UK Visa Fees 2026: Visitor, Student and Work Costs

Finding accurate UK visa fees is harder than it should be. The price depends on the visa type, how long it lasts and where you apply, and extra charges can sit outside the main application fee. Information is also spread across several government pages. Older articles and social media posts keep repeating figures that may no longer apply. For anyone budgeting for a trip, a course or a job in the UK, this makes planning stressful.

UKVisaCheck.xyz helps readers understand UK visa fees more easily by bringing the main details together in one place. These include the different visa categories, application fees, additional costs and the official fee-checking process. Use this guide to understand the main costs and to see which official sources to check before you apply. We are an independent information website, not a government service, and the amounts here are a guide rather than a guaranteed final price.

UK Visa Application Fees Explained

An application fee is what you pay the Home Office when you submit a visa application. It covers processing and does not guarantee approval. The amount depends on the visa category, the duration you apply for, and whether you apply from outside or inside the UK. Official UK visa fees are published by UK Visas and Immigration, and the figures below come from the fee table dated 8 October 2026, which showed no change from the previous amounts. All prices are in pounds sterling (£) and apply to applications made outside the UK unless stated otherwise.

UK Visitor Visa Fees

These are the UK visa fees for visitor applications made outside the UK:

Visa Type	Duration	Application Fee
Standard Visitor	Up to 6 months	£135
Long-term Visitor	2 years	£506
Long-term Visitor	5 years	£903
Long-term Visitor	10 years	£1,128

A long-term visitor visa suits people who visit regularly. It generally allows stays of up to 6 months per visit, not continuous residence, and it can be cancelled if your travel history shows long periods spent in the UK. The fee is not refunded if you receive a shorter visa than requested or your application is refused. Visitor visas for medical reasons and for academics cost £234 each and have longer maximum stays.

UK Student Visa Fees

The Student visa application fee is £558, whether you apply from outside the UK or extend or switch from inside it. The Child Student visa is also £558, and a short-term English language study visa (more than 6 and up to 11 months) is £228. Each dependant applies separately and pays their own fee. Confirm the amount for your situation on the official fee checker. Remember that the Immigration Health Surcharge is paid on top, at the student rate of £776 per year of visa.

UK Work Visa Fees

UK visa fees for Skilled Worker applicants depend mainly on the length of the sponsored job and the type of role. Here are the official amounts for applications made outside the UK:

Skilled Worker route	Up to 3 years	Over 3 years
Standard	£819	£1,618
Immigration Salary List job	£628	£1,235
Health and Care Visa	£324	£628

Applying from inside the UK costs more for the standard route: £943 for up to three years and £1,865 for longer. Do not confuse the visa duration with other costs. The health surcharge is charged per year, and employer costs such as the Certificate of Sponsorship (£525 for Skilled Worker) belong to the sponsor, not the applicant. Dependants pay separately.

UK Family Visa Fees

The official table lists a “Route to Settlement” fee of £2,064 for applications made outside the UK. Higher and lower fees apply to other dependant relatives (£3,635) and refugee dependant relatives (£452). Confirm which route covers your relative before assuming a fee. Family visa routes are different from visiting relatives, which uses a Standard Visitor visa at £135. Settlement and Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) applications made inside the UK cost £3,226.

UK Transit Visa Fees

A direct airside transit visa costs £41.50 and is for passing through a UK airport without entering the UK. A landside transit visa costs £74.50 and is for passing through UK border control on the way to another country, for example when changing airports. Whether you need either depends on your nationality.

UK Visa Fees from Pakistan

The Home Office fee tool shows fees for applications made outside the UK by country, visa category and visa type. To check UK visa fees from Pakistan, select Pakistan, choose your category and visa type, and read the amount shown. That amount may appear in a local currency and can change under the Home Office exchange rate policy. We do not list Pakistani rupee figures here because they can only be confirmed live on the official checker.

Additional Costs You Should Know About

These costs sit on top of UK visa fees, and not every cost applies to every applicant.

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £1,035 per year for most adults and £776 per year for students, under-18s and Youth Mobility applicants. A 3-year adult visa therefore costs £3,105. It is not charged if you apply from outside the UK for 6 months or less.
Priority processing: optional, £500. It does not make approval more likely.
Super priority processing: optional, £1,000.
Visa application centre services: most standard appointments are free, but some locations charge £76.50, and optional extras such as document scanning cost more.
Other expenses: travel to your appointment, certified translations and, where required, a TB test.

How to Check the Latest UK Visa Fees

Visit the official GOV.UK visa fee tool or the Home Office fee checker.
Select the correct visa category and visa type.
Confirm the country where you will apply.
Check the duration and the fee shown.
Review additional charges, such as the IHS, before paying.
Confirm the final amount displayed in the official application.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Standard Visitor visa for up to 6 months costs £135 when you apply from outside the UK.

It costs £506, and each visit can last up to 6 months.

Use the official Home Office fee checker, select Pakistan, then your visa category and type. Confirm the final amount again during the application.

No. It is a separate charge, normally paid as part of the online application, and it usually applies to visas longer than 6 months.

For Standard Visitor visas, no. There is also no refund if you receive a shorter visa than requested. A refund is only possible if you cancel before the application has been processed. The IHS has its own refund rules.

They can change, and the Home Office has published updates on several dates, including April 2026 and a table dated 8 October 2026. Always check the current fee before you apply.

Conclusion

The cost of a UK visa depends on your visa type, duration and application country, and extras like the health surcharge can add a lot. Before you pay anything, confirm the amount on the official fee checker. UKVisaCheck.xyz is an independent informational resource that can help you understand the main costs and where to verify them. We do not process applications or guarantee visa approval.