Visa cost calculator
UK visa cost calculator: add up application fees, the Immigration Health Surcharge and priority service for your family, using current Home Office fees.
A better-informed decision.
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Rates By Exchange Rate API · Indicative conversion; exchange-rate date is shown when available.
This UK visa cost calculator adds up the government costs of an application for you and your family: the application fee for each person, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for each year or half-year of the visa, and priority service if you choose it. For example, a Skilled Worker applying from outside the UK for a 3-year visa with a partner and one child pays about £10,995 before any other costs. The fees below were checked against GOV.UK on 24 September 2026.
Who the calculator is for
Anyone budgeting for a Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Student, Graduate or Standard Visitor application, alone or with dependants. It does not check eligibility.
How the calculator works
- Application fee. The official fee for your route and location, multiplied by the number of applicants. On work routes the higher fee applies when the certificate of sponsorship is for more than 36 months.
- Healthcare surcharge. The visa length is split into half-years. A part of up to 6 months counts as half a year; more than 6 months counts as a full year. The result is multiplied by £1,035 a year for most adults, or £776 a year for students, their dependants and every child under 18.
- Extras. Priority fees are added per applicant, then any extra amount you type in.
You can also show the total in another currency. The conversion is indicative; the Home Office may use a different rate.
Fees the calculator uses
| Route | Up to 3 years | More than 3 years |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker, applying from outside the UK | £819 | £1,618 |
| Skilled Worker, applying from inside the UK | £943 | £1,865 |
| Skilled Worker, Immigration Salary List job | £628 | £1,235 |
| Health and Care Worker | £324 | £628 |
| Student and dependants | £558 each | £558 each |
| Graduate (inside the UK only) | £937 | £937 |
| Standard Visitor, up to 6 months | £135 | £135 |
Priority service adds £500 and super priority £1,000 per applicant, where the visa centre offers it. The Home Office fees table that takes effect on 8 October 2026 lists the same amounts. Fees can change, so check the official page before you pay.
A fully worked example
A Skilled Worker, their partner and a 6-year-old child apply from outside the UK. The visa and the certificate of sponsorship are both 36 months. No priority service.
- Application fees: £819 × 3 applicants = £2,457.
- 36 months = 3 full years of surcharge.
- Surcharge for the two adults: £1,035 × 2 × 3 = £6,210.
- Surcharge for the child: £776 × 3 = £2,328.
- Total: £10,995.
Other results: one Skilled Worker with a 60-month certificate pays £1,618 + £5,175 surcharge = £6,793. A student with a 15-month visa pays £558 + £1,164 (one and a half years) = £1,722. A Health and Care Worker family of three pays £972, with no surcharge.
What the calculator does not include
- Eligibility for you or your dependants.
- The money you must show in your bank account. For Skilled Worker and Health and Care visas GOV.UK says this is usually at least £1,270.
- English tests, medical tests, translations and visa centre charges.
- Employer costs, family visas, settlement (ILR) and citizenship.
Common mistakes
- Entering the course length instead of the visa length. A Student visa usually runs beyond the end of the course, and the surcharge is charged on the whole visa.
- Forgetting that fees are per person. Every dependant pays their own application fee and surcharge.
- Assuming priority is always available. It depends on the country and visa centre.
Frequently asked questions
Do Health and Care Worker applicants pay the surcharge?
No. GOV.UK says people eligible for a Health and Care Worker visa, and their dependants, do not pay it. The calculator sets it to £0 for that route.
When do I pay no surcharge at all?
When you apply from outside the UK for 6 months or less, or apply for a visitor visa. If you apply from inside the UK for 6 months or less, you pay half the yearly amount.
Is the surcharge refunded if my visa is refused?
Yes, in full, according to GOV.UK, and automatically to the card or account you paid with. A partial refund applies if you get less time than you asked for or a dependant is refused.
Can I rely on this result?
Use it for planning, not as legal advice. For complex cases, speak to an SRA-regulated solicitor or an IAA-registered adviser.
Sources
- Home Office fees table, 8 October 2026 ↗
- Skilled Worker visa fees ↗
- Health and Care Worker visa fees ↗
- Student visa fees ↗
- Graduate visa fees ↗
- Standard Visitor visa ↗
- IHS: how much you pay ↗
- IHS: who pays ↗
- IHS refunds ↗
- Priority services ↗
Next step
Read the visa cost guide, then plan your first month in the living cost planner. If you need legal help, start with immigration lawyers in the directory.
Reviewed 24 September 2026.
