People budget for the visa fee and get blindsided by the healthcare surcharge, which is usually the biggest single line on the bill. Here is the complete 2026 picture.
1. The visa application fee
What you pay depends on where you apply from, how long the visa is for, and whether the job qualifies for a discount.
| Type of application | Up to 3 years | More than 3 years |
|---|---|---|
| Standard — applying from outside the UK | £819 | £1,618 |
| Standard — applying from inside the UK | £943 | £1,865 |
| Job on the Immigration Salary List | £628 | £1,235 |
| Health and Care Worker visa | £324 | £628 |
Figures verified against GOV.UK on 2026-08-10. Each dependant normally pays the same fee as the main applicant.
2. The immigration health surcharge (IHS)
This is the one that reshapes budgets. You pay it up front, for every year of your visa, for every family member:
- £1,035 per year for each adult;
- £776 per year for each child under 18.
A five-year visa therefore carries £5,175 of surcharge for one adult — more than three times the application fee. Health and Care Worker visa holders are exempt.
3. Money you must be able to show
Unless your sponsor certifies your maintenance on the CoS, you need £1,270 in your account, held for 28 consecutive days ending no more than 31 days before you apply. This is not a fee — you keep the money — but the application fails without the evidence.
4. Optional: faster decisions
- Priority service — £500 (decision usually within five working days).
- Super priority service — £1,000 (usually by the end of the next working day).
Each person applying pays separately, so a family of four choosing super priority adds £4,000.
5. What your employer pays
These costs are legally the sponsor's and cannot be passed to you:
- Sponsor licence: £574 (small or charitable) or £1,579 (medium or large), every four years.
- Certificate of Sponsorship: £525 per worker.
- Immigration skills charge: £480 per year (small/charitable) or £1,320 per year (medium/large) — see our full guide.
Worked examples
Single applicant, 5 years, standard role, from overseas
| Application fee | £1,618 |
| IHS (£1,035 × 5) | £5,175 |
| Total | £6,793 |
Couple with one child, 5 years, standard role, from overseas
| Application fees (£1,618 × 3) | £4,854 |
| IHS — two adults (£1,035 × 5 × 2) | £10,350 |
| IHS — one child (£776 × 5) | £3,880 |
| Total | £19,084 |
See dependant visa fees for how family costs build up.
Health and Care Worker, 3 years, single applicant
| Application fee | £324 |
| IHS | Exempt |
| Total | £324 |
Costs people forget
- English language test (roughly £150–£200) if you need one.
- TB test (around £65–£120) if you are from a listed country.
- Certified translations of documents.
- Biometric appointment travel, and premium appointment slots at some visa centres.
Run your own numbers, including dependants and priority services, with our Skilled Worker visa cost calculator.