard 6-month Visitor visa costs £135 from 8 April 2026. It covers tourism, family visits, business visits, and other permitted short-stay activities. Visitor visas may allow multiple entries depending on the route and validity period. The Home Office fee is the same across countries for the same visitor route, although local visa application centre service charges may vary.
Work Visas
The Skilled Worker visa is the most common route for people moving to the UK for employment. Its fee depends mainly on whether the application is made inside or outside the UK and whether the permission is for up to 3 years or more than 3 years. The Health and Care Worker visa has a lower fee than the standard Skilled Worker route.
Study Visas
The Student visa fee is £558 for the main applicant. The Child Student visa is charged at the same rate.
Family Visas
Family visas, including Spouse, Unmarried Partner, and Fiancé(e) visas, are charged under family route fee levels. Applications to enter the UK on family grounds are charged at entry clearance or settlement fee levels, depending on the route, and these fees have increased in recent years.
Additional Costs for UK Visa Applications
On top of the visa fee itself, other costs to factor in include:
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £1035 year per adult; £776 for children and students
- Biometric enrolment fee: charged by the visa application centre and varies by location
- Document translation and certification: required if your documents are not in English or Welsh
- Priority Visa service: £500 for faster processing
- Super Priority Visa service: £1000 for a decision within one working day (where available)
- User Pays Visa Application service: £76.50, charged by some overseas visa application centres
Are you unsure which of these apply to your application? Newcastle Immigration Lawyers can give you a full cost breakdown before you commit to anything. Call us at 0191 303 8965.
Exemptions, Waivers, and Fee Reductions
Not everyone pays the standard visa application fee. A number of groups are exempt or qualify for a reduced rate:
- Refugees and those granted humanitarian protection: most protection-based routes are fee-exempt. Some dependent applications carry a reduced charge, settling a refugee dependent relative, for instance, costs £452
- Victims of domestic abuse: the standard fee under Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse is £3,226, but a full waiver is available to applicants who can demonstrate severe financial hardship
- HM Armed Forces members and dependants: specific provisions apply; indefinite leave to enter costs £3,226 on this route
- Children in local authority care: local authorities can cover fees for children in their care who need permission to remain in the UK
- Diplomats and certain government officials: exempt from standard fees under international agreements when travelling on official duties
Fee waivers are not automatic. You will need to apply formally and provide evidence of low income, housing need, or child welfare. Waiver approval must be confirmed before you submit the main application.
For visitor visas, there is no age-based fee reduction. Children under 5 pay the same rate as adults for a Standard Visitor visa unless they fall within an exempt category.
Payment Methods and Refund Rules
Accepted Payment Methods
UK visa fees are paid online during the application process. Most major credit and debit cards are accepted, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
Bank transfers and digital wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal may also be available, depending on the country you are applying from. Payment is taken in local currency, converted under the Home Office’s Exchange Rate Policy, which is the OANDA live bid price plus a 4% markup.
Refund Policy
The main visa application fee is non-refundable. It covers the cost of processing regardless of the outcome, so a refusal does not entitle you to a refund.
That said, refunds are available in a few specific situations:
- You withdrew before submitting biometrics: the main fee may be refunded. Withdrawing after processing has started makes a refund unlikely
- Priority service delays: if your application missed the published processing timeframe and you paid for a Priority or Super Priority service, the priority fee may be refunded, although the standard fee will not be
- Payment errors: if you were charged the wrong amount or paid twice, a refund applies
The IHS is treated separately. It is refundable if your application is refused, if you withdraw before a decision is reached, or if you are granted a shorter visa than the period you paid for.
Approved refund requests are handled by UKVI and returned to the original payment method.
Common Myths About UK Visa Application Fees
Myth: Children Under 5 Pay No UK Visa Fee
No such exemption exists for UK visitor visas. Children of any age pay the standard fee unless they fall within a specific exempt category, such as being a refugee or a dependant of someone who is exempt.
Myth: The Visa Fee Covers All Application Costs
It covers the processing cost. That’s it. Most applicants will also owe the Immigration Health Surcharge and a biometric enrolment fee. Work and study visa applicants may face further costs from their sponsor or institution on top of that.
Myth: You Get a Refund If Your Visa Is Refused
You do not. Visa application fees are not refunded on refusal across all main categories, including visitor, work, and study. The fee pays for the processing of the application, not the outcome.
Myth: The Fee Is the Same Worldwide
The GBP amount is fixed regardless of nationality. But it converts to the local currency at the point of payment, so what appears on your bank statement depends on the exchange rate at that time. Some visa application centres charge a separate service fee on top of that, which varies by location.
How Newcastle Immigration Lawyers Can Help
UK visa fees are not small. A refused application means losing that money outright, and depending on the category, a refusal can also affect future applications.
Newcastle Immigration Lawyers works with individuals and families in the UK and abroad to prepare strong, well-evidenced visa applications. We cover the full range of visa categories, visitor, work, study, and family, and handle the process from initial assessment through to submission.
Our advisers can help with:
- Identifying the right visa category for your circumstances
- Calculating the full cost of your application, including the IHS and any additional fees
- Preparing and reviewing your supporting documents
- Advising on whether you qualify for a fee exemption or waiver
- Submitting your application and tracking its progress on your behalf
Getting your application right the first time matters. A refusal costs you the fee, takes time to recover from, and can complicate things down the line.
To speak with one of our immigration advisers, call Newcastle Immigration Lawyers on 0191 303 8965 or contact us online.
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect the most current legal developments. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, and we do not accept liability in such cases. We recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer at Newcastle Immigration Lawyers before making any decisions based on the content provided.
Last modified on August 10th, 2026 at 7:58 am
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Frequently Asked Questions
No. The fee is set in GBP and is the same regardless of where you are from. The amount in your local currency will shift with exchange rates, but the underlying GBP figure does not change. Some visa application centres charge a separate service fee that varies by country.
A small number of categories qualify, refugees, victims of domestic abuse, and certain protected individuals may be eligible for a waiver. The Health and Care Worker visa also carries a reduced fee compared to the standard Skilled Worker visa. For most applicants, the full standard fee applies.
Contact UKVI directly. A refund of the main fee is possible if a payment error occurred or if you withdraw before giving your biometrics. If a Priority or Super Priority service missed its stated timeframe, that fee may be refunded, but the standard application fee will not be. A refused application does not qualify for a refund under any circumstances.
