UK visa application fees for entry clearance from outside the UK rose by approximately 6–7% on 8 April 2026. A Standard Visitor visa now costs £135, a Student visa £558, a Skilled Worker visa £819 for up to 3 years, and a spouse visa entry clearance £2,064. The Immigration Health Surcharge (£1,035/£776 per year) and the Priority/Super Priority charges (£500/£1,000) were unchanged. This guide covers every out-of-country entry clearance fee for 2026 — visit, study, work, family, settlement — plus IHS, employer sponsorship, and fee waivers. For in-country extension, ILR, BRP, and naturalisation fees, see our Home Office fees for ILR, BRP and citizenship guide.
Source: Home Office Immigration and Nationality Fees, 8 April 2026
Most UK visa application fees rose by approximately 6–7%. The Immigration Health Surcharge (£1,035 adult / £776 student/YMS/under-18 per year) and the Priority service charges (£500 Priority / £1,000 Super Priority) were not increased. The Skilled Worker Certificate of Sponsorship remains £525 and the Temporary Worker CoS remains £55. The Sponsor Licence application fee rose to £611 (small/charity) and £1,682 (medium/large); the Immigration Skills Charge rose to £480 and £1,320 per year of sponsorship respectively. The most significant single change is the ILR fee rising from £3,029 to £3,226 per applicant.
- Out-of-Country vs In-Country Fees
- UK Visit Visa Fees 2026
- UK Student Visa Fees 2026
- UK Work Visa Fees 2026
- Employer Sponsorship Costs
- UK Family and Spouse Entry Clearance Fees
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) Overview
- Priority and Super Priority Service Fees
- Fee Waivers and Exemptions
- April 2026 Fee Changes Summary
- Why Are UK Visa Fees So High?
- UK vs Global: How Fees Compare
- Calculating Your Total UK Visa Cost
- Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding UK Entry Clearance Visa Fees in 2026
UK visa fees are set annually by the Home Office under section 68 of the Immigration Act 2014 and published in the official fees schedule. The 8 April 2026 fee update applied small percentage increases across most application categories while leaving the Immigration Health Surcharge, the Priority/Super Priority charges, and the Certificate of Sponsorship fee unchanged. The full statutory schedule is published on the official Home Office Immigration and Nationality Fees table.
Out-of-Country vs In-Country Fees — What This Guide Covers
This guide focuses on out-of-country entry clearance fees — what you pay when applying for a UK visa from outside the United Kingdom. In-country fees (FLR extensions, ILR settlement, BRP replacements, naturalisation) are typically higher than the equivalent entry clearance fee and are covered in our companion in-country Home Office fees guide. For complete supporting evidence rules across both routes, see our UKVI document framework.
| Application Type | Out-of-Country Fee | In-Country Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor (6 months) | £135 | Not applicable (entry clearance only) |
| Student route | £558 | £558 (extension) |
| Skilled Worker (≤3 years) | £819 | £943 (extension/switch) |
| Skilled Worker (>3 years) | £1,618 | £1,865 |
| Spouse / Partner | £2,064 (entry clearance) | £1,407 (FLR(M) extension) |
| ILR / SET(M) / SET(O) | Not applicable | £3,226 |
| Naturalisation (British citizenship) | Not applicable | £1,709 + £130 ceremony fee |
UK Visit Visa Fees 2026 — Tourist, Business and Family Visits
From 8 April 2026, the UK Standard Visitor visa costs £135 for 6 months, £506 for 2 years, £903 for 5 years, and £1,128 for a 10-year multiple-entry visa. Visit visa applicants do NOT pay the Immigration Health Surcharge — making the 10-year visa especially good value for frequent travellers. For the complete Standard Visitor route fee breakdown by visa category, see our dedicated Standard Visitor route fee breakdown.
| Visit Visa Duration | Application Fee 2026 | With Priority (+£500) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor — 6 months | £135 | £635 |
| Long-term — 2 years | £506 | £1,006 |
| Long-term — 5 years | £903 | £1,403 |
| Long-term — 10 years | £1,128 | £1,628 |
The UK Standard Visitor route applications framework covers tourism, family visits, business meetings, conferences, and short courses up to 30 days. The maximum stay per visit is 180 days regardless of which long-term duration you choose. Multiple-year visit visa application requirements include additional credibility evidence around travel patterns and intent to return.
