Moving to the UK on a Skilled Worker visa involves a lot more upfront cost than the headline visa application fee suggests. Between government fees, the NHS surcharge, potential legal costs, and the financial requirements your employer must meet, the total bill can run to several thousand pounds before you have even booked a flight. Here is a clear breakdown of what to expect.
The visa application fee
The Skilled Worker visa application fee depends on the length of the visa and whether your role is on the shortage occupation list. As of 2026, indicative fee ranges are:
- Up to 3 years: approximately £769–£827 per application, depending on the role category.
- More than 3 years: approximately £1,500–£1,639.
These fees are per person. If you are bringing a partner or dependants, each of them pays a separate fee. A couple applying for a 5-year visa could be looking at over £3,000 in visa fees alone before anything else.
The Immigration Health Surcharge
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is paid upfront for the full duration of your visa and grants you access to NHS care on the same basis as a UK resident. The rate is currently £1,035 per person per year.
For a 5-year visa, that is £5,175 per person. A family of two adults and one child applying for a 5-year visa would pay over £15,000 in IHS alone.
This is often the number that shocks applicants the most. The IHS is non-refundable if you leave the UK early (though partial refunds are available in limited circumstances). If your employer offers to pay this as part of your relocation package, it is worth significantly more than it might appear — treat it as a genuine salary supplement.
Minimum salary thresholds
The Skilled Worker route requires you to be paid at least the higher of:
- The general salary threshold (currently £38,700 per year for most roles), or
- The "going rate" for your specific occupation code.
Some health and education roles have lower thresholds, and there are provisions for new graduates and those in shortage occupations. But for the majority of applicants, you need a job offer paying £38,700 or above to qualify.
This threshold matters for your financial planning. It means you have a floor on your income, which is actually helpful for budgeting — but it also means the visa is effectively inaccessible if you are considering lower-paid work.
Legal and immigration adviser fees
While you can apply for a Skilled Worker visa without a lawyer, many applicants use an immigration solicitor or adviser, especially for more complex cases (switching from another visa, bringing dependants, or roles with borderline occupation codes).
Solicitor fees typically range from £1,500 to £3,500 for a straightforward application, and more for complex cases. Some employers include this in their relocation support. If yours does not, budget for it as a real possibility.
Your employer's costs — and why they matter to you
Your sponsoring employer also pays costs that may or may not influence how they handle your package:
- Sponsor licence fee: £536 for small organisations, £1,476 for medium and large.
- Immigration Skills Charge: £364 per year (small sponsors) or £1,000 per year (large sponsors) for the duration of your visa.
For a large employer sponsoring you for 5 years, the skills charge alone is £5,000. Some employers factor this into how they assess the overall cost of hiring internationally. It is worth understanding this context when negotiating your package.
Other upfront costs to budget for
Beyond the visa itself:
- Biometric enrolment (if applying outside the UK): fees vary by country.
- Document translation and certification: budget £200–£500 if your qualifications or marriage certificates require certified translation.
- Police certificates: some applicants need these for countries they have lived in. Cost varies.
- Priority or super-priority processing: £500–£1,000 extra if you need a faster decision.
What the total looks like
For a single applicant applying for a 5-year visa at the standard rate, including IHS, a solicitor, and miscellaneous document costs, a realistic total is £8,000–£10,000 paid upfront.
For a family of two adults, that number can easily reach £20,000–£25,000 before you factor in flights, shipping, or a rental deposit.
This is not a reason not to come — for most skilled workers, the financial and career benefits of living and working in the UK outweigh these costs over time. But going in with a clear-eyed view of the upfront bill lets you plan properly, negotiate with your employer from a position of knowledge, and avoid being caught short in your first few months.
A practical step
Once you have secured a job offer and understand your gross salary, use our take-home pay calculator to see exactly what will land in your bank account each month after UK tax and National Insurance. Then explore our relocate hub for a broader picture of the financial realities of settling in the UK.