TL;DR
UK Standard Visitor visa: £135 for a single 6-month visit (raised from £127 on 8 April 2026). Long-term 2/5/10-year visit visas: £432 / £771 / £963, each for unlimited 6-month stays. Visa-exempt nationals use the ETA at £16. No IHS on any visitor route.
Standard Visitor visa fees
| Visa type | Fee | Stays |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor (6 months) | £135 | Single trip up to 6 months |
| Long-term visit (2 years) | £432 | Multiple 6-month stays over 2 years |
| Long-term visit (5 years) | £771 | Multiple 6-month stays over 5 years |
| Long-term visit (10 years) | £963 | Multiple 6-month stays over 10 years |
| Marriage / Civil Partnership Visitor (6 months) | £135 | Up to 6 months for the ceremony |
| Permitted Paid Engagement (1 month) | £135 | Up to 1 month for specific paid engagements |
| Academic Visitor (12 months) | £253 | Single trip up to 12 months for senior academics |
The £135 standard fee was effective from 8 April 2026, increased from £127.
Other costs
- No Immigration Health Surcharge — visitors are not eligible for non-emergency NHS treatment
- Biometrics: £100 (paid at VFS Global / TLScontact application centre)
- Priority Service: £500 — 5 working days (vs 3 weeks standard)
- Super-Priority Service: £1,000 — next working day in many centres
- No English language requirement, no TB test in most cases
Visitor visa applications are typically the lightest UK visa applications by both fee and document burden.
ETA for visa-exempt nationals
If you're from one of around 90 visa-exempt countries (US, Canada, Australia, EU/EEA, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, etc.), you don't need a Visitor visa — you need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) instead:
- Cost: £16
- Validity: 2 years for multiple short visits
- Decision: Usually approved within minutes
- What it's not: Doesn't allow paid work, doesn't extend stays beyond 6 months per visit
Check whether your nationality needs an ETA or a full Visitor visa on gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Single tourist visit (6 months)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Visitor visa fee | £135 |
| Biometrics | £100 |
| Total | ~£235 |
Example 2 — Family visiting twice in 2 years (2 adults, 1 child)
Single visas: 3 × £135 × 2 visits = £810 Long-term 2-year visa: 3 × £432 = £1,296
For visiting twice, single visas are cheaper. The break-even is at 3+ visits.
Example 3 — Frequent business visitor (4 visits over 5 years)
Single visas: 4 × £135 = £540 Long-term 5-year visa: £771
Single visas remain cheaper at 4 visits. At 6+ visits the long-term wins.
Example 4 — Family visiting yearly for 10 years
Single visas: 10 × £135 = £1,350 10-year visit visa: £963
Long-term wins by ~£400 per person.
When the long-term visa makes sense
The 2/5/10-year visit visas don't extend per-visit length (still 6 months max each). They save you from re-applying for each visit:
- Family with UK-based relatives visiting frequently
- Business visitors with ongoing UK clients
- Owners of UK property spending part of each year there
- Cultural and academic visitors with multiple UK engagements
The Home Office may scrutinise long-term applications more carefully — they want to see that you're not effectively using the visit route to live in the UK. The 6-month per visit and "less than 180 days in any 12 months" guidance still applies.
Refused visit visa fees
If your application is refused, the visa fee is not refunded. You can re-apply (no waiting period required) — the previous refusal is on your record and must be disclosed.
For most Visitor refusals, there's no right of appeal — Administrative Review applies only if the caseworker made a clear error.
Hidden costs
- VFS / TLScontact appointment add-ons: premium lounge access, courier delivery, scan-and-shred services typically add £50-£200
- Travel insurance with UK medical cover (recommended): £30-£100 for a typical trip
- Translations of supporting documents not in English: £20-£60 per document
Who pays
Visitor visa fees are typically paid by the visitor themselves. UK hosts can financially sponsor a visit (covering accommodation, in-country expenses) but cannot pay the visa fee on the visitor's behalf — payment must come from the applicant.
For business visitors, UK companies often cover the cost as part of arranging the visit.
Tools that pair with this
For preparing the small Visitor visa document bundle:
- Checklist generator — personalised list based on visit purpose and country
- Bundler — merge passport, financial evidence, employer letter, accommodation, ties evidence into one PDF
- Compressor — fit the 2 MB VFS Global limit if applying from outside the UK
Sources
Common questions
- 01
How much is the UK Visitor visa in 2026?
Standard 6-month Visitor visa is £135 (raised from £127 on 8 April 2026). Long-term options: £432 for 2 years, £771 for 5 years, £963 for 10 years. ETA for visa-exempt nationals is £16. No Immigration Health Surcharge on visitor visas.
- 02
Is there an IHS on the Visitor visa?
No. The Immigration Health Surcharge does not apply to Visitor visas. You can buy travel insurance for medical cover; private treatment is also available. NHS access is limited for visitors — emergency only.
- 03
Is the long-term visit visa worth it?
If you plan to visit the UK twice or more in a 2-year period, the £432 2-year visa is cheaper than two £135 single visas. For 5+ visits, the 10-year £963 option is significantly cheaper than ten single applications.
Free tools that pair with this guide