UK Student Visa Fees: Complete Cost Breakdown & Payment Guide

Your comprehensive resource from AVID’s Immigration Simplified hub

Planning to study in the UK? Understanding the complete cost structure of your student visa application is crucial for proper financial planning. This guide breaks down every fee component, payment method, and cost-saving opportunity available to international students.

Fee Structure Overview

The UK student visa application involves several mandatory and optional fee components that can significantly impact your total costs. Recent changes to the fee structure in 2024 have increased overall application costs, making it essential to understand exactly what you’ll pay.

Core Fee Components:

• Standard application fee (varies by application location)
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) – mandatory for all students
• Biometric services fee
• Optional priority processing services

What this means for you: Your total visa cost will typically range from £490 to £1,500+ depending on your circumstances, application location, and chosen services. The IHS represents the largest portion of costs for most students, often exceeding the application fee itself.

Recent Changes Alert: As of April 2024, student visa application fees increased by approximately 15-20% across all categories. The IHS also saw significant increases, now costing £776 per year for students (reduced from the standard £1,035 rate).

Application Fees Breakdown

Understanding the standard application fees helps you budget accurately and choose appropriate service levels for your timeline and needs.

Standard Application Costs

Applying from Outside the UK:

• Student visa application: £490
• Short-term study visa (6 months): £200
• Short-term study visa (11 months): £400

Applying from Inside the UK (extensions/switching):

• Student visa extension: £490
• Switching from another visa category: £490

What this means for you: If you’re applying from outside the UK for the first time, your base application fee is £490. This fee is non-refundable even if your application is refused, making proper preparation crucial.

Priority Service Premiums

The UK offers expedited processing for students who need faster decisions, though these come at significant additional cost.

Priority Service Options:

• Standard processing: No additional fee (3-6 weeks)
• Priority service: +£500 (15 working days)
• Super Priority service: +£1,000 (1-2 working days, limited locations)

Real mistake we’ve seen—and how to avoid it: Students often pay for priority services unnecessarily. Unless you have genuine time constraints (like a course start date within 4 weeks), standard processing is usually sufficient and saves substantial money.

Biometric Services and Additional Fees

Biometric Enrollment:

• UK Visa Application Centres: Typically £19.20-£55 depending on location
• Some premium locations: Up to £150

Additional Service Fees:

• Document scanning: £12-£75 per document
• Document return by courier: £18-£50
• SMS updates: £2-£5
• Premium lounge access: £35-£150

Optional—but strongly recommended by AVID experts: While document scanning seems expensive, it ensures your originals are returned safely. Consider this especially valuable for irreplaceable documents like degree certificates.

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

The IHS is mandatory for all student visa applicants and represents the largest cost component for most students. Understanding how it’s calculated and paid is crucial for accurate budgeting.

IHS Calculation Method

The IHS is calculated based on the total length of your visa, rounded up to the nearest six months.

Student IHS Rate: £776 per year (discounted from the standard £1,035 rate)

Calculation Examples:

• 1-year course: £776
• 2-year course: £1,552
• 3-year 4-month course: £2,328 (rounded up to 3.5 years)
• PhD (4+ years): Calculated based on visa length granted

What this means for you: If you’re starting a 3-year bachelor’s degree, expect to pay £2,328 in IHS alone, in addition to your application fee. This must be paid upfront before your visa application is processed.

Payment Requirements and Process

When to Pay: The IHS must be paid online before submitting your visa application. You’ll receive an IHS reference number that’s required for your application.

Payment Process:

1. Access the IHS payment portal through the UK government website
2. Enter your visa application details
3. Calculate your exact IHS amount
4. Pay using accepted payment methods
5. Save your IHS reference number for visa application

Payment Confirmation: You’ll receive an email confirmation with your IHS reference number. This number is mandatory for your visa application – without it, your application will be refused.

Student IHS Discounts and Considerations

Students benefit from a 25% discount on the standard IHS rate, but this discount applies automatically when you select “student” as your visa category.

Dependents: If bringing family members, they pay the full IHS rate (£1,035 per year), not the discounted student rate.

Course Changes: If you extend your visa due to course changes or academic progression, you’ll need to pay additional IHS for the extended period.

If you’re applying from countries with high refusal rates: Ensure you understand IHS refund policies before payment, as the IHS is only refundable in specific circumstances, not for standard visa refusals.

