TL;DR: UK Skilled Worker visa fees vary by application location, visa duration, and applicant type. Sponsors also pay the Immigration Skills Charge, while all applicants and dependants must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge upfront. This guide breaks down every cost.
Understanding UK Skilled Worker Visa Fees
For any individual or employer navigating the UK’s points-based immigration system, understanding the full cost of a Skilled Worker visa application is essential groundwork. UK Skilled Worker visa fees are not a single fixed figure — they vary depending on whether the application is made from outside or inside the UK, the duration of leave being sought, and whether dependants are included. On top of the visa application fee itself, applicants must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), and sponsoring employers are required to pay the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC). Together, these costs can represent a substantial financial commitment for both workers and their sponsors.
The official fee schedule is published and maintained by the Home Office on GOV.UK and is subject to change via Statements of Changes to the Immigration Rules. This reference article consolidates the key fee structures across all three components — visa application fees, the IHS, and the ISC — to provide a clear, authoritative overview for applicants, dependants, and sponsoring employers alike.
What Are UK Skilled Worker Visa Fees?
UK Skilled Worker visa fees are the charges levied by the Home Office / UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for processing a Skilled Worker visa application. The fee payable depends on the applicant’s location at the time of applying (overseas or within the UK), the length of the visa being requested, and whether the application covers a main applicant only or also includes dependant family members. These fees are set by government regulation and are non-refundable in most circumstances, regardless of outcome.
Visa Application Fees: Out-of-Country Applications
Applicants applying for a Skilled Worker visa from outside the United Kingdom — sometimes referred to as an ‘entry clearance’ application — are subject to one of two fee tiers depending on the visa duration requested.
Applications for Up to 3 Years
For a Skilled Worker visa covering a period of up to three years, the standard application fee for a main applicant applying from overseas is £769. Each dependant included in the same application (a partner or child) incurs the same fee of £769 per person.
Applications for More Than 3 Years
For a Skilled Worker visa covering more than three years — typically up to five years — the application fee increases to £1,420 for the main applicant, with dependants again charged at the same rate of £1,420 each.
Key point: The fee tier is determined by the total visa duration being applied for, not the applicant’s occupation, salary, or sponsor type. All standard Skilled Worker applicants fall into one of these two bands when applying from outside the UK.
Health and Care Worker Visa Fee Discounts
Applicants qualifying under the Health and Care Worker visa route — a subset of the broader Skilled Worker route — benefit from reduced application fees. The Health and Care Worker fee is £284 for applications of up to three years and £551 for applications of more than three years, with dependants charged at the same respective rates. Eligibility is restricted to workers in specified NHS and social care roles.
Visa Application Fees: In-Country Applications (Extensions and Switching)
Individuals already present in the UK who wish to extend their Skilled Worker visa, switch into the Skilled Worker category from another route, or change employer within the route must submit an in-country application. The fee structure for in-country applications mirrors the out-of-country bands.
Extensions and Switches of Up to 3 Years
The application fee for an in-country Skilled Worker visa extension or switch covering up to three years is £827 for the main applicant. Each dependant included in the application is charged at £827.
Extensions and Switches of More Than 3 Years
For in-country applications covering more than three years, the main applicant fee is £1,500, with each dependant also charged £1,500.
Note: In-country fees are marginally higher than the equivalent out-of-country fees. This reflects the administrative structure of UKVI’s fee-setting framework for leave-to-remain applications.
Health and Care Worker In-Country Fees
Health and Care Worker applicants extending or switching within the UK benefit from the same discounted fee structure as out-of-country applicants: £284 for up to three years and £551 for more than three years per person.
What Is the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)?
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS UK) is a mandatory upfront payment made by most non-EEA visa applicants that grants access to National Health Service (NHS) treatment during the period of leave. The IHS is paid at the point of application and covers the full visa duration. It is charged per person — meaning each dependant must also pay the IHS in full.
IHS Rates for Skilled Worker Applicants
The standard IHS rate for adult applicants — including Skilled Worker visa holders and their adult dependants — is £1,035 per year (or part thereof). For a five-year Skilled Worker visa, this equates to £5,175 per adult.
Child dependants under 18 are charged at a reduced rate of £776 per year (or part thereof).
Calculation method: The IHS is calculated on a pro-rata basis per year of leave, rounded up for any partial year. A visa of three years and six months, for example, would attract four years’ worth of IHS charges.
