From 8 April 2026 the standard Skilled Worker application fee is £819 (up to 3 years, applying from outside the UK) or £1,618 (more than 3 years). The Immigration Health Surcharge is still £1,035 per year for most adults. IHS, not the visa fee, is the large number.
Official sources: GOV.UK — how much it costs and the IHS rates.
Application fees (8 April 2026)
| Route | Outside the UK | Inside the UK (switch / extend) |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker, up to 3 years | £819 | £943 |
| Skilled Worker, more than 3 years | £1,618 | £1,865 |
| Immigration Salary List, up to 3 years | £628 | £628 |
| Immigration Salary List, more than 3 years | £1,235 | £1,235 |
| Health and Care, up to 3 years | £324 | £324 |
| Health and Care, more than 3 years | £628 | £628 |
Each dependant pays the same application fee as the main applicant for that row.
Immigration Health Surcharge
- £1,035 per year — most adult work visas.
- £776 per year — under-18s (and student / Youth Mobility rates on those routes).
- £0 — Health and Care Worker main applicants and their dependants (IHS exempt).
A 3-year adult visa is £3,105 IHS. A 5-year adult visa is £5,175 IHS. You pay IHS up front for the length of the visa.
Home Office total for one adult (from India, standard Skilled Worker)
| Length | Visa fee | IHS | Paid to Home Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | £819 | £3,105 | £3,924 |
| 5 years | £1,618 | £5,175 | £6,793 |
Add English SELT (£150–£230), TB test in India (clinic price, often ₹3,000–₹8,000), and keep £1,270 in the bank for 28 days if your sponsor does not certify maintenance. Those last items are not Home Office visa fees, but they are cash you must have.
Indian family example (3-year visa, apply from India)
| Person | Visa fee | IHS | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main applicant (adult) | £819 | £3,105 | £3,924 |
| Spouse | £819 | £3,105 | £3,924 |
| Child under 18 | £819 | £2,328 (3 × £776) | £3,147 |
| Family of three | £10,995 |
A 5-year grant for the same family is substantially more because IHS is charged for five years each. Health and Care COS codes drop IHS to zero and cut the visa fee to £324 / £628 — that is why NHS offers look cheaper on paper.
Optional extras
- Priority ~£500 (5 working days) / super priority ~£1,000 (next working day), when offered.
- Immigration Skills Charge — paid by the employer, not you, unless a contract tries to pass it on (often restricted).
- Certificate of Sponsorship — employer cost.
Path to settlement: ILR / PR cost 2026. Process: how to get a Skilled Worker visa. ગુજરાતી: સ્કિલ્ડ વર્કર વિઝાની કિંમત.
FAQ: Skilled Worker fees
Why is my total not £819?
Because IHS is £1,035 a year for most adults. A 3-year visa is £819 + £3,105 = £3,924 to the Home Office before tests.
Do dependants pay IHS?
Yes, except on Health and Care Worker. Adults pay the adult rate; children usually pay the under-18 rate.
Is the £1,270 a fee?
No. It is maintenance you must usually hold (or have certified). You do not pay it to the Home Office.
General information, not immigration advice. Fees from the 8 April 2026 Home Office table. Recheck GOV.UK before you apply.
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