How much does a Skilled Worker visa cost in total?

What do you pay for a Skilled Worker visa?

When you apply for a Skilled Worker visa, you’ll need to have enough money to: pay the application fee - the standard fee ranges from £819 to £1,865 depending on your circumstances pay the healthcare surcharge - this is usually £1,035 per year support yourself when you arrive in the UK - you’ll usually need to have at least £1,270 available (unless you’re exempt)

What to check before you budget

• Inside the UK (extend, switch or update) or outside? That picks the column in the sums table.
• The job's 4-digit occupation code (SOC code), and whether that code is on the immigration salary list. That picks the row.
• Is the job eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa? See the Health and Care section.
• Been in the UK on a valid visa for 12 months or more? See ‘Do I have to show savings?’.
• Who in your family is coming, and how old each child is when they apply. See the family section.
• Once you have an offer: the start and end dates on your certificate of sponsorship, and whether your employer has completed its ‘sponsor certifies maintenance’ section.

What a SOC code is, and how to find yours

Still looking? UK jobs from employers on the Home Office register of licensed sponsors

Who pays what?

What does it cost for 2, 3 or 5 years?

Your job is not on the immigration salary list so your visa will cost £819, plus £1,035 for each year of your stay for the healthcare surcharge. This means you’ll pay a total of £2,889 when you apply for your visa.

GOV.UK gives one total, the £2,889 above. For other lengths of stay, the table sets out the same quoted figures so you can add them up for your own case. GOV.UK tells you the exact amount when you apply.

The amount you have to pay depends on the length of the visa you’re given and where you apply from.

How much is the application fee?

If you’re applying from outside the UK, the standard fee depends on whether you’ll be in the UK for: up to 3 years - £819 per person more than 3 years - £1,618 per person

If you’re applying from inside the UK to extend, switch or update your visa, the standard fee depends on whether you’ll be in the UK for: up to 3 years - £943 per person more than 3 years - £1,865 per person

You’ll pay a lower application fee if your job is on the immigration salary list.

The fee for each person applying is: £628 if you’re staying for up to 3 years £1,235 if you’re staying for more than 3 years The fee is the same whether you’re applying from inside or outside the UK.

How much is the healthcare surcharge?

£1,035 per year for all other visa and immigration applications, for example £3,105 for a 3-year visa

The exact amount you pay depends on the length of your visa. A visa may last longer than your course of study or period of employment.

Do I have to show savings?

You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.

You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.

You’ll usually need to show proof of this when you apply

unless either: you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months your employer can cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to £1,270

Under GOV.UK's heading “If your employer can support you instead”:

Your certificate of sponsorship must confirm this. Your employer will need to complete the ‘sponsor certifies maintenance’ section on your certificate.

What does the employer pay?

You must pay the certificate of sponsorship fee yourself if you’re sponsoring a: Skilled Worker

Worker (except workers on the International Sportsperson visa) £525

You might have to pay an additional charge when you assign a certificate of sponsorship to someone applying for a Skilled Worker or Senior or Specialist Worker visa. This is called the ‘immigration skills charge’.

You must pay the immigration skills charge if they’re applying for a visa from: outside the UK to work in the UK for 6 months or more inside the UK for any length of time

You must pay the immigration skills charge yourself. Your licence may be revoked if you ask the sponsored worker to pay the fee or any costs linked to your application.

The longest you can sponsor a worker for is 5 years, so the most you’ll have to pay is: £2,400 (5 x £480) if you’re a small or charitable sponsor £6,600 (5 x £1,320) if you’re a medium or large sponsor

What does it cost to bring a partner or children?

Your partner and children may also be able to apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’. They’ll need to complete separate applications.

If your partner or child applies to join you in the UK, they’ll pay the fee for the same length of time as you even if they apply after your visa has been granted.

Dependants aged 18 or over usually need to pay the same amount as you.

£776 per year for visa and immigration applicants who are under the age of 18 at time of application

Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they’re in the UK.

You - or your partner or child - will need: £285 for your partner £315 for one child £200 for each additional child

unless either: you have all been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months your employer can cover your family’s costs during your first month in the UK - this must be confirmed on your certificate of sponsorship

GOV.UK: who can be your dependant, with separate sections for care workers and ‘medium skilled’ jobs

Is it cheaper on the Health and Care Worker visa?

The standard application fee depends on whether you’ll be in the UK for: up to 3 years - £324 per person more than 3 years - £628 per person The fee is the same whether you apply from inside or outside the UK.

GOV.UK's surcharge page, under “Who does not need to pay”, lists:

you’re a health and care worker who is eligible for a Health and Care Worker visa (or you’re their dependant)

GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa, eligible jobs

Common questions