A Skilled Worker visa usually costs more than the headline application fee because most applicants also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. For many people, the total payable at the application stage is the visa application fee plus the healthcare surcharge, with extra costs only if priority processing or other services are used.
The exact amount depends on whether you apply from outside the UK or from inside the UK, how long the visa will last, whether the role qualifies for an Immigration Salary List reduction, whether the Health and Care Worker route applies, and whether any dependants are applying with you.
Home Office fees can change, so it is sensible to check the final amount shown in the online application before paying. If you are unsure which route or fee applies, Immigration UK can help you understand the requirements and prepare your application with the right supporting documents.
Skilled Worker Visa Fees at a Glance
The Skilled Worker visa application fee is charged per applicant. The standard fees are different depending on whether you apply from overseas or apply inside the UK to extend, switch or update your visa. The figures below are included as a guide, but Home Office fees can change, so check the latest GOV.UK guidance and the online payment screen before you apply.
- Standard application from outside the UK: £819 for up to 3 years, or £1,618 for more than 3 years.
- Standard application inside the UK: £943 for up to 3 years, or £1,865 for more than 3 years.
- Immigration Salary List role: £628 for up to 3 years, or £1,235 for more than 3 years.
- Health and Care Worker visa: £324 for up to 3 years, or £628 for more than 3 years.
These figures are application fees only. For most Skilled Worker applicants, the Immigration Health Surcharge is an additional upfront payment. GOV.UK sets out the official Skilled Worker visa fees and healthcare surcharge rules, and applicants should always confirm the payment screen before submission.
What Makes Up the Total Skilled Worker Visa Cost?
In practice, your total cost is usually made up of the application fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge, any optional faster processing service, and any personal costs such as translations or tests where required.
The application fee is paid to UK Visas and Immigration when the online application is submitted. If a partner or child applies as a dependant, they usually pay their own application fee as well. Dependants are not automatically included in the main applicant's payment.
The Immigration Health Surcharge, often called the IHS, is £1,035 per year for most adult Skilled Worker applicants. It is normally paid upfront for the full period of immigration permission being requested or granted. This can make the IHS the largest part of the total cost, especially for a 3-year or 5-year visa.
There may also be maintenance funds to consider. Most Skilled Worker applicants must usually show £1,270 in available funds unless they are exempt or their sponsor certifies maintenance. This is not a fee paid to the Home Office. It is evidence that you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK.
Skilled Worker Visa Cost From Outside the UK
If you are applying from overseas, the standard application fee is £819 for a visa of up to 3 years. If the visa is for more than 3 years, the standard fee is £1,618. You then add the IHS unless an exemption applies.
For example, a 2-year overseas Skilled Worker application outside the Immigration Salary List would usually involve a £819 application fee and £2,070 in IHS. That gives a total of £2,889 before any optional or personal costs. A 3-year overseas application would usually be £819 plus £3,105 in IHS, making £3,924.
For a 5-year visa from outside the UK, the standard application fee is £1,618. If the full 5 years of IHS is payable at £1,035 per year, that adds £5,175, making £6,793 before optional extras. The online application system calculates the amount payable, so always check the final figure shown before paying.
Skilled Worker Visa Cost Inside the UK
If you are already in the UK and are eligible to extend, switch or update your Skilled Worker permission, the application fee is higher than the overseas fee. The fee figures used in this guide are £943 for up to 3 years, or £1,865 for more than 3 years.
A common example is a 3-year extension from inside the UK. The application fee would be £943 and the IHS would usually be £3,105, making a total of £4,048 before optional services or personal expenses. Not every immigration route allows switching into Skilled Worker from inside the UK, so eligibility should be checked carefully before relying on the in-country fee.
If you need broader guidance on work-based immigration routes, the UK work visa guidance from Immigration UK explains how sponsored work routes operate and when professional help may be useful.
Does the Immigration Salary List Reduce the Fee?
Some Skilled Worker applicants pay a reduced application fee where the sponsored job is on the Immigration Salary List and the relevant route conditions are met. The reduced fee figures used in this guide are £628 for up to 3 years and £1,235 for more than 3 years.
This reduction does not mean every role in a pressured sector receives a discount. The job must qualify under the current Immigration Salary List rules. Applicants should also be careful not to rely on outdated references to the former shortage occupation arrangements.
The reduced application fee does not automatically remove the IHS. In most cases, the healthcare surcharge is still payable unless the applicant qualifies for a separate exemption, such as under the Health and Care Worker route.
Health and Care Worker Visa Fees
The Health and Care Worker visa sits within the sponsored work system but has lower application fees for eligible applicants. The fee figures used in this guide are £324 for up to 3 years and £628 for more than 3 years. The fee is the same whether applying from inside or outside the UK.
