You pay a UK visa fee online, by card, at the end of your GOV.UK application. If your visa lasts longer than six months, you pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) first, then the visa fee, in the same session. The currency you are charged in depends on where you apply from: many locations, including Nigeria, are charged in US dollars, while some are charged in local currency. Visa and Mastercard debit or credit cards are the dependable options. Since 8 April 2026, a six-month Standard Visitor visa costs £135.
That last detail about currency is where most payment problems start. Many guides say UK visa fees are “billed in US dollars.” That is true in some countries and wrong in others. The Home Office charges one currency per location, and knowing yours tells you which card will go through the first time.
This guide covers the current fees, how to find your charge currency, the payment steps, why cards get declined, and how much to load onto a card before you pay.
How to pay a UK visa fee: the short version
- Check whether you need a visa or an ETA. Many nationalities, including several in the Caribbean, need only an Electronic Travel Authorisation (£20) for short visits, not a visit visa.
- Look up your fee and charge currency on the official fee checker at visa-fees.homeoffice.gov.uk. Select the country you are applying from; the result shows the amount in the currency you will actually pay.
- Complete your application on GOV.UK. Do not use third-party sites that “submit” applications for you.
- Pay the IHS if your visa is longer than six months.
- Pay the visa fee with a Visa or Mastercard card that can make online payments in your charge currency.
- Save your receipt and book biometrics at a visa application centre run by TLScontact or VFS Global, depending on your country.
UK visa fees in 2026
Most fees rose on 8 April 2026. These are the official sterling amounts for applications made outside the UK. Your local or USD amount comes from the fee checker.
| Visa or service | Fee (from 8 April 2026) |
|---|---|
| Standard Visitor, up to 6 months | £135 |
| Long-term Visitor, 2 years | £506 |
| Long-term Visitor, 5 years | £903 |
| Long-term Visitor, 10 years | £1,128 |
| Student / Child Student | £558 |
| Short-term study (English language) | £228 |
| Skilled Worker, up to 3 years | £819 |
| Skilled Worker, more than 3 years | £1,618 |
| Health and Care Worker, up to 3 years | £324 |
| Priority service (where offered) | +£500 per applicant |
| Super Priority service (where offered) | +£1,000 per applicant |
| Electronic Travel Authorisation (not a visa) | £20 |
Fees verified October 2026. The Home Office usually changes fees in April; recheck after each April.
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
The IHS pays for NHS access during your stay. It applies to visas longer than six months and is paid upfront for the full length of the visa.
| Applicant | IHS per year |
|---|---|
| Most adults (work, family, Graduate) | £1,035 |
| Students, student dependants, Youth Mobility, under-18s | £776 |
| Health and Care Worker visa holders and dependants | Exempt |
| Standard Visitors (6 months or less) | Not charged |
IHS rates did not change in the April 2026 update. If your application is refused, the IHS is refunded; the visa fee is not.
Which currency will you be charged in?
This is the question that decides which card works.
The Home Office sets fees in pounds, but overseas applicants are usually charged in a different currency. Under the Home Office Exchange Rate Policy, each location is charged in one currency only, chosen on operational and local banking grounds. Some locations pay in local currency; others pay in US dollars or another currency.
The conversion is not the rate you see on Google. The Home Office uses a live market rate plus a 4% margin and reviews rates weekly, with online prices updated straight away. Then your card provider may apply its own conversion. That is why your total rarely matches a quick currency search.
What this means for your card:
| If you are charged in… | And your card is in… | Currency conversions | Card-side fees to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| US dollars | US dollars | None on your side (the Home Office has already converted GBP→USD) | A cross-border fee, because the payment is processed outside your card’s issuing country |
| US dollars | Your local currency | Two (GBP→USD, then USD→local) | Cross-border fee plus your bank’s FX margin |
| Your local currency | Your local currency | None on your side | Usually none, if online payments are enabled |
What our payment data shows. Across UK visa payments made with the cards we issue, GOV.UK charges the fee in US dollars, and a cross-border fee applies on top because the merchant is processed abroad. That has two practical consequences: a dollar card avoids a second currency conversion, and your funding buffer needs to cover the cross-border fee as well as the fee itself. (Our card transaction data, October 2026.)