Other Visit and Transit Routes
| Visa Type | Fee 2026 | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage / Civil Partnership Visitor | £135 | Marriage ceremony in the UK |
| Permitted Paid Engagement | £135 | Paid expert engagement up to 1 month |
| ADS (Chinese tour groups) | £135 | Approved Destination Status scheme |
| Private Medical Treatment visit (6–11 months) | £235 | Private medical treatment in UK |
| Direct Airside Transit Visa | £42 | Transit through UK airside only |
| Visitor in Transit Visa | £75 | Stops up to 48 hours |
| Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) | £20 | Visa-exempt nationals up to 6 months |
UK Student Visa Fees 2026 — Entry Clearance and Total Cost
The UK Student visa application fee from 8 April 2026 is £558 per applicant for both entry clearance and in-country extension. Students also pay the reduced Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 per year for the full visa duration upfront. A 3-year undergraduate degree typically costs £558 application fee plus approximately £2,716 IHS = £3,274 total per person (excluding tuition and maintenance funds). Child Student visa applicants and Student dependants pay the same fees.
| Student Route Category | Application Fee | IHS Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa (main applicant) | £558 | £776 |
| Child Student visa | £558 | £776 |
| Student dependant | £558 | £776 |
| Short-term English language study route (6–11 months) | £235 | Not required |
| Graduate (post-study work) visa | £937 | £1,035 (standard rate) |
Student visa applicants must demonstrate funds to cover tuition and maintenance under UK Student route applications. The total IHS is calculated on the full visa length granted (course + small buffer of 1 month before and 2–4 months after), not the course duration alone — full calculator rules in the dedicated IHS section below.
UK Work Visa Fees 2026 — Skilled Worker and Other Routes
From 8 April 2026, the Skilled Worker visa entry clearance fee is £819 for visas up to 3 years and £1,618 for visas longer than 3 years. The Health and Care Worker route remains discounted at £324 (up to 3 years) with full IHS exemption. The Global Talent visa is £766 plus £244 endorsement. With IHS and employer-side costs (CoS £525 plus Immigration Skills Charge), a 5-year Skilled Worker assignment for a medium/large sponsor exceeds £13,400 total. See our full work visa fee schedule for the complete framework.
| Work Visa Route | Up to 3 Years | Over 3 Years |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker sponsorship route | £819 | £1,618 |
| Skilled Worker on Temporary Shortage List | £625 | £1,237 |
| Health and Care Worker route | £324 | £624 |
| Global Talent endorsement route | £766 + £244 endorsement fee = £1,010 total | |
| Scale-up Worker visa | £875 | |
| Innovator Founder settlement route | £1,352 | |
| HPI route for top-university graduates | £937 | |
| Global Business Mobility — Senior or Specialist Worker | £819 | £1,618 |
| T5 Temporary Worker categories | £319 | |
Employer Sponsorship Costs 2026 — Licence, CoS and Immigration Skills Charge
From 8 April 2026, the UK Sponsor Licence application fee is £611 for small or charitable sponsors and £1,682 for medium or large sponsors. Each Certificate of Sponsorship (Skilled Worker route) costs £525; Temporary Worker CoS is £55. The Immigration Skills Charge is £480 per year of sponsorship for small/charity sponsors and £1,320 per year for medium/large sponsors. These costs sit entirely with the sponsoring employer — sponsors cannot lawfully recoup them from sponsored workers. Full ISC framework at UKVI's Immigration Skills Charge guidance.
| Employer-Side Cost | Small / Charity | Medium / Large |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsor Licence application (Worker) | £611 | £1,682 |
| Sponsor Licence priority service | £750 | £750 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship — Skilled Worker | £525 per CoS | £525 per CoS |
| Certificate of Sponsorship — Temporary Worker | £55 per CoS | £55 per CoS |
| Immigration Skills Charge — 3 years | £1,440 | £3,960 |
| Immigration Skills Charge — 5 years | £2,400 | £6,600 |
A worked example: a medium or large sponsor recruiting a Skilled Worker on a 3-year out-of-country visa pays £525 CoS + £3,960 ISC = £4,485 in employer-side costs (excluding the sponsor licence if not already held). The worker separately pays £819 application fee + £3,105 IHS = £3,924. Combined, the 3-year placement costs approximately £8,409 before any priority processing, legal fees, or dependants.
