Your Guide To UK Visa Application Fee In Nigeria

The total uk visa application fee isn't just the headline figure you see on the GOV.UK website. The real cost is a combination of the main application fee, a compulsory health surcharge, and other service fees, which can quickly add up to a much larger sum than you first anticipated.

Understanding the Total Cost of a UK Visa

For most Nigerians planning a move to the UK, the first big question is always, "How much will this all really cost me?" It’s a critical question because the advertised visa fee is just one part of a much bigger financial picture. Getting your budget wrong can cause a lot of stress and last-minute scrambles for funds.

Think of it like buying a plot of land in Lekki. The price you see on the sign is only your entry point. You still need to account for the survey plan, the cost of getting the governor's consent, and various agent fees before you can even dream of laying the first brick. The UK visa process is surprisingly similar.

The Three Core Cost Components

Your total outlay is made up of three distinct parts. Getting to grips with each one is essential for planning your finances properly. It doesn’t matter if you’re a student heading to the University of Manchester or a tech expert with a new job in London—these costs are part of the deal.

The Visa Application Fee: This is the core charge for the specific visa you're applying for. The amount can vary wildly depending on whether you need a Student, Skilled Worker, or Visitor visa. Our detailed guide on the different UK visa types available to Nigerians breaks down your options.
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): This is a mandatory fee you pay to get access to the UK's National Health Service (NHS). In simple terms, you're pre-paying for your healthcare for the entire time you're in the UK.
Additional Service Fees: These are the costs for essential services needed to finish your application. This includes capturing your biometrics (fingerprints and photo) at the TLScontact centre in Lagos or Abuja. You might also decide to pay for optional extras, like the priority service to speed up the decision on your application.

Let's quickly summarise these costs.

Quick Breakdown of UK Visa Costs from Nigeria

This table gives you a clear snapshot of the different fees you'll need to budget for as a Nigerian applicant.

Cost Component	What It Covers	Example Scenario
Visa Application Fee	The government's charge for processing your specific visa application.	A Nigerian applying for a Skilled Worker visa (for up to 3 years) pays £719.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)	Access to the National Health Service (NHS) for the duration of your visa.	The same Skilled Worker applicant pays £1,035 per year, totalling £3,105 for a 3-year visa.
Biometric & Service Fees	The fee for your appointment at a Visa Application Centre (e.g., TLScontact).	Standard biometric appointment fees at TLScontact in Nigeria.
Optional Priority Services	Paying extra to get a faster decision on your application.	Choosing the 'Priority Visa' service for an additional fee to get a decision within 5 working days.

As you can see, the final cost is far more than just the initial application fee.

The infographic below shows how these expenses stack up.

As the diagram shows, the final amount you pay is a sum of these separate charges. By planning for all three, you can create a realistic budget and avoid any nasty surprises. For some extra context, looking into general considerations regarding fees can offer a wider view on managing these kinds of administrative costs.

Current UK Visa Fees for Nigerian Applicants

Alright, let's talk numbers. Knowing the specific uk visa application fee for your journey is where the planning gets real. This isn't about guesswork; it's about pinning down the exact cost for your dream, whether that’s studying in Manchester, working in London, or visiting family in Birmingham.

Before we dive in, there's one crucial detail to get straight from the start. The Home Office lists all its fees in Pound Sterling (£). But when you're in Nigeria paying with your GTBank, Zenith, or UBA card, the actual transaction will be in Naira (₦).

The final amount that leaves your account hinges entirely on the exchange rate your bank is using on that particular day. So, while the Pounds price is fixed, the Naira cost can fluctuate. It’s best to budget with a little buffer in mind.

Standard Visitor Visa Fees

This is the go-to visa for Nigerians planning short trips—think tourism, visiting aunties and uncles, or attending a quick business meeting. Whether you're flying from Lagos for a summer holiday or from Abuja for a conference, this is the category for you.

The UK government offers different visa lengths, and the price climbs with the duration.

