UK Student Visa and Immigration Health Surcharge Fee Increases in 2026
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 07, 2026 • Updated Oct 08, 2026 • Reviewed Oct 08, 2026 by Muntasir Minhaz • Visas & Student Mobility, Education News & Policy
The UK Student visa application fee rose to 558 pounds from 8 April 2026. The Immigration Health Surcharge stays at 776 pounds per year for students.
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Student visa application fee: 558 pounds, up 34 pounds from 524 pounds.
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Immigration Health Surcharge for students: 776 pounds per year, unchanged since 6 February 2024.
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Standard adult IHS rate (non-student): 1,035 pounds per year.
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Pay the IHS upfront for your full course length when you apply.
Current UK Student visa fees
From 8 April 2026, the UK Student visa application fee is £558, whether you apply from outside the UK or extend or switch from inside the UK, according to gov.uk . This is a £34 rise from the previous £524 fee. Budget for this fee separately from your tuition deposit and living cost proof, since it is paid at the point of application and is non-refundable if your visa is refused.
Immigration Health Surcharge: no change for students
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) gives you access to the UK's National Health Service for the length of your visa. The student rate is £776 per year, according to gov.uk . This rate has held since 6 February 2024 and was not increased in the April 2026 fee update, despite the Student visa application fee rising.
As of October 2026, dependants of Student visa holders, including those over 18, pay the same £776 per year student rate; the £1,035 adult rate applies to other visa types. If you bring a spouse or child on a dependant visa, they pay the adult rate, not the student rate.
How the IHS is calculated
You pay the IHS for the full length of your visa in one upfront payment when you apply, not annually. A 3-year bachelor's degree course means roughly 3 years of surcharge charged at the time of application, so a longer course means a proportionally larger upfront payment alongside your tuition deposit and proof of funds.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa application fee | £558 | Effective 8 April 2026, up from £524 |
| IHS, student rate | £776 per year | Unchanged since 6 February 2024 |
| IHS, standard adult rate | £1,035 per year | Applies to non-student dependants over 18 |
Budgeting tips for ASEAN applicants
Add the visa fee and the full-course IHS total to your financial planning before you apply, since UK Student visa refusals for insufficient funds count both fees as mandatory costs you must show you can cover, alongside tuition and living expenses. If your course length changes (for example, you switch from a 1-year to a 2-year master's), your IHS total changes with it, so recalculate before submitting.
Apply as early as your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) allows, since visa fees and IHS rates can move between intakes, and locking in your application at current rates avoids paying a higher fee if rates rise again before your intake.
Sources
Sources
- Student visa: Fees - GOV.UK (accessed 2026-10-08)
- UK Home Office Increases Immigration and Nationality Fees from 8 April 2026 - Queen's University Belfast (accessed 2026-10-08)
- Terms and conditions - UK Visas and Immigration application service (accessed 2026-10-08)
- Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application: How much you have to pay - GOV.UK (accessed 2026-10-08)
- Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application: Overview - GOV.UK (accessed 2026-10-08)