How much does the Health and Care Worker visa cost?
Checked against official sources, October 2026
GOV.UK lists a standard application fee of £324 per person for a stay of up to 3 years, or £628 per person for more than 3 years, and you usually need at least £1,270 in savings to support yourself unless you are exempt. You do not pay the immigration health surcharge.
Free calculatorAdd up the fees for you and your family, the savings to show and what your employer must pay, with each figure linked to GOV.UK.Work out your total cost →Who this is for
Health and care professionals budgeting for a move to the UK.
What the official guidance says
- Application fee: £324 per person for up to 3 years, or £628 per person for more than 3 years. The fee is the same whether you apply from inside or outside the UK.
- You usually need at least £1,270 in your bank account, held for at least 28 days in a row, with day 28 within 31 days of applying.
- You do not need to show the savings if you have been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months, or if your employer covers your costs in your first month and confirms this on your certificate of sponsorship.
- Partners and children need their own funds: £285 for a partner, £315 for one child and £200 for each additional child.
- You and your partner or children do not pay the healthcare surcharge, and can use the NHS from the date your visa starts. Some services, such as prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests, still cost money.
- You will be told how much you need to pay when you apply.
What it does not mean
- The visa fee is not the whole cost of moving. Registration, English tests, translations and travel are separate.
- Being exempt from the healthcare surcharge does not make all NHS services free.
- These figures can change. Check GOV.UK before you pay.
What to do next
- 01Check the current fee on GOV.UK for the length of stay on your certificate of sponsorship.
- 02Ask your employer whether they will certify maintenance on your CoS.
- 03If not, make sure the savings sit in your account for the full 28-day period before you apply.
Questions
Can my employer pay the visa fee?
GOV.UK’s cost page does not say who must pay the application fee. Some employers do pay it; check your offer and contract.
Do I pay the immigration health surcharge on this visa?
No. GOV.UK says Health and Care Worker visa applicants and their dependants do not pay it.
Official sources
- GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa, how much it costs
- GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa, your partner and children
- GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa
Checked October 2026. Immigration rules, fees and thresholds change, so confirm them on the official page before you act.
Plan the whole route, not just the visa
Migo’s UK plan points you to the official GOV.UK costs page at the visa stage instead of quoting figures that may change. If you want help planning the full cost of your move, the optional Route Cost & Payment Planner add-on builds a personal cost map across your route.
Related guides
General information, not legal or immigration advice. For advice on your own case, speak to a regulated immigration adviser or lawyer.