A UK visa application has three separate moving parts, each budgeted for separately: the application fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge, and any optional priority service. The total cost is the sum of all three.

The three moving parts

  1. The application fee. Charged by the Home Office, varies by route and length of leave. Paid in pounds sterling, but applicants from outside the UK pay the local- currency equivalent at the Home Office’s weekly exchange rate.
  2. The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). Gives access to the NHS during the stay. Always paid in pounds sterling. See our IHS guide for the rates and exemptions.
  3. Priority services (optional). Additional fees to speed up the decision. Paid in local currency at most application centres.

Some employers pay all three on the applicant’s behalf; some pay only the Immigration Skills Charge (which is theirs by law) and ask the applicant to fund the rest. The clawback clause section below covers the contract dimension.

Headline 2026 fees, in pounds sterling

The published 2026 fees are valid from 8 April 2026 and the full list is at the UK visa fees publication on GOV.UK. The figures below are indicative — confirm the linked publication before relying on any specific number.

  • Standard Visitor visa, short term (up to 6 months): £135.
  • Standard Visitor visa, longer term (up to 2 years): around £515.
  • Skilled Worker visa, out-of-UK, up to 3 years: around £769.
  • Skilled Worker visa, out-of-UK, over 3 years: around £1,420.
  • Health and Care Worker visa, out-of-UK, up to 3 years: around £304 — note the substantial discount versus standard Skilled Worker.
  • Spouse / partner visa, out-of-UK: around £2,064.
  • Indefinite Leave to Remain: around £3,029.
  • Naturalisation as a British citizen: around £1,605, plus the citizenship ceremony fee.

In-country applications cost differently

In-UK applications — extensions, switches, settlement — are significantly more expensive than out-of-UK applications of the same length. This is deliberate Home Office policy: the in-country premium absorbs the cost of processing.

For example, a Skilled Worker switch from inside the UK is around £1,500, against £769 for the same length applied for from abroad.

Local currency and exchange rates

Applicants from outside the UK pay in local currency. The Home Office’s pricing engine converts the GBP fee using OANDA mid-bid rates plus a 4% margin, refreshed weekly. The official converter at visa-fees.homeoffice.gov.uk gives the exact local-currency amount for every country–category combination. Note that the Immigration Health Surcharge is always paid in GBP, regardless of where the application is made.

Priority services

  • Priority service — decision target reduced to five working days. Roughly £500 extra, paid in local currency.
  • Super-priority service — decision target one working day. Roughly £1,000 extra. Not available in all locations or for all routes.

Priority services do not change the outcome — only the timeline. They are non-refundable even if the application is refused.

Clawback clauses

Many sponsors pay visa fees and the IHS up front on the basis that the worker remains in the role for a set period. If the worker leaves earlier, the contract typically obliges them to repay a proportion. This is legal and common; it is also often poorly explained at the offer stage. Typical patterns:

  • 100% / 50% / 25% scale — full repayment if the worker leaves in year one, half in year two, a quarter in year three, none thereafter.
  • Flat clawback — full repayment for any departure inside the first 24 months, regardless of cause.

Clawback enforceability is fact-specific. Applicants typically review the clause carefully before signing and, where it would materially constrain future moves, raise it during contract negotiations.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a UK Skilled Worker visa cost in 2026?
The published 2026 fee is roughly £769 for a stay of up to three years applied for from outside the UK, and roughly £1,420 for a stay over three years. In-UK switches cost more. Confirm the current published figure on GOV.UK before relying on it.
Are visa fees the same whether I apply from inside or outside the UK?
No. In-UK applications (switches and extensions) are significantly more expensive than out-of-UK applications of the same length. For example, a Skilled Worker switch from inside the UK is roughly £1,500, against around £769 for the same length from outside.
Can I pay the visa fee in my local currency?
Yes, when applying from outside the UK. The Home Office's pricing engine converts the GBP fee using OANDA mid-bid rates plus a 4% margin, refreshed weekly. The official converter at visa-fees.homeoffice.gov.uk gives the exact local-currency amount.
Are priority services worth the extra cost?
Priority services do not change the outcome — only the timeline. Whether they are worth it is an individual decision; they are non-refundable even if the application is refused.