UK Work Visa Fees for Indians (2026): Visa, IHS and Sponsor Costs

The figures here are taken from the Home Office fees table of 8 October 2026 and the route pages on GOV.UK, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) publishes visa fees in pounds only, so there is no official rupee equivalent. For visit, study and family visas, see our UK visa hub for Indian applicants.

How much is the Skilled Worker visa fee from India?

The Skilled Worker fee depends on two things: how long your certificate of sponsorship (CoS) runs, and whether your job is on the Immigration Salary List.

The fee is per person. Each traveller, including a partner and children, needs a separate online application and fee. The standard fee for a CoS of up to 3 years rose from £769 to £819 on 8 April 2026.

How is the immigration healthcare surcharge (IHS) charged?

The IHS is paid as part of the visa application, on top of the visa fee. It is charged for each year of permission, which is why it often costs more than the visa itself.

• Workers and their adult dependants: £1,035 per year.
• Applicants under 18: £776 per year (the same rate applies to students, their dependants and Youth Mobility Scheme applicants).
• Health and Care Worker visa: no immigration healthcare surcharge.
• India Young Professionals Scheme: GOV.UK lists a healthcare surcharge of £1,552 alongside the £340 visa fee.

To estimate your own bill, multiply the yearly rate by the length of the visa you are applying for, then add the visa fee. Check the GOV.UK healthcare surcharge page for the exact amount before you pay.

What does the UK employer pay as sponsor?

Only a Home Office-approved employer (a licensed sponsor) can issue you a CoS. The sponsor licence fee is the employer's cost, not yours:

• £611 for small businesses and charities.
• £1,682 for medium and large organisations.
• Licences usually take around 8 weeks to be approved.

Our record lists the sponsor licence fee only. For any other charges a sponsor pays when assigning a CoS, check the GOV.UK Skilled Worker costs page. You must apply within 3 months of getting your CoS.

You also need at least £1,270 in savings, held for 28 consecutive days with day 28 within 31 days of applying, unless your sponsor certifies maintenance up to £1,270. This is not a fee, but it must sit in your account before you apply.

How do other UK work visa fees compare with Skilled Worker?

Several work routes open to Indians carry different fees. All figures below are per person, from the GOV.UK fees table of 8 October 2026.

The Health and Care Worker visa is the cheapest sponsored route, but it is limited to qualified health and adult social care professionals with an approved employer. Care workers and senior care workers (codes 6135 and 6136) can no longer apply from overseas.

What optional charges can you pay in India?

Standard VFS Global centres are free to use, and you can upload documents yourself at no cost. Everything else is optional:

• Priority Visa: £500, usually a decision within 5 working days for most visas.
• Super Priority Visa: £1,000, usually a decision by the end of the next working day after a weekday appointment.
• User-pays centre: £76.50, the only mandatory extra, and only at user-funded centres.
• VFS add-ons (New Delhi, INR incl. GST): Document Upload Assistance INR 2,400; Self-Upload Document Checking Service INR 2,550; UKVI Account Creation Service INR 1,200; Prime Time Appointment INR 5,950; Premium Lounge INR 6,050.

Priority services were offered at the New Delhi centre in October 2026, and availability depends on visa type and centre. VFS states that optional services do not affect the visa decision. Without priority, GOV.UK gives 3 weeks as the standard processing time for work visas applied for outside the UK.

For context, Home Office data shows 93% of Worker visa decisions for Indian nationals were grants in the year ending June 2026 (37,402 granted, 2,943 refused; provisional data). That figure describes past decisions on all Worker routes, not the outcome of any single application.

Budgeting mistakes to avoid

• Quoting only the visa fee. For most routes, the surcharge per year is the bigger number.
• Ignoring the CoS length. A CoS over 3 years moves you into the higher fee band.
• Missing the Immigration Salary List rate. If your job is on the list, the fee is £628 or £1,235.
• Moving your savings too late. The £1,270 must be held for 28 consecutive days before you apply.
• Paying for add-ons you do not need. Self-upload is free, and optional services do not change the decision.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files. Packages run from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for a reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter. For questions, message us on WhatsApp at +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Do dependants pay the same UK work visa fee?

Each family member makes a separate application and pays the visa fee per person. The healthcare surcharge is £1,035 per year for adults and £776 per year for applicants under 18.

Is there an official UK work visa fee in rupees?

No. UKVI publishes visa fees in GBP only, and there are no official INR equivalents. VFS Global prices only its optional services in INR.

Why is the Health and Care Worker visa cheaper?

GOV.UK sets its fee at £324 (up to 3 years) or £628 (more than 3 years), and applicants pay no immigration healthcare surcharge. It is only for qualified health and adult social care professionals with a confirmed job offer from an approved employer.

How much savings do I need for a Skilled Worker visa?

At least £1,270, held for 28 consecutive days, with day 28 falling within 31 days of your application. You do not need to show it if your sponsor certifies maintenance up to £1,270.