Short-term (up to 6 months): The fee is £127. This is the most popular choice, especially for first-time visitors.
Long-term (up to 2 years): This will set you back £432, a good investment if you expect to make frequent trips.
Long-term (up to 5 years): The fee for this is £798.
Long-term (up to 10 years): The longest option comes in at £998.

Keep in mind that these fees aren't set in stone forever. The UK government reviews them regularly to cover the costs of the immigration system. For instance, the £127 fee for a six-month visitor visa was an increase from the previous £115, a jump of about 10.5%. These adjustments help fund the entire immigration service, not just the processing of your application.

Student Visa Fees

For the thousands of brilliant Nigerian students heading to UK universities each year, the Student Visa is your golden ticket. The fee structure here is refreshingly simple.

The application fee for a Student Visa is a flat £490 when you apply from Nigeria. It doesn’t matter if you're doing a one-year Master's at Coventry or a four-year PhD at Cambridge; the visa fee itself is the same. The real variable for students is the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which is a separate, significant cost calculated based on your course length.

Don't forget, the £490 is just the visa application fee. The IHS is a major additional expense that you absolutely must factor into your budget. For a typical three-year undergraduate degree, the total IHS cost will be much higher than the visa fee itself.

Skilled Worker Visa Fees

This is the main work visa route for Nigerian professionals who have landed a job offer in the UK. This could be anyone from a software engineer in Yaba moving to Manchester's tech scene to a nurse from Port Harcourt taking up a vital role in the NHS.

The uk visa application fee for a Skilled Worker visa is based on two things: the length of your sponsorship and whether your role is on the Immigration Salary List.

Visa up to 3 years (Standard Rate): The cost is £719.
Visa over 3 years (Standard Rate): The fee jumps to £1,420.

While there are slightly lower fees for jobs on the shortage list, the standard rates apply to most applicants. For a complete look at all the associated costs, check out our guide on the total UK work visa cost from Nigeria.

Family and Spouse Visa Fees

If your plan is to join a partner or family member who is a British citizen or settled in the UK, you'll be looking at the Family Visa route. It's often referred to simply as a 'spouse visa' or 'partner visa'.

The application fee for a Family Visa made from outside the UK is a hefty £1,846. This is one of the priciest visa categories, so careful budgeting is essential. This fee covers just the initial application to come and live with your family in the UK.

To help you see everything in one place, here’s a quick summary of the most common visa fees for Nigerian applicants.

Common UK Visa Application Fees for Nigerian Applicants

This table provides an at-a-glance look at the standard fees for the visa categories most popular with Nigerians.

Visa Category	Fee in GBP (£)	Typical Duration	Notes for Nigerian Applicants
Standard Visitor Visa	£127	Up to 6 months	Most common for tourism, family visits, or short business trips.
Student Visa	£490	Length of study	For students with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Skilled Worker Visa	£719	Up to 3 years	For professionals with a UK job offer and a Certificate of Sponsorship.
Spouse / Family Visa	£1,846	2 years and 9 months	For joining a partner or family member who is settled in the UK.

These figures represent the core application fees you'll face. Remember to always check the official GOV.UK website for the most current costs before you start your application, as these numbers can and do change.

Understanding the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

Aside from the main uk visa application fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is often the biggest cost that catches Nigerian applicants off guard. It can feel like a huge, unexpected bill, but once you understand what it is and how it’s worked out, you can budget for it properly and avoid any nasty surprises.

So, what is it? Think of the IHS as paying for your healthcare in advance. You pay this fee upfront when you apply for your visa, and it gives you access to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) for your entire stay. This means you can see a doctor, visit a hospital, or get emergency care just like a British resident, without paying at the point of service.

It’s a non-negotiable part of any visa application for a stay longer than six months. If you're just popping over on a Standard Visitor Visa, you don't need to worry about the IHS.

How the IHS Fee Is Calculated

The IHS isn't a flat fee. The amount you pay depends on your visa type and, crucially, how long you're staying in the UK. The fee is charged per person, per year of the visa.

