This guide covers UK visa requirements and fees for Filipino citizens in 2026, including the visitor visa, show money, work and family routes, and how to apply. Filipinos need a visa for every UK trip — there is no ETA option. The 6-month Standard Visitor visa costs $186, paid in US Dollars. Filipinos are among the most successful UK applicants: an 86% visitor grant rate and 91% for work, with the Philippines now the UK's second-largest work-visa nationality after India, driven by healthcare demand.
Source: Home Office Immigration System Statistics, year ending March 2026. Fees from the Home Office visa fee calculator, 8 April 2026 schedule.
The Philippines remains a visa-national country, so every traveller needs a visa — the ETA does not apply. Fees rose under the 8 April 2026 schedule, with the 6-month visitor visa now $186, paid in US Dollars. Filipinos keep a strong record: visitor 86%, work 91%, family 90%. The Philippines is now the UK's second-largest work-visa nationality, led by NHS healthcare recruitment. Successful applicants now receive a digital eVisa.
- Do Filipinos Need a UK Visa?
- UK Visa Fees for Filipinos 2026
- Show Money for a UK Tourist Visa
- UK Tourist Visa from the Philippines
- UK Visa Success Rate for Filipinos
- UK Work Visa from the Philippines
- UK Student Visa from the Philippines
- UK Spouse & Family Visa from the Philippines
- How to Apply from the Philippines
- Frequently Asked Questions
UK Visa Requirements for Filipino Citizens 2026
The Philippines is a visa-national country, so Filipino citizens must hold a visa before travelling to the UK for any purpose — there is no ETA option. The Standard Visitor visa is the route for tourism and family visits, while work, study, and settlement need their own visas. Filipinos are among the UK's most successful applicants, helped by an established community and strong NHS demand for Filipino healthcare workers, and most apply through VFS Global in Manila or Cebu.
Yes. The Philippines is on the UK's visa-national list, so all Filipino passport holders must obtain a visa before travelling, for any purpose. The 6-month Standard Visitor visa costs $186, paid in US Dollars. Filipino applicants enjoy a strong 86% visitor grant rate, with work at 91% and family at 90% — all well above the global visitor average of around 79%.
UK Visa Fees for Filipinos 2026
UK visa fees from the Philippines are charged in US Dollars during the online application. The 8 April 2026 schedule raised most fees. Work, study, and family visas also carry the Immigration Health Surcharge, paid separately in pounds sterling at £1,035 per year, or £776 for students. The figures below follow the official Home Office fee tables.
| Visa Type | Fee (USD) | Grant Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 6-month Visitor | $186 | 86% |
| 2-year Visitor | $696 | 86% |
| 5-year Visitor | $1,242 | 86% |
| 10-year Visitor | $1,552 | 86% |
| Student | $721 | 95% |
| Skilled Worker (≤3 years) | $1,127 | 91% |
| Health and Care Worker | $446 | 91% |
| Spouse / Partner | $2,840 | 90% |
| Priority service | $688 | — |
Show Money for a UK Tourist Visa from the Philippines
There is no official minimum "show money" for a UK tourist visa, but Filipino applicants should evidence enough to cover the whole trip — roughly £1,200 to £1,500 per week of stay in accommodation, expenses, and return travel. What matters most is six months of consistent bank statements showing regular income, not a single large deposit before applying.
"Show money" is the financial evidence proving you can support yourself during the visit without working or relying on public funds. The Home Office sets no fixed figure; caseworkers assess whether your funds realistically cover the trip. Filipino applicants do best with steady, explained finances — a recent unexplained lump sum is a common refusal trigger, as covered in our guide to refusal reasons.
- Provide 6 months of bank statements with regular income, not sudden deposits.
- Include a Certificate of Employment with salary, position, and approved leave.
- OFWs can show remittance records to demonstrate stable income.
- Business owners: add registration, BIR returns, and financial statements.
- Show ties to the Philippines — property, family, or business.
UK Tourist Visa from the Philippines 2026
The UK tourist visa from the Philippines costs $186 for 6 months, $696 for 2 years, $1,242 for 5 years, and $1,552 for 10 years. Each visit is capped at 180 days. Filipino visitors enjoy an 86% approval rate. The same visa covers tourism, visiting family or a partner, business, and short courses.
The Standard Visitor visa is the route for holidays and family visits. Frequent travellers can apply for a long-term visit visa valid for 2, 5, or 10 years. Those visiting a partner or relative should review what a UK sponsor must provide, and anyone refused can check our guide to reapplying after a refusal.
UK Visa Success Rate for Filipino Citizens 2026
Filipino applicants have consistently strong UK visa outcomes. The visitor route runs at 86% on over 54,000 applications, while work is excellent at 91% — and with 18,346 work applications, the Philippines is now the UK's second-largest work-visa nationality after India, reflecting heavy NHS recruitment of Filipino nurses and carers. The grant rates by nationality place the Philippines among the most successful Southeast Asian countries.
| Visa Category | Applications | Grant Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor | 54,108 | 86% |
| Work | 18,346 | 91% |
| Family | 1,542 | 90% |
| Study | 473 | 95% |
Source: Home Office Immigration System Statistics, year ending March 2026.
UK Work Visa from the Philippines 2026
The Skilled Worker visa from the Philippines costs $1,127 for up to 3 years, or $2,226 for longer. Applicants need a graduate-level job, a £41,700 minimum salary, and a sponsoring UK employer. The Health and Care Worker visa is cheaper at $446 and exempt from the health surcharge — the route most Filipino nurses and carers use. The Filipino work grant rate is 91%.
