UK Global Talent Visa Costs: What You Actually Pay

The Stage 1 fee, paid to the endorsing body, is £524. It is paid when you submit your endorsement application, before you know whether you will be approved.

This fee is non-refundable. If your application is rejected at Stage 1, you do not get £524 back. If you reapply, you pay £524 again. This is one of the strongest practical reasons to prepare thoroughly before submitting rather than submitting speculatively to see what happens.

The fee covers the cost of having your application reviewed by a panel of assessors. It does not include any assistance with preparing the application. Processing time from payment to endorsement decision is typically 5 to 8 weeks.

After endorsement, you apply for the actual visa through the UK government portal. The fee depends on where you apply from.

Applying from inside the UK (if you are already in the UK on another visa): £205.

Applying from outside the UK: £259.

These fees are per applicant. Each dependent (partner, children under 18) submits a separate application and pays the applicable fee.

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) covers NHS access during your stay in the UK. It is paid upfront at Stage 2, for the full duration of the visa, before you arrive.

The current rate is £1,035 per year. Most Global Talent Visas are granted for 5 years, so the upfront IHS for a single applicant is £5,175. Each dependent pays the IHS separately at the same rate.

For a family of four applying for 5-year visas, the IHS alone amounts to £20,700. This is typically the largest single expense in the process and is one of the most commonly underestimated when families start planning.

Partners and children under 18 can apply for dependent visas. Dependents get full UK work rights with no employer restrictions.

The visa application fee per dependent is £766 (applying from outside the UK). Each dependent also pays the full IHS at £1,035 per year for the visa duration.

For a family of three (main applicant plus one partner and one child), applying from outside the UK for 5-year visas: visa application fees total £259 + £766 + £766 = £1,791. IHS totals £5,175 x 3 = £15,525. Combined before any professional assistance: approximately £17,316.

After submitting the Stage 2 online application, you book a biometrics appointment at a UK Visa Application Centre (VAC) in your country. The standard appointment is included in the visa fee in many locations, but some centres charge a service fee of £50 to £100.

VAC fees vary significantly by country. In some locations there is no additional charge for a standard appointment. In others, particularly in markets with high demand, service fees apply. Check the specific VAC fees for your location when building your total budget.

Many applicants work with an OISC-registered immigration solicitor or use an application preparation service. These costs are separate from the Home Office and endorsing body fees.

Immigration solicitor fees for a Global Talent Visa application typically range from £2,000 to £5,000 depending on the firm and the complexity of your case. Solicitors provide legal advice, document review, and guidance through the process.

getendorsed's pre-submission audit reviews your complete evidence bundle, personal statement, and reference letters specifically against Tech Nation criteria, at a fraction of the cost of a full solicitor engagement.

For a single applicant, applying from outside the UK, for a 5-year visa: Stage 1 (£524) + Stage 2 (£259) + IHS (£5,175) = approximately £5,958 in government fees.

For a family of four applying from outside the UK for 5-year visas: approximately £22,000 to £23,000 in government fees before any professional assistance costs.