For most applicants, including those on a Skilled Worker or Family visa, the standard rate is £1,035 per year. Students and applicants under 18 get a discounted rate of £776 per year.

Let's look at a couple of real-world scenarios to see how this plays out for applicants from Nigeria.

One crucial detail: the IHS is calculated for the full length of your visa, including any extra time granted at the end. For example, a three-year university course might come with a visa valid for three years and four months. You'll have to pay the IHS for that entire period.

Practical Example for a Nigerian Student

Let's meet Tunde, a brilliant student from Abuja who's just been accepted for a four-year PhD at the University of Leeds. His visa will need to cover the full four years of his programme.

Here’s the breakdown of Tunde’s IHS fee:

Annual IHS Rate (Student): £776
Visa Duration: 4 years
Total IHS Cost: £776 per year × 4 years = £3,104

On top of his £490 Student Visa application fee, Tunde has to find an extra £3,104 for the IHS. That pushes his total mandatory government fees to over £3,500 before he even books a flight.

Practical Example for a Nigerian Family

Now, let's picture the Adebayo family from Lagos. Mr. Adebayo, a software developer, has landed a great job in Manchester and is applying for a five-year Skilled Worker visa. He plans to bring his wife and their two children, aged 10 and 14.

The IHS has to be paid for every single person on the application.

Mr. Adebayo (Main Applicant): £1,035 per year × 5 years = £5,175
Mrs. Adebayo (Dependant Adult): £1,035 per year × 5 years = £5,175
Child 1 (Age 14): £776 per year × 5 years = £3,880
Child 2 (Age 10): £776 per year × 5 years = £3,880

For the Adebayo family, the total IHS bill for their five-year visa comes to a staggering £18,110. This example really shows how quickly the costs can escalate, especially for families. Failing to budget for this amount can seriously threaten your plans, which is why understanding these figures upfront is so important for a stress-free application.

How to Pay Your Visa Fees from Nigeria

You’ve meticulously filled out the forms and calculated your total UK visa application fee. Now for the final, and often most stressful, step: making the payment. For many Nigerian applicants, this is where things can go sideways, with declined cards and confusing transaction limits causing major headaches.

This guide will walk you through exactly how to get it right, ensuring your payment goes through smoothly so you can lock in your application slot.

The main way to pay is directly through the official GOV.UK application portal. This is where you’ll settle both the main visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). The system is built to handle international payments, so your standard Nigerian bank card should work just fine.

Most major Nigerian bank cards, such as those from GTBank, Zenith, or UBA, are already set up for these kinds of international transactions. The crucial thing is to make sure your card is either a Visa or Mastercard, as these are the two networks universally accepted by the portal.

The Pre-Payment Phone Call That Saves You Trouble

Here’s a piece of advice that could save you a world of frustration: call your bank before you even try to make the payment. This is, without a doubt, the single most important thing you can do.

Why? Many Nigerian banks have aggressive, automated fraud protection systems that can flag and block large, unusual international payments. Just imagine trying to pay over £3,000 for your visa and IHS, only for your bank to decline it because it looks like a suspicious transaction. It happens more often than you’d think.

A quick call to your bank's customer service lets you pre-authorise the payment. Simply explain that you're about to pay the UK Home Office for your visa application and ask them to make sure it goes through without a hitch. That five-minute call can prevent a declined transaction and unnecessary delays.

Navigating Bank Limits and Exchange Rates

Another common hurdle is the international spending limit on your card. Most Nigerian banks place a monthly dollar limit on Naira cards for international payments. You absolutely need to check that the total cost of your visa fees doesn't blow past this limit.

If your total fee is higher than your monthly allowance, you'll need to talk to your bank about getting a temporary increase or look into other payment methods. It's also worth remembering that the final Naira amount you pay will be based on your bank’s exchange rate on that specific day. When getting ready to pay, understanding the global currency exchange market can give you a better idea of how these rates work and help you budget for any fluctuations.