The Skilled Worker visa needs a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed employer and a salary meeting the going rate in the Home Office eligible occupations list. Most Filipino workers come through the Health and Care Worker route, which carries the lower fee and a health-surcharge exemption, reflecting the NHS's heavy reliance on Filipino healthcare staff.
| Work Visa Type | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker (≤3 years) | $1,127 |
| Skilled Worker (over 3 years) | $2,226 |
| Health and Care Worker | $446 |
| Global Talent (with approval) | $288 |
UK Student Visa from the Philippines 2026
The UK Student visa from the Philippines costs $721, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 per year. A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed sponsor is required. The Filipino student grant rate is 95%. Short courses under six months use the short-term study route at $314 instead.
The UK Student visa needs a CAS, the English language requirement, and maintenance funds of £1,483 per month for London or £1,136 elsewhere. Graduates can use the Graduate Route for two years of post-study work after completing their course.
UK Spouse & Family Visa from the Philippines 2026
The UK Spouse visa from the Philippines costs $2,840 and requires the UK sponsor to earn at least £29,000 a year. The initial visa runs for 33 months, with a pathway to settlement after five years. The Filipino family grant rate is 90%. A Filipina partner can also visit first on a Standard Visitor visa ($186) before pursuing settlement.
The UK Spouse visa lets Filipino nationals join a British or settled partner under Appendix FM, leading to settlement after five years. The sponsor must meet the £29,000 income requirement, in place since April 2024; a previously announced rise to £38,700 remains paused pending review. To marry in the UK and stay, a partner uses the Fiancé visa, then switches to the Spouse route.
How to Apply for a UK Visa from the Philippines
Filipino citizens apply online at gov.uk, pay in US Dollars, and give biometrics at a VFS Global centre in Manila or Cebu. The process is the same one used across the wider region, including Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and China. Begin at gov.uk.
- 1. Complete the online application on gov.uk and select the Philippines.
- 2. Pay the visa fee in US Dollars during the application.
- 3. Book your appointment at the VFS Global centre in Manila or Cebu.
- 4. Attend and give biometrics — fingerprints and a photograph.
- 5. Submit supporting documents at the centre or online.
- 6. Access your eVisa through your UKVI account once approved.
Standard decisions take around 3 weeks, with settlement and family cases up to 12 weeks; the priority visa service can shorten non-settlement decisions. Our guides to supporting documents and processing times after biometrics cover the paperwork and timelines.
- The Philippines is visa-national — a visa is required for every trip, no ETA.
- 6-month Visitor visa: $186; long-term up to $1,552 for 10 years.
- Show money: roughly £1,200–£1,500 per week, with steady bank statements.
- Visitor grant rate 86%; work 91%; family 90%; study 95%.
- The Philippines is the UK's #2 work-visa nationality — NHS healthcare demand.
- Health and Care Worker visa $446, the route for most Filipino nurses.
- Fees paid in US Dollars; biometrics at VFS Global in Manila or Cebu.
UK visa fees from the Philippines in 2026: 6-month visitor $186, 2-year visitor $696, 10-year visitor $1,552, student $721, Skilled Worker $1,127 for up to 3 years, Health and Care Worker $446, and spouse $2,840. Fees are paid in US Dollars at VFS Global centres in Manila and Cebu. Work, study, and family visas also require the Immigration Health Surcharge in pounds at £1,035 per year, or £776 for students.
There is no official minimum, but plan for roughly £1,200 to £1,500 per week of your trip to cover accommodation, expenses, and return travel. For a two-week visit, that is around £2,000 to £2,500. What matters most is six months of bank statements showing consistent income and savings — caseworkers are wary of a single large deposit made just before applying, which is a common refusal trigger.
Yes. The Philippines is on the UK's visa-national list, so all Filipino passport holders must obtain a visa before travelling, whatever the purpose — there is no ETA option. The most common choice for short visits is the Standard Visitor visa, costing $186 for six months. Filipino applicants enjoy an 86% visitor grant rate, with work at 91% and family at 90%, all above the global visitor average.
In the year ending March 2026, the Filipino visitor visa grant rate was 86% — of 54,108 applications, 47,350 were granted. Work was 91% on 18,346 applications, making the Philippines the UK's second-largest work-visa nationality after India, led by NHS healthcare recruitment. Family applications succeeded at 90% and study at 95%. These rates place the Philippines among the most successful nationalities for UK visas.
Yes, and Filipinos do so in large numbers — the Philippines is the UK's second-largest work-visa nationality. The Skilled Worker visa costs $1,127 for up to three years and needs a sponsored graduate-level job paying at least £41,700. Most Filipino workers, especially nurses and carers, use the Health and Care Worker visa at $446, which is exempt from the health surcharge. The Filipino work grant rate is 91%. A visitor visa never permits work.
Yes. Your Filipina girlfriend can visit on a Standard Visitor visa ($186), which has an 86% approval rate for Filipinos. She should show her own financial means, ties to the Philippines, and a clear intent to return. An invitation letter from you, with proof of your UK status and accommodation, strengthens the case. For settlement, a Fiancé visa lets her marry and stay, or a Spouse visa if you are already married.
Standard processing from the Philippines is around 3 weeks for visitor, student, and work visas, and up to 12 weeks for settlement and family visas. The priority service returns a non-settlement decision in about 5 working days where offered, and super priority the next working day. These timelines run from your biometrics appointment at the VFS Global centre in Manila or Cebu, not from the online submission.