IHS Refund Conditions

Full Refund Scenarios:

• Visa application withdrawn before decision
• Duplicate IHS payments
• Administrative errors by UK Visas and Immigration

No Refund Scenarios:

• Visa application refused (unless specific legal grounds apply)
• Voluntary course withdrawal
• Early departure from the UK

Partial Refunds: Available if you leave the UK permanently and have paid IHS for future periods, but the refund process is complex and time-consuming.

Payment Methods and Process

Understanding accepted payment methods and the payment process ensures smooth application submission without delays or complications.

Accepted Payment Types

For Visa Application Fees:

• Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express)
• Debit cards (most international cards accepted)
• Online banking (limited countries)
• Bank transfers (specific circumstances only)

For IHS Payments:

• Credit/debit cards only
• Must be in the applicant’s name or authorized family member
• Prepaid cards generally not accepted

Payment Security: All payments are processed through secure UK government portals with bank-level encryption. Never pay visa fees through third-party websites or agents claiming to offer “simplified” payment options.

Payment Confirmation and Receipt Management

Essential Documentation:

• Payment confirmation emails
• Transaction reference numbers
• Bank statements showing payments
• IHS reference number

What this means for you: Keep all payment confirmations until your visa is approved and you’ve entered the UK. These documents may be required for entry clearance or future visa applications.

Real mistake we’ve seen—and how to avoid it: Students often lose payment confirmations or reference numbers. Create a dedicated email folder and document folder for all visa-related payments and confirmations.

Fee Exemptions and Reductions

Certain categories of students may qualify for fee exemptions or reductions, though these are limited and require specific documentation.

Exemption Categories

Complete Fee Exemptions (rare for students):

• Certain government scholarship recipients
• Diplomatic personnel family members
• Specific international agreement beneficiaries

Partial Exemptions:

• Students from certain Commonwealth countries (very limited)
• Exceptional circumstances (humanitarian grounds)

Discount Eligibility and Application

Student IHS Discount: Automatic when applying for student visa category

Other Potential Discounts:

• Multiple application discounts (family applications)
• Certain scholarship programs may cover fees

Documentary Evidence Required:

• Official scholarship letters
• Government sponsorship documents
• Diplomatic status confirmation

Application Procedures: Fee exemptions must be requested during the initial application process. Retroactive exemptions are extremely rare and require exceptional circumstances.

Refund Policies

Understanding refund policies helps you make informed decisions about payment timing and service selections.

Refund Eligibility

Application Fee Refunds (very limited):

• Administrative errors by UK Visas and Immigration
• Duplicate payments only
• Withdrawn applications (partial refund possible)

IHS Refunds:

• Visa refused on specific legal grounds
• Early permanent departure from UK
• Administrative duplicate payments

Processing Procedures and Timelines

Refund Process:

1. Submit refund request through official channels
2. Provide required documentation
3. Wait for assessment (6-12 weeks typical)
4. Receive refund decision

Timeline Expectations: Refund processing typically takes 8-16 weeks from submission of complete documentation. Rush processing is not available for refunds.

Partial Refunds: Available for unused IHS periods if you permanently leave the UK, but require extensive documentation and proof of departure.

Fee Calculator: Estimate Your Total Costs

Basic Calculation Formula:

• Application fee: £490
• IHS: £776 × (course length in years, rounded up to nearest 0.5)
• Biometrics: £19.20-£55
• Optional services: Variable

Example Total Costs:

• 1-year Master’s: £490 + £776 + £35 = £1,301
• 3-year Bachelor’s: £490 + £2,328 + £35 = £2,853
• 4-year PhD: £490 + £3,104 + £35 = £3,629

[Calculate Your Total Fees →]

Step-by-Step Payment Guide

Phase 1: Prepare for Payment

1. Gather all required documents
2. Ensure payment method is in your name
3. Calculate exact IHS amount needed
4. Set aside 2-3 hours for complete payment process

Phase 2: Pay Immigration Health Surcharge

1. Visit the official IHS payment portal
2. Enter your personal details exactly as they’ll appear on visa application
3. Calculate and confirm IHS amount
4. Complete payment and save confirmation
5. Record IHS reference number

Phase 3: Pay Visa Application Fee

1. Begin online visa application
2. Complete application sections systematically
3. Enter IHS reference number when prompted
4. Pay application fee at application submission
5. Pay biometric services fee (if required)
6. Save all payment confirmations

Phase 4: Verify All Payments

1. Check bank statements for all charges
2. Confirm payment confirmation emails received
3. Verify IHS reference number is correct
4. Keep all documentation organized