How to check yours: open visa-fees.homeoffice.gov.uk, choose the country you will apply from, and pick your visa. The amount shown is in your charge currency. Check again on the day you pay, since the weekly rate review can move it.
Notes by region
Africa. Domestic-only card schemes, such as Verve in Nigeria and gh-link in Ghana, are built for local payments and generally fail at international checkouts. Mobile money wallets cannot pay the GOV.UK gateway directly. Where the fee is charged in US dollars, a card denominated in dollars avoids a second conversion. Applying from Nigeria? Our Nigeria-specific guide covers naira costs and local bank limits in detail.
Asia. Where the charge is in local currency, a local Visa or Mastercard card usually works once online and international e-commerce payments are switched on in your banking app. Declines here are more often about card settings and daily limits than currency.
The Caribbean. Start by confirming whether you need a visa at all. Several Caribbean nationalities visit on an ETA instead. If you do need a visa, check whether your card allows foreign online transactions; many cards ship with them disabled.
Step-by-step: paying your UK visa fee online
Step 1: Confirm your visa type and fee
Use the GOV.UK “Check if you need a UK visa” tool, then the fee checker for your exact category and location. Note the amount and currency.
Step 2: Prepare and fund your card
Make sure the card can pay online, internationally, in your charge currency. Load it with the full amount plus a buffer (see below).
Step 3: Complete the application form
Fill in the application on GOV.UK. Your progress saves as you go, so a failed payment later does not erase your form.
Step 4: Pay the IHS (if required)
For visas over six months, the application sends you to the IHS payment first. Check the amount and currency shown on that screen before paying.
Step 5: Pay the visa fee
Enter your card number, expiry date, and security code exactly as issued. Use the billing address your card provider holds on file.
Step 6: Approve the security check
Approve the 3D Secure prompt (an OTP or in-app approval). Keep your banking or card app open so the prompt does not time out.
Step 7: Save your receipt
Save the confirmation email and payment reference. You need proof of payment for your appointment.
Step 8: Book your biometrics appointment
Book at a visa application centre run by TLScontact or VFS Global. Their appointment and optional premium service charges are separate from the Home Office fee and are paid to the centre operator.
Ways to pay, compared
| Method | Works when | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Local bank debit or credit card | Charge is in local currency, or international payments are enabled | International toggles off by default; low foreign spending limits |
| Card in the charge currency (e.g. USD account card) | Charge is in USD or another foreign currency | Account opening can take days; not a quick fix mid-application |
| Virtual Visa or Mastercard card | Most locations | Card class (prepaid vs debit/credit), spending caps, and verification requirements vary by provider |
| Family member’s card | Payer is willing, and the card works | Never share your login; let them enter details on a video call while you stay signed in |
| Visa agent | You already use them for the full application | Markups; risk of sharing credentials |
The GOV.UK gateway takes cards only. Cash, bank transfer, PayPal, mobile money and crypto cannot be used directly.
Why UK visa card payments get declined
Start with one question: did the payment fail when you entered the card, or when it tried to charge?
- Failed at the security check (OTP never arrived, page timed out). This is an authentication problem, not a funds problem. Wait 5 to 10 minutes and retry once. Rapid repeat attempts can trigger a temporary fraud block.
- Failed at the charge (“payment declined”). The issuer refused it. The usual reasons are below.
Common reasons for a declined charge:
- International or online payments are switched off. Many banks disable these by default or after a period of non-use.
- Domestic-only card scheme. Cards built for local networks only cannot clear an international gateway.
- Card class. Payment risk systems often treat prepaid card ranges more strictly than debit or credit ranges. If a prepaid card with enough money on it keeps failing, its class may be the reason.
- Not enough headroom. Funding the exact fee leaves nothing for rate movement or conversion. The charge fails by a few units.
- Billing details mismatch. Name or address does not match the card provider’s records.
If your bank card fails twice, switch methods rather than retrying. Your application will be waiting.
Using a virtual card to pay
A virtual Visa or Mastercard card can be created and funded from a phone, which makes it useful when a bank card is blocked or slow to unlock. What matters is the card’s class and whether it can hold enough for your total.
EverTry issues virtual Visa and Mastercard cards that work in more than 180 countries. Its Visa card runs on a credit-class facility rather than a prepaid structure, which helps with merchants that screen out prepaid ranges. Cards can be funded with local currencies across Africa and Asia, including NGN, KES, GHS, EGP, ZAR, PHP, PKR and IDR, or with USDT, USDC or BTC. Card creation costs a one-time $3, and other fees are shown in the app before you pay.
