Work Visa UK: Cost for 2023
The UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) authorities charges visa applicants a fee to process their application. There are also additional costs depending on the type of work visa you require.
For more information on UK work visa fees, reach out to one of our friendly immigration advisers on 0333 305 9375, or contact us online today.
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How Much Do UK Work Visas Cost in 2023?
The cost of applying for a UK work visa varies from as low as a free charge to over £1,600. The amount you will pay will depend on the type of work visa you are applying for and where you are applying from.
Some common visas that allow you to work in the UK include Skilled Worker visa, Health and Care Worker visa, and Senior or Specialist Worker visa (which replaced the intra-company transfer visa).
Before applying for some of these work visas, you will need to determine the length of time you intend to spend working in the country, which will add to the visa cost.
The cost of your work visa will also depend on whether you are applying from the UK or outside the UK.
Furthermore, if you are required to pay additional costs such as immigration health surcharge (IHS), biometric work permits, and immigration skills charge, it will add to your total visa fees.
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UK Work Visa Fees for 2023
Skilled Worker Visa fees
| Visa type | Applying in the UK (GBP) | Applying from outside the UK (GBP) |
| Skilled Worker – 3 years or less – applicant and each dependant | 719 | 625 |
| Skilled Worker – more than 3 years – applicant and each dependant | 1,423 | 1,235 |
| Skilled Worker (shortage occupation) – 3 years or less – applicant and each dependant | 479 | 479 |
| Skilled Worker (shortage occupation) – more than 3 years – applicant and each dependant | 943 | 943 |
Health and Care Visa fees
| Visa type | Applying in the UK (GBP) | Applying from outside the UK (GBP) |
| Health and care – 3 years or less – applicant and each dependant | 247 | 247 |
| Health and care – more than 3 years – applicant and each dependant | 479 | 479 |
Other Long-term Work Visas
| Visa type | Applying in the UK (GBP) | Applying from outside the UK (GBP) |
| Senior or Specialist Worker (Global Business Mobility) – 3 years or less – applicant and each dependant | 719 | 625 |
| Senior or Specialist Worker (Global Business Mobility) – more than 3 years – applicant and each dependant | 1,423 | 1,235 |
| Scale-up Worker – applicant and each dependant | 715 | 715 |
| International Sportsperson – up to 12 months – applicant and each dependant | 259 | 259 |
| International Sportsperson – longer than 12 months – applicant and each dependant | 719 | 625 |
| Minister of Religion – applicant and each dependant | 719 | 625 |
Business Development and Talent Visas
| Visa type | Applying in the UK (GBP) | Applying from outside the UK (GBP) |
| Global Talent – applicant and each dependant | 623 | 623 |
| Innovator – applicant and each dependant | 1,292 | 1,036 |
| Startup – applicant and each dependant | 508 | 378 |
Temporary Work Visas
| Visa type | Applying in the UK (GBP) | Applying from outside the UK (GBP) |
| Charity Worker – applicant and each dependant | 259 | 259 |
| Creative Worker – applicant and each dependant | 259 | 259 |
| Government Authorised Exchange – applicant and each dependant | 259 | 259 |
| International Agreement – applicant and each dependant | 259 | 259 |
| Religious Worker – applicant and each dependant | 259 | 259 |
| Seasonal Worker – applicant only | – | 259 |
| Youth Mobility Scheme – applicant only | – | 259 |
| Graduate – applicant and each dependant | 715 | – |
| High Potential Individual (HPI) – applicant and each dependant | 715 | 715 |
| Graduate Trainee (Global Business Mobility) – applicant and each dependant | – | 259 |
| UK Expansion Worker (Global Business Mobility) – applicant and each dependant | 259 | 259 |
| Secodment Worker (Global Business Mobility) – applicant and each dependant | 259 | 259 |
| Service Supplier (Global Business Mobility) – applicant and each dependant | 259 | 259 |
Other Work Visa Categories
| Visa type | Applying in the UK (GBP) | Applying from outside the UK (GBP) |
| UK Ancenstry – applicant and each dependant | – | 531 |
| British National (Overseas) – for 2 years and 6 months – applicant and each dependant | 180 | 180 |
| British National (Overseas) – for 5 years – applicant and each dependant | 250 | 250 |
| Overseas Domestic Worker – applicant only | 531 | |
| Representative of an Overseas Business – applicant and each dependant | 719 | 625 |
Free Visas and Exempt Vignette
The following work visa routes do not attract an application fee:
- Frontier Worker permit
- Service Provider From Switzerland
Exempt Vignette
If you are exempt from immigration control, you will not need a visa to work in the UK. However, to avoid delays when you arrive in the country, you might choose to get an exempt vignette.
The following are eligible for an exempt vignette:
- Overseas government ministers on official work or individuals travelling with them as part of their job
- Diplomats or individuals working for a diplomatic mission in the UK who were outside the country when they got the job offer
- Members of Commonwealth or overseas territories armed forces posted in or training in the UK
- Heads of state or individuals working for heads of state when on a visit.