UK Family and Spouse Entry Clearance Fees 2026
The UK spouse and partner visa entry clearance fee from 8 April 2026 is £2,064 per applicant (up from £1,938). Adding the IHS of £3,105 for the 33-month visa, the total cost for one spouse visa applicant from outside the UK is approximately £5,169. The 5-year route to ILR requires two visa stages (entry + extension) totalling roughly £11,696 in fees plus £3,226 ILR fee. Fiancé(e) visas cost £2,064 plus a 6-month IHS of £517.50.
| Family Entry Clearance Route | Application Fee 2026 | IHS for Visa Period |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse and partner route (33 months) | £2,064 | £3,105 |
| Fiancé(e) and proposed civil partner visa | £2,064 | £517.50 (6 months) |
| Parent of a British or settled child | £2,064 | £3,105 |
| UK dependant visa requirements | £2,064 | Matches sponsor |
| Adult dependent relative route | £3,704 | Not required (leads to ILR) |
| Hong Kong BN(O) settlement pathway (5 years) | £250 (BN(O) entry) | £5,175 (or fee waiver) |
| UK Ancestry visa (5 years) | £766 | £5,175 |
| Youth Mobility Scheme | £319 | £1,552 (2 years, reduced) |
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) — Headline Rates
The IHS is £1,035 per adult per year and £776 per year for students, their dependants, Youth Mobility Scheme applicants, and applicants under 18 on the date of application. Rates have been unchanged since 6 February 2024 — including the 8 April 2026 update. Health and Care Worker visa holders and their dependants are fully exempt. Standard Visitor visa applicants from outside the UK (under 6 months) are also exempt. Full calculator and rounding rules in our Immigration Health Surcharge calculation guide.
| Applicant Category | Annual Rate | 3-Year Total | 5-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult standard rate | £1,035 | £3,105 | £5,175 |
| Student / Student dependant | £776 | £2,328 | £3,880 |
| Youth Mobility Scheme | £776 | — | — |
| Under 18 on application date | £776 | £2,328 | £3,880 |
| Health and Care Worker route | Exempt | £0 | £0 |
| Standard Visitor (under 6 months) | Not required | — | — |
The IHS is paid online during the visa application and gives full NHS access on the same basis as UK residents. The official IHS calculator at UKVI's how much you pay guidance works out the exact figure for any visa length. Detailed exemption rules, fee waivers for ten-year human rights route applicants, and the refund process when a visa is refused are covered in the dedicated IHS pillar guide linked above. Visa fees do not include IHS in any of the figures shown above unless explicitly stated.
Priority and Super Priority Service Fees
The Priority service costs £500 and targets a decision within 5 working days. Super Priority costs £1,000 and targets a decision by the end of the next working day. Settlement Priority for overseas family entry clearance is £500 and targets 30 working days (6 weeks). These charges were last changed on 4 October 2023 and were unchanged in the 8 April 2026 fee schedule. Service availability varies by route and country — full eligibility framework in our UK Priority and Super Priority guide.
| Service | Fee 2026 | Decision Target |
|---|---|---|
| Standard processing | Included | 3 weeks (overseas) / 8 weeks (in-country) |
| Priority Service | £500 | 5 working days |
| Super Priority Service | £1,000 | Next working day (UKVCAS only) |
| Settlement Priority (family entry clearance) | £500 | 30 working days (6 weeks) |
| UKVI email enquiry | £2.74 per query | — |
| UKVI telephone helpline | £0.69 per minute | — |
Priority and Super Priority charges are added to the standard application fee. Super Priority is not available via the UK Immigration: ID Check app — only through UKVCAS appointments inside the UK and at selected VFS Global / TLScontact centres overseas. The full Home Office faster-decision framework is at UKVI's faster decision guidance.
Fee Waivers and Exemptions 2026
UKVI operates two distinct categories of fee relief: statutory exemptions (automatic, based on visa category — e.g. Health and Care Worker exemption from IHS, ILR-stage exemption from IHS) and fee waivers (means-tested applications made before the main visa application). Fee waivers apply primarily to applicants on the ten-year human rights and family life route and certain other family routes where the applicant would otherwise face destitution. Hong Kong BN(O) applicants may also apply for an IHS fee waiver under the BN(O) framework.