Health and Care Worker IHS Exemption
Applicants on the Health and Care Worker visa route, along with their dependants, are exempt from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge. This exemption represents a significant saving for qualifying healthcare and social care workers and their families.
The Immigration Skills Charge: What Sponsors Must Pay
The Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) is a levy paid by the sponsoring employer — not the applicant — at the point of assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). The charge is intended to incentivise employers to invest in domestic skills training.
ISC Rates by Employer Size
The ISC is tiered according to the size and type of the sponsoring organisation:
- Large sponsors: £1,000 per year of sponsorship for the first 12 months, plus £500 for each additional six-month period thereafter.
- Small or charitable sponsors: £364 per year for the first 12 months, plus £182 for each additional six-month period.
An organisation qualifies as a small sponsor if it meets at least two of the following criteria under the Companies Act 2006: annual turnover of no more than £10.2 million; a balance sheet total of no more than £5.1 million; and no more than 50 employees. Registered charities are also eligible for the reduced rate.
Important: The ISC is charged per worker sponsored and per period of sponsorship. It is the employer’s financial obligation and cannot lawfully be passed on to the sponsored worker under the Immigration Rules.
ISC Exemptions
Certain categories of worker are exempt from the Immigration Skills Charge altogether, including those sponsored under the Health and Care Worker visa route, PhD-level occupations listed in specific shortage occupation provisions, and certain student-to-worker transitions in defined circumstances. Sponsors should verify exemptions against the current sponsor guidance published by the Home Office.
Implications for Sponsors and Employers
For organisations holding a Skilled Worker sponsor licence, the total cost of sponsoring an overseas worker extends well beyond salary. A large employer sponsoring a single worker on a five-year Skilled Worker visa would pay £4,500 in Immigration Skills Charge alone (£1,000 for year one, then £500 per six months for the remaining four years). When combined with the worker’s visa application fee, IHS payments, and any legal or compliance costs, total sponsorship expenditure per worker can reach several thousand pounds before the individual arrives in the UK.
Small businesses and charities benefit from the reduced ISC rate, which can meaningfully reduce the cost of international recruitment. Sponsors are advised to factor all associated fees into workforce planning budgets and to review current Home Office sponsor guidance for any recent amendments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much does a UK Skilled Worker visa cost in total? A: The total cost depends on several factors: the application location (inside or outside the UK), the visa duration, and whether dependants are included. For a five-year out-of-country application, the main applicant pays £1,420 in visa fees plus £5,175 in IHS — a combined total of £6,595 before any associated costs.
Q: Who pays the Immigration Skills Charge — the employer or the worker? A: The Immigration Skills Charge is the legal responsibility of the sponsoring employer. Home Office rules prohibit sponsors from recouping this cost from the sponsored worker, whether directly or indirectly.
Q: Is the Immigration Health Surcharge refunded if a visa application is refused? A: According to GOV.UK guidance, the IHS is refunded if a visa application is refused or withdrawn before a decision is made. However, the visa application fee itself is generally non-refundable.
Q: Do Health and Care Worker visa holders pay the IHS? A: No. Applicants approved under the Health and Care Worker visa route, and their dependants, are fully exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Q: How is the IHS calculated for a visa of three years and four months? A: The IHS is charged per year or part thereof. A visa of three years and four months would be treated as four years for IHS purposes, meaning an adult applicant would pay 4 × £1,035 = £4,140.
Key Takeaways
- UK Skilled Worker visa fees range from £769 to £1,500 per person depending on application location and visa duration.
- The Immigration Health Surcharge is £1,035 per adult per year and must be paid upfront for the full visa duration.
- Child dependants pay a reduced IHS rate of £776 per year.
- The Immigration Skills Charge is paid by sponsors: £1,000 per year for large organisations and £364 per year for small or charitable sponsors.
- Health and Care Worker visa applicants benefit from substantially reduced visa fees and full IHS exemption.
Conclusion
The UK Skilled Worker visa fee structure involves multiple distinct charges — application fees, the Immigration Health Surcharge, and the Immigration Skills Charge — each governed by separate regulations and applicable to different parties. Together, these costs represent a significant financial consideration for applicants and their sponsoring employers. Staying informed about current rates via the official GOV.UK fee page is essential, as fee levels are subject to change via Statements of Changes to the Immigration Rules. All figures referenced in this article reflect the rates published on the Home Office’s official guidance at the time of writing.