How Much Does a UK Visa Cost? UK Visa Fees 2026

Written and legally reviewed by Adam Sierant · Updated June 2026 · Fees current as of the 8 April 2026 Home Office schedule

The cost of coming to or staying in the UK is one of the first questions every applicant asks, and the honest answer is that it is rarely a single figure. The Home Office fee you see quoted online is usually only part of the picture. Once you add the Immigration Health Surcharge, dependants and any optional fast‑track service, the real upfront cost can be several times the headline number, and it is payable in full before your application is decided.

This guide explains exactly what you will pay in 2026, how the figures are built up, and where the avoidable costs lie. As regulated UK immigration advisers, our aim is simple: no surprises. If you would prefer to talk it through, you can book a free initial 10‑minute assessment or an appointment for detailed advice.

UK visa cost calculator

Choose your route, where you are applying from, your visa length and any dependants. The estimate updates instantly and shows an itemised breakdown of the government fees. It does not include legal fees, tests or translations, which we cover further down.

What makes up the cost of a UK visa?

Almost every UK visa cost is built from the same components. Understanding them makes the total far less intimidating and helps you spot where money can be saved.

• The application fee. A fixed charge set by the Home Office for the route you are applying under. It is non‑refundable, even if your application is refused or withdrawn.
• The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). A separate charge for access to the NHS, payable upfront for every year of your visa. For most adults this is £1,035 per year, and it is frequently the single largest line in the bill.
• Optional services. Priority and super‑priority processing speed up the decision for an extra fee. These are genuinely optional.
• Other costs. English language tests, the tuberculosis test, document translations, biometric enrolment and legal fees all sit outside the Home Office fee but still need budgeting for.

UK visa application fees 2026

The table below shows the main application fees from 8 April 2026, per applicant. Fees rose by roughly 6–7% across most routes in April 2026. The Immigration Health Surcharge is charged on top, except where noted.

Fees change at least once a year and sometimes mid‑year. Always confirm the live figure on GOV.UK on the day you submit.

The Immigration Health Surcharge explained

The Immigration Health Surcharge gives most visa holders access to the NHS on broadly the same basis as a permanent UK resident. It is charged for the whole length of your visa and must be paid in full when you apply, with no instalment option.

• Standard rate: £1,035 per person, per year.
• Reduced rate: £776 per person, per year for students, their dependants, Youth Mobility Scheme applicants and anyone under 18 at the date of application.
• Exempt: Health and Care Worker visa holders and their dependants, and settlement (ILR) applications.

The surcharge is calculated across the full grant of leave, with any part‑year over six months rounded up to a whole year. A 33‑month spouse visa, for example, attracts three years of IHS (£3,105). One important reassurance: while the application fee is never refunded, the IHS is refunded if your application is refused.

Costs for your partner and children

This is where totals climb quickly. Each dependant who joins your application pays the same application fee as the main applicant and their own Immigration Health Surcharge. Children are charged the reduced IHS rate of £776 per year; adult dependants usually pay the standard £1,035, unless the route itself carries a reduced rate (as with the student route).

A family of four applying together can therefore expect to pay four application fees and four separate health surcharges. The calculator above accounts for this automatically once you enter the number of adults and children.

Optional services: priority and super priority

If you cannot wait the standard processing time, two paid services may be available depending on your route and location:

• Priority service — £500. Aims for a faster decision, typically around five working days for in‑country applications.
• Super priority service — £1,000. Aims for a decision by the end of the next working day after your biometrics appointment.

Availability varies, and some family routes have restricted access to these services. They buy speed, not a higher chance of success: a faster decision on a weak application simply means a faster refusal.

Worked examples

Spouse visa — the full five‑year route to settlement

For one applicant completing the partner route to ILR, the government fees add up across three stages:

• Entry clearance: £2,064 + £3,105 IHS (33 months) = £5,169
• FLR(M) extension: £1,407 + £2,587.50 IHS (30 months) = £3,994.50
• ILR: £3,226 (no IHS)
• Total per person: approximately £12,389.50 over five years, before legal fees, English tests and the Life in the UK test.

The financial requirement to sponsor a partner remains £29,000 gross annual income (or around £88,500 in savings). Most refusals on this route turn on how the financial evidence is presented rather than the income itself, which is exactly where careful preparation pays for itself.

Skilled Worker visa — three years, one applicant

£819 application fee + £3,105 IHS = £3,924. Your employer separately pays the Certificate of Sponsorship fee and the Immigration Skills Charge; those costs cannot lawfully be passed to you as a condition of employment.

Student visa — a family of three, three years

Three application fees of £558 (£1,674) plus three reduced surcharges of £2,328 each (£6,984) totals roughly £8,658 in government fees, before tuition and maintenance funds are evidenced.

Other costs to budget for

These are not Home Office application fees, but they are real and easily overlooked:

• English language test — typically £150–£200 where required.
• Tuberculosis test — required from certain countries; cost varies by clinic.
• Document translations — certified translations of any non‑English documents.
• Life in the UK test — £50, for most settlement and citizenship applicants.
• Biometric enrolment — standard slots are free; premium appointment locations can add up to £60.
• Legal fees — our fixed fees are agreed in advance so you know the full cost before you commit.

Fee waivers and refunds

On family and human rights routes, applicants who genuinely cannot afford the fee may apply for a fee waiver before submitting the main application. A successful waiver can remove the application fee and the IHS. The test is affordability, and the evidence requirements are strict.

On refunds: application fees are not refunded if you are refused, but the Immigration Health Surcharge is. Getting the application right first time is therefore the single biggest cost saving available to you.

Frequently asked questions

This article is general information about UK visa fees and is not legal advice. Fees are set by the Home Office and can change without notice; always confirm the current figure on GOV.UK before paying. For advice on your specific circumstances, contact us.