UK Visa Fee & IHS Calculator 2026: What Will Your Application Really Cost?
Enter your details to get an instant, itemised breakdown of your UK Skilled Worker visa costs - including the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), Immigration Skills Charge (ISC), Certificate of Sponsorship and professional fees. Most employers save £2,000 to £6,000 after a WorkPermitCloud route review.
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IHS & VISA APPLICATION FEE CALCULATOR
I need to know what a Skilled Worker hire will actually cost
Calculate the true cost of sponsoring a worker - IHS, visa fees, ISF, CoS, dependants, the lot. Get an itemised PDF breakdown emailed to you.
Application Type
Why UK visa costs are higher than you think
Exactly what you'll receive
Applying for a UK Skilled Worker visa involves far more than a single application fee. Employers and workers frequently underestimate the true cost because the charges come from four separate sources: the Home Office visa fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) paid by the sponsor, and the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) assignment fee.
- 1
Home Office Visa Fee
£324 to £1,865
Per person. Varies by route, location (inside/outside UK), and duration (≤3yr or >3yr).
- 2
Immigration Health Surcharge
£1,035/yr
Adult rate. £776/yr for minors. Paid upfront for entire visa duration. Health & Care Visa exempt.
- 3
Immigration Skills Charge
£480 to £1,320
Paid by the employer for the first 12 months. Small / charity = £480, then £240 per extra 6 months. Medium / large = £1,320, then £660. PhD-level roles often exempt.
- 4
Certificate of Sponsorship
£525
One-time fee paid by employer to assign CoS before visa application.
Following the Home Office immigration fee update of 8 April 2026, accurate fee planning is more important than ever. Use our free calculator above to get your personalised estimate, then speak to our advisers to explore legally permitted savings.
Why UK visa costs are higher than you think
Current UK visa fee structure
The full Skilled Worker fee schedule as of 8 April 2026. The calculator above will return your exact figure.
| Visa Route | Outside UK ≤3yr | Outside UK >3yr | Inside UK ≤3yr | Inside UK >3yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Skilled Worker | £819 | £1,618 | £943 | £1,865 |
| Immigration Salary List | £628 | £1,235 | £628 | £1,235 |
| Health & Care Visa | £324 | £628 | £324 | £628 |
Source: GOV.UK - Skilled Worker visa: How much it costs. Fees correct as of 8 April 2026.
Understanding IHS & ISC
The two big upfront charges
Together IHS and ISC can exceed the visa fee itself. Here is how they work.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
Paid by the applicant - grants NHS access
The IHS must be paid upfront for the full visa duration before submission. A leftover period of 6 months or less is charged at half the yearly rate; anything longer counts as a full year.
- Adult (18+)
- £1,035 / year
- Child (under 18)
- £776 / year
- 3.5-year visa example: 3 full years plus a half year = (£1,035 × 3) + £517.50 = £3,622.50 per adult
- Each dependant pays IHS at the applicable rate
- Health & Care Visa applicants are usually exempt entirely
Immigration Skills Charge (ISC)
Paid by the sponsor - cannot be passed on
The ISC is paid by the sponsor when assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship, upfront for the whole period of sponsorship. It is illegal to pass this cost to the sponsored worker - doing so can result in sponsor licence revocation.
- Small / charity sponsor
- £480 / first 12 months
- Medium / large sponsor
- £1,320 / first 12 months
- Paid in full upfront for the expected visa duration
- Each additional 6 months costs £240 (small / charity) or £660 (medium / large)
- Passing to the worker can trigger a licence revocation
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Fee
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
Paid by the sponsor - per worker assigned
Before assigning a CoS, the employer must ensure their sponsor licence is active and the role meets eligibility criteria. The CoS is the unique reference number assigned to each worker - used by them to apply for their visa. There is also a separate defined CoS allocation process for workers not yet in the UK.
- Active sponsor licence required
- Defined CoS for workers outside UK
- Issued via SMS portal
£525
per worker assigned
Real-world scenario
A worked example
Here's what a typical family sponsorship costs in practice.
Scenario: 3-year Standard Skilled Worker · Outside UK · Large Sponsor
Worker + 1 adult dependant + 1 minor dependant · Full WPC package
Visa Application Fee
outside UK, up to 3yr, std
£819
IHS - Lead Applicant
£1,035 × 3yrs
£3,105
IHS - 1 Adult Dependant
£1,035 × 3yrs
£3,105
IHS - 1 Minor Dependant
£776 × 3yrs
£2,328
Certificate of Sponsorship
£525 × 1
£525
Immigration Skills Charge
large, £1,320 + £660 × 4
£3,960
WPC Full Package
£3,115
ESTIMATED TOTAL
£16,957
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Related tools & services
Plan every stage of your UK Skilled Worker visa with WorkPermitCloud.
HR Compliance Audit
Check whether a sponsor is ready for a Home Office compliance visit.
View →Right to Work Check
Get your RTW compliance score and penalty exposure estimate.
View →Sponsor Licence Status Check
Verify any UK employer's sponsor licence is active on the UKVI register.
View →Sponsor Licence Service
Full UKVI sponsor licence application by IAA-regulated advisers.
View →Application Fee Calculator
Detailed breakdown of all UK visa and immigration application fees.
View →Run your free visa cost calculator now
Get an itemised PDF breakdown of your UK visa application cost in 60 seconds. Free, IAA-regulated, no commitment.
FAQ
Common questions
How much is the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) in 2026?
£1,035 per year per adult and £776 per year per child (under 18). IHS must be paid upfront for the full visa duration before the application is submitted.
What is the Skilled Worker visa application fee in 2026?
Fees depend on route, duration and where you apply from. Standard Skilled Worker from outside the UK: £819 (up to 3 years) or £1,618 (more than 3 years). From inside the UK: £943 or £1,865. Immigration Salary List: £628 or £1,235. Health & Care Visa: £324 or £628. Fees were last updated 8 April 2026.
Who pays the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC)?
The employer pays the ISC when assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship. Small or charitable sponsors pay £480 for the first 12 months and £240 for each additional 6 months; medium and large sponsors pay £1,320 and then £660. Passing this cost to the worker is prohibited and can lead to licence revocation.
Can my employer pay the IHS for me?
There is no legal obligation, but many employers offer to reimburse IHS as a benefit. Check your employment contract. The application itself is submitted in your name and requires the IHS to be paid before submission.
Is the Health & Care Visa IHS exempt?
Most Health & Care Visa workers are exempt from IHS, provided their occupation is on the eligible list and their employer is a registered NHS provider, social care body, or approved organisation.
How is IHS calculated for a 3.5-year visa?
IHS is charged by the year, and a leftover period of 6 months or less is charged at half the yearly rate. For 3.5 years you pay for 3 full years plus a half year: (£1,035 × 3) + £517.50 = £3,622.50 per adult.
Can I reduce the overall visa cost?
Yes. WPC advisers regularly identify savings of £2,000 to £6,000 by reviewing your role, company size, immigration route and ISL eligibility. Use the calculator to get an estimate, then book a consultation.
What is included in the WPC Full Package fee?
The Full Package covers sponsor licence compliance checks, Certificate of Sponsorship assignment, visa application preparation, document review, UKVI submission support and post-approval guidance.
Are visa application fees refundable?
Visa application fees are generally non-refundable. The IHS is refunded if your application is refused, if you withdraw it before a decision is made, or if you are granted less time than you paid for. There is no refund if you leave the UK before your visa ends, and none for not using the NHS.
Still have questions?
Talk to a WPC adviser for a personalised fee estimate.