April 2026 Fee Changes — Quick Summary
| Application | Old Fee (2025) | New Fee (8 April 2026) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor — 6 months | £127 | £135 | +£8 (+6.3%) |
| Standard Visitor — 10 years | £1,059 | £1,128 | +£69 (+6.5%) |
| Student visa | £524 | £558 | +£34 (+6.5%) |
| Skilled Worker (≤3 years) | £769 | £819 | +£50 (+6.5%) |
| Spouse entry clearance | £1,938 | £2,064 | +£126 (+6.5%) |
| FLR(M) extension | £1,321 | £1,407 | +£86 (+6.5%) |
| ILR (all routes) | £3,029 | £3,226 | +£197 (+6.5%) |
| Graduate Route | £880 | £937 | +£57 (+6.5%) |
| ETA | £16 | £20 | +£4 (+25%) |
| Sponsor Licence (large) | £1,579 | £1,682 | +£103 (+6.5%) |
| Sponsor Licence (small/charity) | £574 | £611 | +£37 (+6.4%) |
| IHS adult / student | £1,035 / £776 | £1,035 / £776 | Unchanged |
| Priority / Super Priority | £500 / £1,000 | £500 / £1,000 | Unchanged |
| CoS — Skilled Worker | £525 | £525 | Unchanged |
Why Are UK Visa Fees So High?
UK visa fees are deliberately set above administrative cost under section 68 of the Immigration Act 2014, which permits the Home Office to charge fees reflecting "the benefits the holder is likely to derive" rather than processing cost. This generates substantial Treasury surplus — £2.2 billion from application fees in 2022/23 plus £1.7 billion from IHS and £600 million from the Immigration Skills Charge. The deliberate policy goal is a self-funded immigration system where applicants rather than general taxpayers bear the cost.
UK immigration fees have risen substantially above inflation since 2003. In that year, a Student visa cost £36 and a settlement application cost £155. By 2026, the equivalent fees are £558 and £3,226 — increases of approximately 1,450% and 1,980% respectively over 23 years. The combined receipts from visa fees, IHS, and the Immigration Skills Charge now exceed £4.5 billion annually.
UK Spouse Visa — 11-Year Cost Trajectory
| Year | Spouse Visa Application Fee | IHS Rate | Headline Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | £956 | £200/year (new) | IHS introduced |
| 2019 | £1,523 | £400/year | IHS doubled |
| 2020 | £1,523 | £624/year | IHS +56% |
| October 2023 | £1,846 | £624/year | Application fee +6% |
| February 2024 | £1,846 | £1,035/year | IHS +66% |
| April 2025 | £1,938 | £1,035/year | Application fee +5% |
| April 2026 | £2,064 | £1,035/year | Application fee +6.5% |
A 33-month spouse visa entry clearance in 2026 (£2,064 + £3,105 IHS = £5,169) is approximately 4.5 times the equivalent cost in 2015 (£956 + £550 IHS = £1,506). The 2024 IHS increase alone is projected to raise an additional £6.2 billion in revenue by 2028 according to the Home Office's published impact assessment.
UK vs Global: How Visa Fees Compare
A Royal Society comparative analysis found that UK upfront immigration costs are the highest of all 17 leading science nations studied. A 5-year UK Skilled Worker visa costs approximately £9,700 in total upfront fees for a medium/large sponsor — 2 to 10 times higher than equivalent visas in Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland, and Australia. A significant portion of the differential comes from the upfront Immigration Health Surcharge, which most peer countries replace with ongoing private or social insurance.
| Country | Equivalent Skilled Visa | Approximate Upfront Cost (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Skilled Worker (5 years) | ~£9,700 (with employer ISC) |
| United States | H1B Specialty Occupation | ~£6,700 |
| Australia | Temporary Skill Shortage Subclass 482 | ~£3,200 |
| Switzerland | L and B Permits | ~£1,000 |
| Canada | Global Talent Stream / Express Entry | ~£700 |
| France | Passeport Talent | ~£250 |
| Germany | EU Blue Card / Skilled Worker Permit | ~£140 |
For family migration, the disparity is similar. A 2023 Institute for Government analysis estimated that a family of five moving to the UK on a five-year sponsored visa faces total upfront costs exceeding £21,000 — compared with approximately £10,000 in Australia, £2,700 in France, £750 in Germany, and £670 in Canada. UK fees have risen further since that analysis was published. The 8 April 2026 Home Office update raised most fee categories by 6–7% while leaving IHS and Priority service charges unchanged.
