The Home Office has announced an increase in immigration and nationality fees to come into effect on 4 October 2023. If you're planning to emigrate to the UK, this is how much a UK visa will cost you.

London

UK visa fees as of October 2023

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 after 4 October 2023:

UK visa

Application fee

Ancestry visa

£637

Partner/spouse visa

£1,846

Innovator Founder visa

£1,191

Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – more than three years

£1,420

Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – less than three years

£719

Skilled Worker visa – shortage occupation, less than three years

£551

Skilled Worker – shortage occupation, more than three years

£1,084

Health and Care Worker visa, less than three years

£284

Health and Care Worker visa, more than three years

£551

Student visa

£490

Youth Mobility Scheme visa

£298

Visitor visa (6 months or less)

£115

Visitor visa (2 years)

£400

*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 per year and it is set to rise to £1,035. So, for example, if you’re applying for an Ancestry visa which is valid for five years, you’ll have to pay £5,175 upfront as part of your application.

Students and Youth Mobility Scheme applicants receive a discounted rate, which is also set to increase from £470 to £776 per year.

    See also: Drastic increase to the Immigration Health Surcharge fee

    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 2180 or +44 (0) 20 7759 5330.

    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.