logo

UK Visa Application Fees 2024

Joe Walton, Legal Adviser • January 19, 2024

If you’re in the process of applying for a UK visa from outside the country, seeking an extension of your stay or aiming for indefinite leave to remain, it’s important to note that a Home Office visa application fee is a mandatory part of the application process.


The specific amount of the visa application fee will vary based on factors such as the type of visa or immigration application you’re pursuing, whether the application is made from within or outside the UK, and whether you opt for a Home Office premium service for application submission.


It’s crucial for each applicant to pay the applicable fee for their visa or immigration application in full, following the prescribed application procedure. The UK visa application fee to be paid will be determined by the fee in effect on the date of your application.


In 2024, the United Kingdom’s visa landscape is evolving, and with it, so are the costs involved. Whether you’re planning a short-term visit, a long-term study programme, to join family or pursue employment in the UK, understanding the latest visa application fees is crucial for effective planning. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the latest UK visa application fees in force in 2024, shedding light on the various categories and recent changes.


Recent Changes to UK Visa Application Fees


The cost of applying for most, but not all, UK visas increased on 4 October 2023. This increase applied to both applications for entry clearance submitted from outside the UK and applications for leave to remain submitted from within the UK. Settlement and citizenship applications were also impacted.


The application fee for the majority of UK visa applications increased by 15%, with the cost of applying for a family visa (spouse, civil partner, fiance, proposed civil partner, unmarried partner), indefinite leave to remain and naturalisation as a British citizen increasing by 20% and the cost of applying for a student visa increasing by 35%:


  • Visit visa (6 months) – up by 15% from £100 to £115
  • Skilled Worker visa – up by 15% from £625 to £719
  • Innovator Founder visa – up by 15% from £1,036 to £1,191
  • High Potential Individual visa – up by 15% from £715 to £822
  • UK Expansion Worker visa – up by 15% from £259 to £298
  • Global Talent visa – up by 15% from £623 to £716
  • Scale-up visa – up by 15% from £715 to £822
  • Student visa – up by 35% from £363 to £490
  • Graduate visa – up by 15% from £715 to £822
  • Spouse visa – up by 20% from £1,538 to £1,846
  • Indefinite leave to remain – up by 20% from £2,404 to £2,885
  • Naturalisation as a British citizen – up by 20% from £1,250 to £1,500


The cost of applying for a settlement visa from overseas via the Priority Visa Service dropped by 13% from £573 to £500, but the cost of applying for a non-settlement visa from overseas via the Priority Visa Service increased by 100% from £250 to £500.


However, not all UK visa application fees increased.


For example, the cost of applying for a private medical treatment visa for a period of more than 6 months remained the same at £200, whilst the cost of applying for a 5 year Hong Kong BN(O) visa remained at £250.


Employers applying for a sponsor licence also avoided a fee increase, with the Home Office fee for both a worker sponsor licence application and a temporary worker sponsor licence application remaining at £536 for a small sponsor and £1,476 for a large sponsor.


That said, it was not all good news for employers, as the cost of allocating a certificate of sponsorship increased by between 19% and 20%.


UK Visa & Immigration Application Fees 2024


The tables below set out the UK visa application fees for all visa and immigration applications submitted in 2024. The tables include application fees for the following immigration categories:


  • Short Stay Visit Visas
  • Partner & Family Visas
  • Long Term Work Visas
  • Short Term Work Visas
  • Business Visas
  • Business Mobility Visas
  • Global Talent Visas
  • Student & Graduate Visas
  • Hong Kong BN(O) Visas
  • British Citizenship


The majority of UK visa applicants will also be required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) on top of their UK visa application fee. For information on the Immigration Health Surcharge and who needs to pay it, please see our previous post. Applicants should note, however, that the UK Government has announced proposals to increase the Immigration Health Surcharge.


Some, but not all, employers who recruit foreign workers may also be required to pay an Immigration Skills Charge.


To discuss your UK visa application with one of our immigration legal advisers contact our immigration lawyers on 0161 529 7779 or complete the enquiry form below.


UK Work Visa Application Fees 2024


Work Visa Applications Submitted Outside the UK


Innovator founder – main applicant and dependants.       

