The Home Office revises and increases the prices of most UK visas every year on 6 April. Here’s how much a visa will cost you.

UK visa fees in 2022
Application fees for UK visas vary massively. These are the government fees* for your UK visa application if you are applying from outside of the UK:
UK visa |
Application fee |
Ancestry visa |
£531 |
Partner/spouse visa |
£1,538 |
Start-up visa |
£378 |
Innovator visa |
£1,036 |
Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – more than three years |
£1,235 |
Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – less than three years |
£625 |
Skilled Worker visa – shortage occupation, less than three years |
£479 |
Skilled Worker – shortage occupation, more than three years |
£943 |
Health and Care visa, less than three years |
£247 |
Health and Care visa, more than three years |
£479 |
Student visa |
£490 |
Youth Mobility Scheme visa |
£259 |
Visitor visa (6 months) |
£100 |
Visitor visa (2 years) |
£376 |
*These fees are charged by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and exclude any fees charged by us.
See also: COVID-19 UK government guidelines for visa applicants outside the UK
Immigration Health Surcharge
If you are moving to the UK for more than six months, you will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). The IHS allows you to use the National Health Service (NHS) as soon as you arrive in the UK. Paying this surcharge gives you access to free basic medical care while you are in the UK.
How does the IHS work?
The IHS is an upfront fee that is paid in full along with your visa application. The amount you’ll have to pay depends on which visa you are applying for and how long you’ll be staying in the UK. The current fee is £624. If you’re applying for an Ancestry visa which is valid for five years, you’ll have to pay £3,120 upfront as part of your application.
The surcharges for other common visas are as follows:
- Spouse visa – £1,248
- Spousal extension – £1,248
- Youth Mobility Scheme – £940
- Student visa– £470 per year
See also: Could the UK Ancestry visa be your ticket to British citizenship?
It’s more important now than ever to get your application right
Every year, thousands of visa applications are rejected because they are filled out incorrectly or applicants haven’t included the right documents. The Home Office will keep your visa fee whether your application gets accepted or denied. To avoid throwing money away, or paying the same amount twice, it’s important that your application is as watertight as possible.
Our immigration advisors can assist you at every step of the process. We offer a “no visa, no fee” guarantee, so if you don’t get your UK visa, we won’t charge you a cent. Get in touch with us on immigration@sableinternational.com or call on +27 (0) 21 657 2153 or +44 (0) 20 7759 4500.
We are a professional services company that specialises in cross-border financial and immigration advice and solutions.
Our teams in the UK, South Africa and Australia can ensure that when you decide to move overseas, invest offshore or expand your business internationally, you'll do so with the backing of experienced local experts.