The biggest saving is often the IHS exemption. Eligible Health and Care Worker applicants and qualifying dependants do not usually pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. For example, a 3-year Health and Care Worker application may involve a £324 visa fee and no IHS, although maintenance funds may still need to be shown unless an exemption or sponsor certification applies.
Eligibility is not based simply on working in a healthcare setting. The occupation, sponsor, role and Certificate of Sponsorship must support the Health and Care Worker route. If you need the basics before comparing fees, our related guide on what a Skilled Worker visa is in the UK explains the route in plain English.
How Much Do Skilled Worker Dependants Cost?
Dependants can significantly increase the total application cost. A partner or child usually makes a separate application and pays the relevant visa fee for the same visa length as the main applicant. Where the IHS applies, each dependant normally pays it separately too.
For example, if a main applicant, partner and child apply for 3-year Skilled Worker visas from outside the UK, each person may have a visa fee and each may also have 3 years of IHS to pay. The total can therefore be much higher than the main applicant's cost alone.
Health and Care Worker dependants may benefit from the IHS exemption where they qualify as dependants under the relevant guidance. Wider family members or unrelated household members are not covered simply because the main applicant works in health or care.
What Does the Employer Normally Pay?
Some sponsorship costs belong to the employer, not the worker. This is an important distinction because applicants sometimes budget for costs they should not normally be asked to pay.
The Certificate of Sponsorship fee for a Skilled Worker is currently £525 and is normally an employer sponsorship cost. Employers may also need to pay the Immigration Skills Charge. Current rates are £480 for the first 12 months and £240 for each additional 6 months for small or charitable sponsors. Medium and large sponsors pay £1,320 for the first 12 months and £660 for each additional 6 months.
The Immigration Skills Charge does not apply to dependants and employers must not require the sponsored worker to pay it. If you are an employer or worker trying to understand sponsorship responsibilities, Immigration UK's page on UK visa sponsorship is a helpful starting point.
Other Costs to Budget For
Not every applicant will face the same additional expenses, but it is sensible to leave room in your budget. Depending on your circumstances, you may need to pay for a tuberculosis test, an English language test, document translations, an Ecctis assessment, travel to a visa application centre, biometric appointment services or professional registration for a regulated role.
Priority processing may be available in some cases. The current listed priority service fee is £500 and super priority is £1,000, where offered. Availability depends on the application type, location and service capacity. It should not be treated as guaranteed until it appears during the application process.
Common Mistakes When Calculating Skilled Worker Visa Fees
The most common mistake is looking only at the application fee and forgetting the IHS. A second common mistake is assuming dependants are included in the main applicant's payment. They are not.
Applicants also sometimes use old fee figures found online, confuse maintenance funds with a payment to the Home Office, or assume that any health-related role qualifies for the cheaper Health and Care Worker route. Another expensive mistake is agreeing to pay employer sponsorship costs without checking whether those costs can lawfully be passed on.
Before applying, check your situation carefully:
- Are you applying from inside or outside the UK?
- Is the visa for 3 years or less, or more than 3 years?
- Does the role qualify for the Immigration Salary List fee reduction?
- Are you genuinely eligible for the Health and Care Worker route?
- How many dependants are applying?
- Does each applicant need to pay the IHS?
- Do you need optional priority processing or extra document services?
Skilled Worker Visas and Future Settlement Costs
Paying Skilled Worker visa fees does not itself give settlement rights. However, time spent on the Skilled Worker route may count towards indefinite leave to remain after 5 years, provided all settlement requirements are met at the time of application.
Settlement has separate rules, a separate application fee and additional requirements. If you are planning long term, it is wise to budget beyond the first visa and keep records of employment, absences and immigration permission throughout your time in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a Skilled Worker visa?
The standard application fee figures used in this guide are £819 or £1,618 from outside the UK, and £943 or £1,865 from inside the UK, depending on visa length. Most applicants must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, and you should check the latest fee before applying.
Is the Skilled Worker visa cheaper if I apply from outside the UK?
Yes, the standard application fee is currently lower for overseas applications than for applications made inside the UK. You still need to add the IHS unless an exemption applies.
How much is the Immigration Health Surcharge for a Skilled Worker?
The standard IHS is currently £1,035 per year for most adult Skilled Worker applicants. The total depends on the length of immigration permission being applied for or granted.
Do Skilled Worker dependants pay separate fees?
Yes, each dependant normally pays a separate visa application fee and, where applicable, their own IHS. This can substantially increase the total family cost.
Who pays the Certificate of Sponsorship and Immigration Skills Charge?
These are normally employer sponsorship costs. The Immigration Skills Charge is an employer liability and should not usually be passed to the sponsored worker.