£1,191

Endorsement fee under Innovator Founder route (payable to endorsing body) excluding VAT

£1,000

Start-up – main applicant and dependants

£435

Approval letter from a competent body in respect of an initial application for Global Talent

£524

Global Talent – main applicant – where Approval Letter is required

£192

Global Talent – main applicant – where Approval Letter is not required

£716

Global Talent – dependants only

£716

Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) – dependants only

£716

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) – dependants only

£1,191

Tier 1 (Investor) – main applicant and dependants

£1,884

Skilled worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants

£719

Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants

£1,420

Skilled Worker – shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants

£551

Skilled Worker, shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants

£1,084

Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants

£284

Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants

£551

Skilled Worker – Shortage Occupation – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants

£284

Skilled Worker – Shortage Occupation – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants

£551

T2 Minister of Religion – main applicant and dependants

£719

International Sportsperson where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for 12 months or less – main applicant and dependants

£298

International Sportsperson where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over 12 months – main applicant and dependants

£719

Temporary Work – Seasonal Worker, Religious Worker, Charity Worker, Creative Worker, International Agreement, Government Authorised Exchange and Youth Mobility Scheme – main applicant and dependants

£298

Representative of an overseas business – main applicant and dependants

£719

Global Business Mobility - Senior or Specialist Worker – up to 3 years – main applicant and dependants

£719

Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – more than 3 years -main applicant and dependants

£1,420

Global Business Mobility - Graduate Trainee – main applicant and dependants

£298

Global Business Mobility - Service Supplier – main applicant and dependants

£298

Global Business Mobility - UK Expansion Worker – main applicant and dependants

£298

Global Business Mobility - Secondment Worker – main applicant and dependants

£298

Scale – main applicant and dependants

£822

High Potential Individual – main applicant and dependants

£822

 

Work Visa Applications Submitted Inside the UK


Innovator Founder – main applicant and dependants

£1,486

Endorsement fee under Innovator Founder route (payable to endorsing body) excluding VAT

£1,000

Start-up – main applicant and dependants

£584

Approval letter from a competent body in respect of an initial application for Global Talent

£524

Global Talent  – main applicant – where Approval Letter is required

£192

Global Talent – main applicant – where Approval Letter is not required

£716

Global Talent – dependants only

£716

 Graduate Route – main applicant and dependants

£822

Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) – dependants only

£716

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)   – main applicant and dependants

£1,486

Tier 1 (Investor) – main applicant and dependants

£1,884

Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants

£827

Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants

£1,500

Skilled Worker, shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants

£551

Skilled Worker, shortage occupation where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants

£1,084

Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants

£284

Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants

£551

Skilled Worker – Shortage Occupation – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants

£284

Skilled Worker – Shortage Occupation – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants

£551

T2 Minister of Religion – main applicant and dependants

£827

International Sportsperson  where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for 12 months or less – main applicant and dependants

£298

International Sportsperson where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over 12 months – main applicant and dependants

£827

 Temporary Worker  – Seasonal Worker, Religious Worker, Charity Worker, Creative Worker, International Agreement Worker, Government Authorised Exchange Worker – main applicant and dependants

£298

Representative of an overseas business  – main applicant and dependants

£827

 Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – up to 3 years – main applicant and dependants

£827

Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker – more than 3 years -main applicant and dependants

£1,500

 Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee – main applicant and dependants

£298

Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier – main applicant and dependants

£298

Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker – main applicant and dependants

£298

Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker  – main applicant and dependants

£298

Scale-up– main applicant and dependants

£822

 High Potential Individual – main applicant and dependants

£822


Sponsorship Application Fees 2024


Sponsorship Applications


Premium Sponsor Service (12 months) Worker sponsor and Temporary worker sponsor – large sponsors

£25,000

Premium Sponsor Service (12 months) Worker sponsor and Temporary worker sponsor – small sponsors

£8,000

Premium Sponsor Service (12 months) Student sponsors

£8,000

The expedited processing of a sponsorship management request made by a Worker sponsor or Temporary worker sponsor

£200

Priority service for expedited processing of sponsor licence applications

£500

Worker sponsor licence (large sponsor)

£1,476

Worker sponsor licence (small sponsor)

