From 8 April 2026, the Home Office has introduced its annual update to UK visa and immigration application fees. Almost every category has increased, with rises of between 6 and 9 per cent across visas, settlement, citizenship, sponsor licences, and the Immigration Health Surcharge. Applicants and employers should review the updated schedule carefully before submitting new applications.
Applications submitted before 8 April 2026 will be charged at the current rate, even if a decision is issued after that date. Anyone approaching a submission deadline should consider whether there is an advantage in filing before the cut-off.
Skilled Worker Visas
| Application type | Previous fee | New fee from 8 April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 3 years (outside the UK) | £769 | £819 |
| Over 3 years (outside the UK) | £1,519 | £1,618 |
| Up to 3 years (inside the UK) | £885 | £943 |
| Over 3 years (inside the UK) | £1,751 | £1,865 |
Health and Care Worker Visas
| Application type | New fee from 8 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Up to 3 years | £324 |
| Over 3 years | £628 |
Visitor Visas and ETA
| Application type | Previous fee | New fee from 8 April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard visitor visa (up to 6 months) | £127 | £135 |
| Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) | £16 | £20 |
Student Visas
| Application type | Previous fee | New fee from 8 April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa application | £524 | £558 |
| Student sponsor licence | £574 | £611 |
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
The ILR fee has increased from £3,029 to £3,226 per applicant. This applies to settlement applications across all routes, including long residence, the five-year partner route, and the Skilled Worker route.
Naturalisation and Citizenship
| Application type | Previous fee | New fee from 8 April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Adult naturalisation as a British citizen | £1,605 | £1,709 |
| Child naturalisation | £1,214 | £1,000 |
| Registration as a British citizen | — | £1,540 |
Notably, child naturalisation fees are reducing — one of the very few decreases across the entire 2026 schedule.
Employer Sponsor Licences
| Application type | Previous fee | New fee from 8 April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Worker sponsor licence — medium/large sponsor | £1,579 | £1,682 |
| Worker sponsor licence — small sponsor | — | £611 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) | £525 | £525 (unchanged) |
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
The IHS has risen to £1,145 per adult per year. This surcharge is paid upfront for the full duration of a visa at the point of application. For a five-year Skilled Worker visa, that amounts to £5,725 per person in health surcharge alone, before the visa fee is added. For a family of four, the combined IHS cost exceeds £22,000.
What This Means for Applicants
The 8 April 2026 date is a hard cut-off. Any application submitted before that date is charged at the current rate. For applicants who are in a position to submit early, there may be a meaningful financial saving — particularly where dependants are included or a long-duration visa is sought.
As with every year, these fees remain non-refundable. A refused or withdrawn application does not attract a refund of the application fee or the IHS. This makes accurate, well-prepared applications more important than ever.
At Bankfield Heath Solicitors, we offer a free initial consultation to assess your circumstances and immigration options. Our team can help you understand the latest fee schedule and prepare a strong, accurate application. Contact Bankfield Heath Solicitors today for professional advice tailored to your situation.
For the full official fee schedule, visit: Home Office Immigration and Nationality Fees — 8 April 2026
Related services
If you are planning a visa or settlement application and need to understand how the fees apply to your route, our team can help. We assist with Skilled Worker visa applications, indefinite leave to remain, and British citizenship and naturalisation. You may also find our earlier article on Home Office fee changes in April 2025 and our guide to the spouse visa income requirement useful.