Immigration Health Surcharge Fees
Most UK visa applicants must pay the immigration health surcharge (IHS) fee as part of their application.
The IHS fee allows the visa holder to access the National Health Service (NHS) while in the UK without further charge. Although, a few services, such as prescriptions and eye tests, may need to be paid for.
The table below explains the immigration health surcharge per annum for UK work visas.
| Visa type | Applying in the UK (GBP) | Applying from outside the UK (GBP) |
| Health and Care Worker, Frontier Worker, and Service Provider from Switzerland | – | – |
| Youth Mobility Scheme – for 6 months or less | 235 | – |
| Youth Mobility Scheme – for more than 6 months | 470 | 470 |
| All other work visas – for 6 months or less – applicant and each dependant over 18 | 312 | – |
| All other work visas – for more than 6 months – applicant and each dependant over 18 | 624 | 624 |
| All other work visas – for 6 months or less – under 18 applicants and dependents | 235 | – |
| All other work visas – for more than 6 months – under 18 applicants and dependents | 470 | 470 |
If you are required to pay the IHS fee and you don’t, you will get an email from the UKVI asking you to make your payment. You will have 10 working days if you are inside the UK or 7 working days if you’re outside the UK to pay the fee, or your visa may be denied.
Sponsor Licence Fee
For most work visa routes under the points-based immigration system, UK employers must obtain a valid sponsor licence to hire workers from non-EEA countries.
The employer is expected to pay the sponsor licence application fee. The amount to be paid will depend on the type of licence needed and the kind of organisation applying.
Here is a breakdown of the sponsor licence application fee for 2023:
| Type of License | Fee for small or charitable sponsors (GBP) | Fee for medium or large sponsors (GBP) |
| Worker | 536 | 1,476 |
| Temporary Worker | 536 | 536 |
| Worker and Temporary Worker | 536 | 1,476 |
| Add a Worker licence to an existing Temporary Worker licence | – | 940 |
| Add a Temporary Worker licence to an existing Worker licence | – | – |
Certificate of Sponsorship Fee
Approved sponsors are expected to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to each worker they hire. The sponsored worker will use this CoS to apply for their UK visa.
In other words, in addition to sponsor licence fees, employers will need to pay for each certificate of sponsorship they issue. Here is a breakdown of CoS costs in 2023.
| Type of Sponsor Licence | Cost Per Certificate (GBP) |
| International Sportsperson – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for 12 months or less | 21 |
| International Sportsperson – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for more than 12 months | 199 |
| Temporary Worker | 21 |
| Worker (except International Sportsperson) | 199 |
Immigration Skills Charge
An employer will have to pay an extra charge when assigning a certificate of sponsorship to Senior or Specialist Worker or Skilled Worker visa applicants.
It is called the ‘immigration skills charge’ and is paid annually. Here’s how much it costs
| Period | Small or Charitable Sponsors (GBP) | Medium or Large Sponsors (GBP) |
| First 12 months | 364 | 1,000 |
| Each additional 6 months | 182 | 500 |
The Home Office offers UK visa applicants premium services to enable them fast track their applications.
Please note, however, that since March 2022, the UKVI has temporarily suspended the priority and super priority services for other routes due to Ukraine visa scheme applications.
Some of the premium services include
| Premium Services | Applying in the UK (GBP) | Applying from outside the UK (GBP) |
| Priority visa service – non-settlement | – | 250 |
| Super priority visa service | 800 | 959 |
| Premium status checks and advice – Administrative Officer (per minute) | 0.80 | – |
| Provision of an immigration officer to deliver any premium service to a Government Department | 57.33 | – |
| Premium status checks, advice or training – Higher Executive Officer (inside office hours) (per minute) | 0.97 | – |
| Fast-tracked sponsor licence applications | 500 | – |
Other Work Visa-related Services
| Service | Applying in the UK (GBP) | Applying from outside the UK (GBP) |
| Single-entry visa to replace a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) | – | 154 |
| Administrative review | 80 | 80 |
Supporting Yourself in the UK
Besides the UK visa application fee, you may also need to prove to the Home Office that you can support yourself financially when you arrive in the UK. You might need to have at least £1,270 available for most visa routes.
Is the UK Visa Fee Refundable?
The UK visa fee is non-refundable. However, the UKVI may refund some additional costs depending on the situation.
For example, if you pay the immigration health surcharge for more years than you should have, you will automatically receive a partial refund.
How can IAS Help
At IAS, our immigration lawyers can help you determine the cost of your UK visa application.
As each case is different, we will work directly with you and provide you with a detailed breakdown of the fees involved based on your circumstances.
For more information about how we can help you or if you’d like to speak with one of our immigration lawyers, call us on 0333 305 9375, or contact us online today.
Last modified on January 9th, 2023 at 10:13 am
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