£536

Student sponsor licence

£536

Temporary Worker sponsor licence

£536

Worker and Temporary Worker sponsor licence (large sponsor)

£1,476

Worker and Student sponsor licence (large sponsor)

£1,476

Worker, Temporary Worker and Student sponsor licence (large sponsor)

£1,476

Temporary Worker and Student sponsor licence

£536

Worker sponsor licence (large sponsor), where sponsor currently holds a Temporary Worker and/or Student Sponsor Licence

£940

Endorsement fee for a Scale-up sponsor licence under the Endorsing Body Pathway (payable to the endorsing body) excluding VAT

£1,500

Student sponsor basic compliance assessment

£536

Sponsor action plan

£1,476

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for Skilled Worker, T2 Minister of Religion, Intra-company Transfer (until 10 April 2022), Intra-company Transfer Graduate Trainee (until 10 April 2022), Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker (from 11 April 2022)

£239

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for Temporary Work route – including Global Business Mobility- Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier and Secondment Worker route, and Scale-up route

£25

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for International Sportsperson route – over 12 Months

£239

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for International Sportsperson route – for 12 months or less

£25

Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS) for student, child student

£25


Other UK Visa and Application Fees 2024


Other Visa and Applications Submitted Outside the UK


Visit visa – short up to 6 months

£115

Visit visa – long up to 2 years

£400

Visit visa – long up to 5 years

£771

Visit visa – long up to 10 years

£963

Visiting academic – more than 6 months but no more than 12 months

£200

Private medical treatment visa – more than 6 months but not more than 11 months

£200

Transit visa – (direct airside transit)

£35

Transit visit visa (landside transit)

£64

Visa for the purpose of joining a ship or aircraft as a member of the crew of that ship or aircraft

£64

Electronic Visa Waiver

£30

Single-entry visa to replace a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

£154

Certificate of Entitlement Nationality Right of Abode (outside the UK)

£388

Transfer of Conditions (Vignette Transfer) application made overseas

£154

Other visa

£637

Hong Kong British National (Overseas) for 30 months – main applicant and dependants

£180

Hong Kong British National (Overseas) for 5 years – main applicant and dependants

£250

Route to Settlement

£1,846

Route to Settlement – other dependant relative

£3,250

Route to Settlement – refugee dependant relative

£404

Indefinite leave to enter the UK as the dependant of a member of the armed forces under Appendix Armed Forces to the Immigration Rules.

£2,885

Indefinite leave to enter the UK as a foreign or Commonwealth citizen discharged from HM Forces under paragraph 13 of Appendix Armed Forces to the immigration rules.

£2,885

Call out/ out of hours fee (per hour/part hour) – service of consular officers

£142

Receiving, preparing and forwarding documents – consular functions

£141

Administrative review

£80

 

Other Applications Submitted Inside the UK


Visitor Extension – main applicant and dependants

£1,000

Leave to enter for persons in the UK who are liable to immigration detention

£1,258

Leave to remain – Other

£1,048

Hong Kong British National (In-country) for 30 months – main applicant and dependants

£180

Hong Kong British National (In-country) for 5 years – main applicant and dependants

£250

Processing an application which is subsequently rejected as invalid

£25

Indefinite leave to remain – main applicants and dependants

£2,885

Replacement Biometric Residence Card (issued under the EU Settlement Scheme) which has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed

£19

Replacement Biometric Residence Permit which has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed

£19

Travel Document – Certificate of travel – adult

£280

Travel Document – Certificate of travel – child

£141

Travel Document – Convention travel document – adult

£82

Travel Document – Convention travel document – child

£53

Administrative Review

£80

Life in the UK test

£50


UK Study Visa Application Fees 2024


Study Visa Applications Submitted Outside the UK


Student – main applicant and dependants

£490

Child Student

£490

Short term student studying English language for more than 6 months but not more than 11 months

£200

 

Study Visa Applications Submitted Inside the UK


Student– main applicant and dependants

£490

Child Student

£490


British Citizenship Application Fees 2024


Nationality Applications


Naturalisation

£1,500

Naturalisation British overseas territory citizens

£1,000

Nationality registration as a British citizen – adult

£1,351

Nationality registration as a British citizen – child

£1,214

The arrangement of a citizenship ceremony (including the administration of a citizenship oath and pledge at the ceremony).