What to Do If Your Payment Fails

Even with the best preparation, payments can still fail. Don't panic. If your transaction gets declined, here’s a clear plan to follow:

Check the Obvious: First, double-check that you entered all the card details correctly—the long card number, expiry date, and the three-digit CVV. A simple typo is a surprisingly common culprit.
Contact Your Bank Immediately: If all the details are correct, call your bank right away. Ask them exactly why the transaction failed. It could be the spending limit, a temporary network problem, or a security flag they need you to clear.
Try a Different Card: If you have another Visa or Mastercard from a different Nigerian bank, give that one a go. Sometimes, one bank's system might be having issues while another's is working perfectly.
Use Alternative Payment Services at TLScontact: As a last resort, you might be able to pay for certain services directly at the TLScontact Visa Application Centre. This is usually for extras like priority processing, but it's worth asking if they can help with the main fee payment if all your online attempts have failed.

Remember, successfully paying your fee is what officially confirms your application submission and unlocks the ability to book your biometrics appointment. A failed payment means your application hasn't actually been lodged, so sorting it out quickly is crucial to keeping your plans on track.

Why UK Visa Fees Keep Changing

It often feels like the UK visa application fee is a moving target, constantly creeping up and making it harder to budget for your move. If you've ever felt that frustration, you're definitely not alone. But these changes aren't random. They're a direct reflection of the UK's shifting immigration policies, its economic priorities, and the very real costs of running a secure border system.

Thinking about it this way helps to see the bigger picture. The UK government regularly reviews its fees to ensure the entire immigration system can pay for itself. Essentially, the money from applicants covers everything from processing applications and staffing border control to investing in new security technology. It’s less of a fixed price and more of a flexible cost that adapts to national needs.

The Historical Trend of Fee Increases

A look back over the last twenty years shows a clear and, frankly, dramatic upward trend. Fees for UK visa applications have skyrocketed. While there has always been a cost for entry visas and citizenship, fees for in-country extensions and settlement applications only came into play in 2003.

Since then, the settlement fee alone has shot up from a mere £155 to an eye-watering £2,885 – a staggering increase in just two decades. This sharp rise, particularly for permanent settlement, is no accident; it’s a deliberate policy choice. The government sees long-term residency as a significant benefit, and the price tag has been adjusted to reflect that. It’s a key piece of a much larger strategy that has seen fees rise across the board, time and time again.

The core idea driving these regular hikes is that the immigration system should be funded by those who use it, not by the general UK taxpayer. This "user-pays" principle is the main reason why the costs today are so much higher than they were a decade or two ago.

What Drives These Fee Changes

So, what exactly is causing these frequent price hikes? It's a mix of factors, and knowing what they are can help you anticipate what might be coming next. It's not just about covering administrative costs; it's also about managing immigration flows and responding to the economic climate.

Here are the key drivers:

Funding the Home Office: The biggest reason is to cover the operational costs of the entire UK immigration and borders system.
Economic Policy: Fees can be tweaked to either encourage or discourage certain types of immigration, depending on what the UK economy needs at that moment.
Inflation and Operational Costs: Just like everything else, the costs of staff salaries, new technology, and rent go up. These increases are passed on to applicants.
Political Climate: Immigration is always a hot-button political issue in the UK. Fee changes often align with the government's current stance on immigration levels.

By keeping an eye on the UK's evolving immigration rules, you'll have a much better handle on the context behind these fee adjustments. It helps you move from simply seeing it as a fee to understanding it as part of a complex and ever-changing system.

What Happens to My Money if My Visa is Refused?

It’s the question on every Nigerian applicant's mind: "If they refuse my visa, do I get my money back?" It's a huge financial risk, so knowing where you stand with the UK's refund policy is non-negotiable. The answer, though, isn't always what we want to hear.

Let's get the tough part out of the way first. The main UK visa application fee itself is almost always non-refundable. I often tell people to think of it like paying for an exam—you're paying for the service of having your paper marked, not for a guaranteed pass. In the same way, your visa fee covers the cost of an Entry Clearance Officer meticulously reviewing your case, regardless of the outcome.