Because GOV.UK charges these payments in US dollars, a dollar-denominated card pays the fee without converting currency. A cross-border fee still applies, and it is shown in the app before you confirm, so fund the card with the fee plus that charge and a small buffer.
Two card types matter for visa fees. The standard card requires identity verification. A separate one-time card needs no KYC but is capped at $250 and cannot be reloaded, so it covers a Standard Visitor fee but not a student or work visa with the IHS. (Product details as of October 2026.)
How much to load before you pay
Take the amount from the fee checker, add the IHS if it applies, then add 3 to 5% for rate movement, conversion, and any cross-border fee your card provider charges.
Worked example (student, 12-month master’s): a one-year course usually brings about 16 months of permission, which is charged as 1.5 years of IHS. That is £558 visa fee + £1,164 IHS (1.5 × £776) = £1,722, before conversion. Convert it at the rate the fee checker shows, then add the buffer.
Any leftover stays on your card for the next payment, such as your visa application centre charges.
Paying for faster processing
Where available, Priority (+£500) targets a decision within five working days of biometrics, and Super Priority (+£1,000) targets the end of the next working day. Family visas from outside the UK have a longer Priority target. Availability varies by centre and can be paused at busy times, and neither service guarantees a decision if extra checks are needed. The same card rules apply.
Frequently asked questions
How do I pay for a UK visa fee?
Online, by card, during your GOV.UK application. Pay the IHS first if your visa is longer than six months, then the visa fee in the same session.
Are UK visa fees charged in US dollars?
In many locations, yes, including Nigeria; some locations are charged in local currency. The Home Office charges one currency per location, so check visa-fees.homeoffice.gov.uk for the country you are applying from. If you pay a USD charge with a card issued outside the UK, expect a cross-border fee on top.
Why is my total different from the Google exchange rate?
The Home Office uses a live market rate plus a 4% margin, reviewed weekly. Your card provider may then convert again into your card’s currency.
Can I pay with mobile money, PayPal or bank transfer?
Not directly. The gateway accepts cards. You can use a card linked to, or funded from, those sources if the card itself works internationally.
Can I pay the UK visa fee with USDT or other crypto?
Not directly. You can fund a virtual card with stablecoins on platforms that support it, such as EverTry, then pay with that card.
Can someone else pay my UK visa fee?
Yes. The payer does not have to be the applicant. Keep control of your login and let them enter card details on your payment screen.
Is the visa application centre fee the same as the visa fee?
No. TLScontact and VFS Global charge separately for appointments and optional services. The Home Office fee is paid during the online application.
Do I need a visa or an ETA?
It depends on your nationality. Non-visa nationals visiting for six months or less need an ETA (£20). Check GOV.UK before paying anything.
Is the IHS refunded if my visa is refused?
Yes, the IHS is refunded. The visa application fee is not.
My money was deducted, but I got no confirmation. What now?
Do not pay again straight away. Check your email and application account for a confirmation. If none arrives, contact your card provider with the transaction reference; failed authorisations are usually reversed automatically.
Final thoughts
Paying a UK visa fee takes minutes once you know two things: what currency your location is charged in, and whether your card can pay that currency online. Check the fee checker, load your card with a buffer, and pay the IHS before the visa fee.
If your bank card keeps failing, a virtual card that clears international gateways is the quickest workaround. You can set one up with EverTry in about 10 minutes and pay from wherever you are applying.
Sources: GOV.UK visa fees and fee checker (visa-fees.homeoffice.gov.uk); Home Office Exchange Rate Policy; GOV.UK Immigration Health Surcharge guidance; Home Office fee schedule effective 8 April 2026. Verified October 2026.
This article is for general information only and is not legal, immigration or financial advice. Fees and payment processes can change without notice. EverTry is not affiliated with the UK Home Office, UK Visas and Immigration, TLScontact, or VFS Global. Confirm all requirements on official GOV.UK sources before paying.
The EverTry Editorial Team covers personal finance, fintech, payments, and cross-border money transfers. Drawing on our experience building payment products for a global audience, we work to make complex financial topics clear, practical, and accessible, helping individuals and businesses make informed decisions about managing and moving money.