Skilled Worker visa
How much it costs
When you apply for a Skilled Worker visa, you鈥檒l need to have enough money to:
- pay the application fee - the standard fee ranges from 拢769 to 拢1,639 depending on your circumstances
- pay the healthcare surcharge - this is usually 拢1,035 per year
- support yourself when you arrive in the UK - you鈥檒l usually need to have at least 拢1,270 available (unless you鈥檙e exempt)
You鈥檒l pay a lower application fee if your job is on the immigration salary list.
You鈥檒l be told how much you need to pay when you apply.
For example, you鈥檙e applying to come to the UK from Argentina for 2 years on a Skilled Worker visa.
Your job is not on the immigration salary list so your visa will cost 拢769, plus 拢1,035 for each year of your stay for the healthcare surcharge. This means you鈥檒l pay a total of 拢2,839 when you apply for your visa.
You鈥檒l also need to prove you have 拢1,270 available to support yourself in the UK if your employer cannot cover these costs.
Application fees
If you鈥檙e applying from outside the UK, the standard fee depends on whether you鈥檒l be in the UK for:
- up to 3 years - 拢769 per person
- more than 3 years - 拢1,519 per person
If you鈥檙e applying from inside the UK to extend, switch or update your visa, the standard fee depends on whether you鈥檒l be in the UK for:
- up to 3 years - 拢885 per person
- more than 3 years - 拢1,751 per person
If your job is on the immigration salary list
You and your family will pay a lower application fee if your job is on the鈥�immigration salary list.
The fee for each person applying is:
- 拢590 if you鈥檙e staying for up to 3 years
- 拢1,084 if you鈥檙e staying for more than 3 years
The fee is the same whether you鈥檙e applying from inside or outside the UK.
Money to support yourself
You must have at least 拢1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.
You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.
You鈥檒l usually need to show proof of this when you apply, unless either:
- you鈥檝e been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months
- your employer can cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to 拢1,270
Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they鈥檙e in the UK. Check how much they鈥檒l need.
Read the guidance on financial evidence for more information about the money you need and how to prove it.
If your employer can support you instead
Your certificate of sponsorship must confirm this. Your employer will need to complete the 鈥榮ponsor certifies maintenance鈥� section on your certificate. This is under 鈥楢dditional data鈥�.