£80

The administration of a citizenship oath, or oath and pledge where the oath, or oath and pledge, are not administered at a citizenship ceremony or by a justice of the peace.

£5

Nationality registration – British overseas territory citizen, British overseas citizens, British Subjects, British protected persons – adult

£901

Nationality registration – British overseas territory citizen, British overseas citizens, British Subjects, British protected persons – child

£810

Renunciation of nationality

£372

Certificate of Entitlement Nationality Right of Abode (In the UK)

£372

Nationality review

£372

Status Letter (Nationality)

£250

Non-acquisition Letter (Nationality)

£250

Nationality correction to certificate

£250

Nationality – supply of a certified copy of a notice, certificate, order or declaration

£250

Nationality reissued Certificate

£250


Optional Premium Visa and Immigration Services 2024


Optional Premium Services Outside the UK


Priority Visa service – Settlement

£500

Priority Visa service – Non-Settlement

£500

Super Priority Visa service

£1,000

User Pays Visa Application service

£76.50

The provision of an immigration officer to provide any premium service relating to entry into or transit through the United Kingdom (per hour per officer)

£77.40

International Contact Centre – Email Service (per query)

£2.74

International Contact Centre – Telephone Helpline (per minute)

£0.69

 

Optional Premium Services Inside the UK


Super Priority service

£1,000

Expedited processing – Priority service

£500

On-Demand service (Mobile Biometric Enrolment) (per hour per representative of the contractor providing the service)

£650

The provision of an immigration officer to deliver any premium service, to a Government Department, relating to entry into or transit through the United Kingdom

£57.33

The provision of an immigration officer to deliver any premium service, relating to entry into or transit through the United Kingdom (per hour per officer)

£77.40

Premium status checks and advice – Administrative Officer (per minute)

£0.80

Premium status checks, advice or training – Executive Officer (inside office hours) (per minute)

£0.88

Premium status checks, advice or training – Executive Officer (outside office hours) (per minute)

£1.10

Premium status checks, advice or training – Higher Executive Officer (inside office hours) (per minute)

£0.97

Premium status checks, advice or training – Higher Executive Officer (outside office hours) (per minute)

£1.23

 

Premium Services at the UK Border


Registered Traveller (Adult) – Yearly Subscription (per year)

£50

Registered Traveller (Child) – Yearly Subscription (per year)

£24

Registered Traveller – Registration of New Documents

£20

Fast Track – Heathrow terminals 2, 3 and 4

£5.20

Fast Track – Other ports of entry

£3.00


Contact our Immigration Legal Advisers 


For expert advice and assistance in relation to any UK visa or immigration application, or immigration appeal, contact our specialist immigration legal advisers in Manchester on 0161 529 7779 or complete the enquiry form below.


Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR): Which UK Visas Lead to Settlement?
By Farah Khan, Legal Adviser July 12, 2024
This post explains which visas are routes to settlement in the UK, the length of time you need to spend on each visa before you qualify for settlement, and whether you can combine this with time spent on other visas. (Please note, this post focuses on the rules for main applicants, rather than dependants. It does not cover settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.)
New Guidance Clarifies Long Residence ILR 548-Day Absence Rule
By Anna Hughes, Legal Adviser July 11, 2024
Until 11 April 2024, 10 Year Long Residence Indefinite Leave to Remain applications required absences from the UK of no more than 18 months (548 days) in total, and 6 months (184 days) at one time.
UK Adoption Visa Guide: Bringing a Child to the UK for Adoption
By Lucy Slater, Legal Adviser July 8, 2024
The UK’s immigration landscape saw a significant update this year with the introduction of Appendix Adoption, replacing the relevant provisions within Part 8 of the Immigration Rules. Appendix Adoption streamlines the process for bringing children to the UK for adoption, offering several distinct routes tailored to different scenarios. This post focuses exclusively on the application process for children coming to the UK to be adopted under UK law. Here, we break down the essential requirements, from suitability and validity to financial and accommodation criteria, ensuring adoptive parents are well-prepared to navigate this complex yet rewarding journey.
Share by: