Visa application fee
Skilled Worker visa fees (2025 rates) depend on visa length: up to 3 years = £719 (outside UK) / £827 (inside), more than 3 years = £1,420 / £1,636. Health and Care Worker fees are roughly half these amounts.
The fee is paid by the applicant and is non-refundable on refusal. If your employer is sponsoring senior hires, some offer to reimburse this — worth asking during offer negotiation.
Immigration Health Surcharge
£1,035 per adult per year; £776 per child per year. Paid upfront. A 5-year adult Skilled Worker visa = £5,175 in IHS. Family of four = £18,110. Health and Care Worker visas are entirely exempt from IHS — a material advantage.
Certificate of Sponsorship
£525 per defined CoS. Paid by the employer — they are prohibited from passing this cost on to you. Report any employer that tries to charge you for CoS fees.
Employers also pay the Immigration Skills Charge: £1,000/year for large sponsors (£364/year for small/charity). A 5-year sponsorship = £5,000 (£1,820 small). All employer-borne.
Biometrics + English test + other
**Biometrics enrolment**: £19.20 at UK Visa Application Centre. **English language test**: ~£150 for IELTS UKVI. **TB test** (for listed countries): £60-£150. **Priority service**: £500 for 5-day processing, or £1,000 for super-priority.
Total cost examples
**Single applicant, 5-year Skilled Worker, outside UK**: £1,420 visa + £5,175 IHS + £19.20 biometrics + £150 English = **£6,764**.
**Family of four, 5-year Skilled Worker**: roughly **£24,000-£26,000** total.
**Single applicant, 5-year Health and Care Worker**: approximately **£720** — dramatically cheaper due to IHS exemption.