Calculating Your Total UK Visa Cost
- Base application fee for your visa category (from the tables above)
- Immigration Health Surcharge — multiply £1,035 or £776 by the visa length in years
- Optional Priority service — add £500 (5 working days) or £1,000 (next working day)
- VFS Global / TLScontact appointment charges in your country (commercial, optional add-ons)
- Biometric enrolment — usually included; some countries add small administration fees
- Translation costs for non-English supporting documents
- Multiply application fee + IHS by each family member applying
- If sponsored: confirm employer is covering sponsor licence + CoS + ISC (legally required)
Worked Examples — Total Cost Per Person 2026
6-month Standard Visitor visa: £135 application fee + £0 IHS = £135 total. With Priority service: £635.
10-year multiple-entry visitor visa: £1,128 application fee + £0 IHS = £1,128 total (no annual cost — pays for itself across multiple trips).
3-year undergraduate Student visa: £558 application fee + £2,716 IHS (3 years + 4 months) = approximately £3,274 total (excluding tuition and maintenance funds).
3-year Skilled Worker visa (applicant cost): £819 application fee + £3,105 IHS = £3,924 total. Employer separately pays £525 CoS + £3,960 ISC = £4,485. Combined £8,409 for 3 years.
33-month Spouse visa entry clearance: £2,064 application fee + £3,105 IHS = £5,169 total. Five-year route to ILR per applicant: approximately £12,389.
2-year Youth Mobility Scheme visa: £319 application fee + £1,552 IHS (reduced rate) = £1,871 total.
- Most UK visa application fees rose by approximately 6–7% on 8 April 2026
- The Immigration Health Surcharge (£1,035 adult / £776 student-YMS-under-18 per year) was unchanged
- Priority and Super Priority service charges (£500 / £1,000) were unchanged
- Certificate of Sponsorship fee remains £525 (Skilled Worker) and £55 (Temporary Worker)
- Standard Visitor visas (under 6 months) do NOT pay IHS — making the 10-year visit visa £1,128 total
- Health and Care Worker visa applicants pay the lowest application fee (£324) and are exempt from IHS
- 5-year spouse route to settlement now costs approximately £12,389 per applicant in government fees
- Sponsor Licence application rose to £611 (small/charity) and £1,682 (medium/large)
- Immigration Skills Charge: £480 (small/charity) / £1,320 (medium/large) per year of sponsorship
- UK upfront immigration costs are 2–10 times higher than peer countries on equivalent visas
- In-country fees (FLR, ILR, BRP, naturalisation) are covered in our companion in-country Home Office fees overview
UK visa application fees from 8 April 2026 vary by category. A 6-month Standard Visitor visa is £135, a Student visa is £558, a Skilled Worker visa is £819 (up to 3 years), and a spouse visa entry clearance is £2,064 per applicant. Most long-stay applicants also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per adult per year (£776 for students). The cheapest UK work visa is the Health and Care Worker route at £324 with full IHS exemption. Most fees rose by approximately 6–7% on 8 April 2026.
A 5-year UK Standard Visitor visa costs £903 from 8 April 2026. Other long-term visit visa options are £506 for 2 years and £1,128 for 10 years. Long-term visit visas allow multiple trips of up to 180 days each over the visa duration. None of these visit visas require the Immigration Health Surcharge — making the 10-year £1,128 visa especially good value for frequent travellers to the UK.
A 10-year UK Standard Visitor visa costs £1,128 from 8 April 2026 (up from £1,059 in 2025). This multiple-entry visa permits visits of up to 180 days each over a decade. There is no Immigration Health Surcharge on visit visas, no annual renewal cost, and no in-country extension required — the £1,128 is the total Home Office cost. For frequent business or family visitors, this works out cheaper than repeatedly applying for 6-month visas at £135 each.
A UK Student visa from 8 April 2026 costs £558 application fee plus £776 per year of Immigration Health Surcharge. A 3-year undergraduate degree therefore totals approximately £558 + £2,716 IHS = £3,274 per person (with the IHS covering 3 years plus a 4-month post-study buffer). Child Student visa applicants and Student dependants pay the same fees and qualify for the same reduced IHS rate. Total cost excludes tuition fees and maintenance funds that must be evidenced separately.