So, if your application goes through the full process and is ultimately refused, that fee is gone. The Home Office has delivered the service you paid for: a decision on your application.

The Good News: Your Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is Safe

Now for a bit of good news, and it's significant. The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which is often the single biggest expense for long-term visas, is handled completely differently. If your visa application is refused, you will get a full, automatic refund for your IHS payment.

This usually happens without you having to do anything. The funds are simply returned to the same bank card you used to pay. It’s supposed to be quick, but in my experience, it can take up to six weeks or sometimes even longer. You'll just need to be a little patient.

Are There Any Exceptions for the Application Fee?

While getting your application fee back after a refusal is very unlikely, there are a few specific scenarios where it can happen. It’s worth knowing these exceptions just in case.

You might be able to get a refund on your application fee if:

You pull out before giving biometrics. This is the most common way to get your money back. If you have a change of heart and withdraw your application before you've attended your appointment at TLScontact, you can request a full refund.
You accidentally paid twice. It happens! A technical glitch might cause you to be charged twice for the same fee. If this occurs, you’re absolutely entitled to a refund for that extra payment.
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) makes a serious error. If a mistake on their end means they can't actually make a decision on your application, they may issue a refund.

Here’s the crucial point to remember: the moment you submit your biometrics—your fingerprints and photograph—at the visa application centre, your application is officially in the system. From that point on, you can't get your application fee back, even if you try to withdraw. That biometric appointment is the point of no return for your fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

It’s completely normal to have a lot of questions about the money side of your UK visa application. Let's break down some of the most common things Nigerian applicants ask about the uk visa application fee and other costs.

How Much Is the UK Priority Visa in Nigeria?

If you're in a hurry and can't wait for the standard processing time, you can pay extra for a faster decision. At the TLScontact centres, you have the option of a Priority Visa (PV) or Super Priority Visa (SPV) service, and they seriously speed things up.

The standard Priority Visa service, which gets you a decision in about 5 working days, will set you back an extra £500. For those who need an answer almost immediately, the Super Priority Visa aims for a next-working-day decision but costs a lot more. It really comes down to how urgently you need to travel versus what your budget allows.

Can I Pay My UK Visa Fee in Naira?

Yes, you absolutely can. When you reach the payment step on the official GOV.UK website, you'll use your regular Nigerian debit or credit card. While all the fees are shown in British Pounds (£), the money that leaves your account will be in Naira (₦).

Your bank, be it GTBank, Zenith, or any other, handles the currency conversion on the day you pay. They’ll use their own GBP to NGN exchange rate. It's a smart move to check your bank's rate before you pay, so you have a very clear idea of the exact amount you'll be charged in Naira.

A quick tip: Always have a little extra in your account. The exchange rate you see online might not be the exact one your bank uses for the final transaction. A small buffer ensures a minor rate fluctuation doesn't cause the payment to fail.

What Do I Do If My Payment Fails?

A failed payment is frustrating, but it happens. Don't panic. There’s a simple process to sort it out and get your application back on track.

First, take a deep breath and double-check all the card details you entered. It's surprisingly easy to mistype a number, and that's often the root of the problem.

If everything looks correct, here’s what to do next:

Call Your Bank Right Away: This is your most important step. Your bank can tell you exactly why the payment was blocked. Often, it's something simple like an international spending limit you weren't aware of, or their fraud detection system might have automatically flagged the transaction.
Try a Different Card: If you have another Visa or Mastercard from a different Nigerian bank, give that a try. Sometimes the issue is with one particular bank's payment gateway.
Check with the Application Centre: If all else fails, get in touch with the TLScontact centre. Although the main visa fee must be paid online, they can sometimes offer advice or alternative payment options for their own services if you find yourself completely stuck.

Thinking about your move to the UK can feel like a huge task, but you’re not on your own. JapaChat is designed to give you instant, reliable answers to all your immigration questions, from visa fees to what documents you need. Get the clear answers you need to move forward with confidence. Start for free on JapaChat.

Your Guide to UK Visa Application Fee in Nigeria