Applying for a UK spouse or partner visa is a significant step towards living in the UK with your British or settled partner. For most applicants, one of the key considerations is the cost. This article provides a breakdown of visa fees in 2025 including hidden costs.
If you are applying for a spouse visa, understanding the costs at the start of the process is essential. On 9 April 2025, the Home Office increased fees affecting applications made inside the UK and outside the UK.
Quick comparison: outside the UK vs inside the UK
Fees | Outside the UK |
Inside the UK
|
Visa application fee | £1,938 | £1,321 |
Immigration Health Surcharge (£1,035 per year of visa) | £3,105 | £2,587.50 |
Priority Service/Super Priority Service for a faster decision (optional) | £500 | £1,000 |
Currency conversion fees | £300 (estimate) | N/A |
Approved English test (if required) | £150 | £150 |
TB test (if required) | £100 (estimate) | N/A |
Certified translations (if required) | £0 - £150 (estimate) | £0 - £150 (estimate) |
Visa application centre biometric appointment fee | Varies depending on location | £0 - £100 – free appointments are available but limited |
Note: additional fees will apply for children.
Why are fees different inside the UK vs outside the UK?
There are a few reasons for this. The visa you receive when applying outside the UK is longer – two years and nine months (33 months). The visa you receive when applying inside the UK is shorter – two years and six months (30 months).
This means that the visa application fee is higher, but you also pay an annual fee to use the NHS - the Immigration Health Surcharge. You pay Immigration Health Surcharge at a rate of £1,035 per year of your visa so the cost is £2,587.50 when applying inside the UK and £3,105 when applying from outside the UK (the Home Office round up).
When applying outside the UK, you pay in local currency even if you are using a UK bank account or a UK law firm and the Home Office applies a currency conversion fee. Home Office exchange rates are set at 4% above the Oanda live bid rate. This is designed to reduce risk to the Home Office when exchange rates fluctuate. Your bank may separately charge a small fee for paying in a different currency.
This means that for one person, you can expect to pay an additional £200 - £300 in currency conversion fees on the visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.
Priority service
You can choose to pay an additional fee for Priority or Super Priority service for a faster decision on your visa application.
Super Priority service is only available inside the UK and allows you to receive a decision within one working day of your biometric appointment for an additional £1,000. Priority service for a five-working day decision is not currently available inside the UK.
Priority service is only available outside the UK, and is not available in all appointment locations. This costs £500 and will reduce the processing time to 30 working days on average.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are spouse visa costs paid?
The main visa application costs – the visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge – are paid when the visa application is submitted online.
Is Immigration Health Surcharge paid in one go?
Unfortunately, yes. Even though the Immigration Health Surcharge is an annual fee, the full amount for the duration of your visa has to be paid when the application is submitted online.
What is the Immigration Health Surcharge for?
This is a fee that you pay to access the National Health Service (NHS). The cost is £1,035 per year of your visa for adults or £776 a year for children.
Can I get a fee waiver if I cannot afford the visa application fees?
It is possible to apply for a fee waiver for applications submitted both outside the UK and inside the UK if you cannot afford to pay the visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge. You can apply for a full or partial fee waiver and if successful you will be given a code to enter so you do not have to pay the full costs. Importantly, this will usually mean you are in the ten-year route to Indefinite Leave to Remain rather than the five-year route.
Will I get a refund if my application is refused?
You will lose your visa application fee and any Priority service fee but any Immigration Health Surcharge will be refunded. For this reason, it is very important to make sure your application is carefully prepared.
Can I pay for a faster decision?
Usually, yes. Priority service or Super Priority services are usually available, depending on whether you are applying inside or outside the UK. Priority service is not available in all appointment locations outside the UK so you should check this in advance before you apply. For example, Priority service is not available in Iran so applicants who require a faster decision may consider travelling to another location (often UAE or Turkey) where it is available.
Do I need a lawyer and how much does it cost?
Hiring a lawyer to process and submit your application is not essential, however a skilled immigration lawyer can save time, reduce stress and avoid unnecessary refusals. We offer different levels of assistance, depending on how much or how little help you need including one-off consultations, an Application Checking Service and full representation. You can find out more about our fees here or contact us for a quote.