The Skilled Worker visa entry clearance fee from 8 April 2026 is £819 for visas up to 3 years and £1,618 for visas longer than 3 years. The Health and Care Worker route is £324 (up to 3 years). Adding IHS (£1,035 per year), a 3-year applicant pays £3,924 total. Employers separately pay £525 CoS + £480/£1,320 Immigration Skills Charge per year depending on organisation size. The minimum salary threshold from 22 July 2025 is £41,700 per year or the going rate, whichever is higher.
The UK spouse visa entry clearance fee from 8 April 2026 is £2,064 per applicant (up from £1,938). Adding the 33-month IHS of £3,105, the total cost is approximately £5,169 per person. The 5-year route to ILR requires two visa stages plus the ILR application: entry clearance (£2,064 + £3,105 IHS) + FLR(M) extension (£1,407 + £2,587.50 IHS) + ILR (£3,226) = approximately £12,389.50 per person over five years. Children at the reduced IHS rate add £776 per year each.
A UK spouse visa extension (FLR(M)) from inside the UK costs £1,407 from 8 April 2026 (up from £1,321). Adding the IHS of £2,587.50 for the 30-month extension period, the total spouse visa extension cost is £3,994.50 per applicant. For full in-country fee detail across FLR(M), FLR(FP), FLR(IR), FLR(HRO), ILR, and naturalisation, see the in-country Home Office fees guide linked at the top of this article.
The UK Priority service costs £500 and targets a decision within 5 working days. The Super Priority service costs £1,000 and targets a decision by the end of the next working day. Settlement Priority for overseas family entry clearance is £500 and targets 6 weeks. These charges were unchanged in the 8 April 2026 fee schedule. Super Priority is not available via the UK Immigration: ID Check app — only through UKVCAS appointments or selected overseas VFS/TLScontact centres.
The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) costs £20 from 8 April 2026 (up from £16). The ETA is valid for 2 years or until passport expiry (whichever is sooner) and permits multiple visits of up to 6 months each over the validity period. The ETA is for visa-exempt nationals — including US, Australian, Canadian, Japanese, Singaporean, and most other passport holders not requiring a Standard Visitor visa. Strict ETA enforcement at UK borders began on 25 February 2026.
Yes. UK visa application fees are set by the Home Office in pounds sterling and apply equally to all countries — the Skilled Worker visa fee of £819 is the same whether applying from India, Pakistan, Nigeria, the Philippines, Bangladesh, or any other country. What varies is the local-currency equivalent (subject to the exchange rate on the payment date) and the commercial fees charged by VFS Global or TLScontact for appointment booking and optional add-on services. The IHS and Priority fees are also globally uniform.
UK visa fees are deliberately set above administrative cost under section 68 of the Immigration Act 2014, which permits the Home Office to charge fees that reflect economic benefits to the UK rather than processing cost alone. The policy goal is a self-funded immigration system. Royal Society analysis found UK upfront immigration costs to be 2–10 times higher than 16 other leading nations. A large part of the differential is the upfront Immigration Health Surcharge (£1,035/year × full visa length) — most peer countries fund migrant healthcare through ongoing private or social insurance rather than upfront fees.
UK visa application fees are non-refundable, regardless of whether the application is granted or refused. However, the Immigration Health Surcharge IS refundable in full automatically if the visa application is refused, withdrawn before decision, or successfully overturned at administrative review. Refunds are issued to the original payment card within 6 weeks of the refusal (with a 14-day minimum wait from refusal date). The Priority service fee may be refunded if UKVI failed to meet the service standard on a straightforward case. See administrative review procedure for refusal recovery options.
UK employer sponsorship costs for a medium or large sponsor recruiting one 3-year Skilled Worker include: Sponsor Licence £1,682 (first-time only) + Certificate of Sponsorship £525 + Immigration Skills Charge £3,960 (3 × £1,320) = £6,167 in the first hiring cycle, or £4,485 for subsequent hires once the licence is in place. Small or charity sponsors pay £611 licence + £525 CoS + £1,440 ISC = £2,576 in the first hire. These costs cannot be passed to the worker. Combined with the worker's own application fee and IHS, a 3-year Skilled Worker placement costs employers and workers approximately £8,400–£10,000 total.
For the official statutory fee schedule including every UK immigration and nationality fee in force, always verify against the Home Office's published fees table. For full online UK visa application guidance, the document checklist framework in our supporting documents guide, current decision timescales at UK visa processing time after biometrics, and refusal recovery routes at UK visa refusal reasons — see our complete UKVI hub guidance set.