Visa costs: who pays what
Every fee and charge on the way from a Student visa to Skilled Worker, and whether you or the employer pays it.
| Figure | In force | Since | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate visa application fee | £937 | Graduate visa: How much it costs; Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 (gov.uk) | |
| Immigration Health Surcharge, yearly rate | £1,035 | Start date not verified | Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application: How much you have to pay (gov.uk) |
| Skilled Worker fee, inside the UK, up to 3 years | £943 | Skilled Worker visa: How much it costs; Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 (gov.uk) | |
| Immigration Skills Charge, medium or large sponsor, first 12 months | £1,320 | Start date not verified | UK visa sponsorship for employers: Immigration skills charge (gov.uk) |
Contents
| Entry | Title | Updated | Changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costs 1 | Skilled Worker costs | None recorded | |
| Costs 2 | Graduate visa costs | None recorded | |
| Costs 3 | Immigration Skills Charge | None recorded |
Who pays each cost
| Fee or charge | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Graduate visa application fee | You, when you apply Authority GOV.UK guidance, Graduate visa: How much it costs (gov.uk). The passage relied onpay the £937 application fee |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | You, for each year of the visa Authority GOV.UK guidance, Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application: How much you have to pay (gov.uk). The passage relied on£1,035 per year for all other visa and immigration applications, for example £3,105 for a 3-year visa |
| Skilled Worker application fee | You, when you apply Authority GOV.UK guidance, Skilled Worker visa: How much it costs (gov.uk). The passage relied onup to 3 years, £943 per person |
| Immigration Skills Charge | The employer, never the worker Authority GOV.UK guidance, UK visa sponsorship for employers: Immigration skills charge (gov.uk). The passage relied onYou 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. |
| Certificate of sponsorship fee | The sponsor Authority GOV.UK guidance, UK visa sponsorship for employers: Certificates of sponsorship (gov.uk). The passage relied onWorker (except workers on the International Sportsperson visa) £525 |
Sources
- Graduate visa: How much it costs (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
pay the £937 application fee
- Government: Publications (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
Fee from 8 April 2026
Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued or approval to sponsor under Sponsor a Worker has been given for three years or less [footnote 2], main applicant and dependants £885 £943 £58
- Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application: How much you have to pay (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
£1,035 per year for all other visa and immigration applications, for example £3,105 for a 3-year visa
- Skilled Worker visa: How much it costs (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
up to 3 years, £943 per person
- UK visa sponsorship for employers: Immigration skills charge (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
First 12 months £480 £1,320
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.
- UK visa sponsorship for employers: Certificates of sponsorship (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
Worker (except workers on the International Sportsperson visa) £525
- Government: Publications (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
the Certificate of Sponsorship fee, and any associated administrative costs, for a Skilled Worker, where that Certificate was assigned on or after 31 December 2024
How each figure is checked: Sources and method.
This is general information about the rules, not legal advice. For advice on your own situation, use a solicitor or an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (gov.uk).