UK Skilled Worker Visa Cost for Indian Families: IHS, Dependants, and What Spouses Can Do

The "cost shock" is real. Indian professionals who budget only for their own UK Skilled Worker visa fee are typically unprepared for what the application costs when a spouse and children are included. The Immigration Health Surcharge alone — before any visa fee is counted — can exceed ₹19 lakh for a family of four on a five-year visa.

This post breaks down the actual numbers for 2026 and explains the rules for dependants, including the spouse's work rights.

The Components of Total Upfront Cost

There are five categories of mandatory cost for a family applying for a UK Skilled Worker visa from India:

1. Visa application fees (main applicant + each dependant)
2. Immigration Health Surcharge (main applicant + each dependant)
3. TB test (main applicant + each dependant aged 11+)
4. VFS appointment fees + optional services
5. Biometric enrolment (built into VFS appointment)

Professional fees (immigration solicitor or agent) are optional. There is no fixed legal requirement, though some applicants choose to use one.

Visa Application Fees in 2026

The Skilled Worker visa fee depends on the duration of the visa being granted:

Most Indian professionals apply for a 5-year visa to minimise renewal hassle and IHS payment complexity. For a family of four (two adults, two children) on a 5-year visa, the visa fee alone is £5,680 (approximately ₹6,05,000).

Note: the Health and Care Worker visa has reduced fees — £284 for up to 3 years and £551 for more than 3 years. For nurses and doctors, this significantly reduces the visa fee component.

Immigration Health Surcharge: The Biggest Line Item

The IHS is charged upfront, at the point of application, and grants access to the NHS. It is not a monthly premium — it is a lump sum covering the full visa period.

Standard rate from April 2026:

• Adults: £1,035 per year
• Children and students: £776 per year

The IHS calculation is per person, per year, based on the period of leave granted. A 5-year visa for an adult costs £5,175. A 5-year visa for a child costs £3,880.

One trap that consistently surprises Indian families: if the visa period is more than 6 months into any additional partial year, the full year's IHS is charged. A 5-year and 1-day visa is charged as 6 years of IHS.

Full IHS cost scenarios for a 5-year Skilled Worker visa:

At the current exchange rate of approximately ₹106 per pound, £18,110 is approximately ₹19.2 lakh. This is before any visa fee, TB test, or VFS charge.

Health and Care Worker exemption: Nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals on the HCW visa route, along with their dependants, are completely exempt from the IHS. This exemption saves a family of four approximately ₹19 lakh in health surcharge costs over five years. It is the single largest financial benefit of the HCW route versus the standard Skilled Worker route.

TB Test Costs for Families from India

India is a designated country requiring pre-entry TB screening for any UK visa of more than six months. All applicants aged 11 and above must be tested at a Home Office-approved clinic.

Children under 11 are not required to do a chest X-ray but must still attend an approved clinic for a physician assessment. The consultation fee at most approved clinics is approximately ₹800–₹1,000 per child under 11.

For adults and children aged 11+, the chest X-ray examination costs:

• Delhi clinics: ₹2,700–₹3,000
• Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai: ₹2,500
• Hyderabad: ₹2,200–₹3,000

For a family of four with two adults and two children aged 11+, budget approximately ₹10,000–₹12,000 for TB tests across all family members.

VFS Charges for Families

Each family member applying for a UK visa must attend a VFS Global appointment to provide biometrics. The VFS appointment itself has a mandatory biometric fee embedded in the application process.

Optional VFS services that are functionally necessary for most Indian applicants:

• Document collection (courier service): Mandatory for applicants outside Delhi who cannot return in person to collect their passports. Cost: approximately ₹1,950 per person.
• Premium lounge: Optional comfort upgrade. ₹3,840 per person. No effect on processing speed or outcome.
• Priority visa service (5 working days): ₹64,312 — available for urgent timelines.
• Super Priority visa service (next working day): ₹1,34,054 — available only at Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore.

Can the Spouse Work on a UK Skilled Worker Visa?

Yes — unconditionally. Dependants admitted on the back of a Skilled Worker visa have an unrestricted right to work in the UK. They can take up any employment in any occupation without restriction, start any business, or freelance. There is no employer sponsorship requirement for a spouse who holds dependant leave on a Skilled Worker visa.

The spouse's permission to work is embedded in their eVisa status. They do not need a separate work permit, and they do not need their employer to check anything beyond their right to work (demonstrated via a Share Code from their UKVI account).

Children over 16 who are admitted as dependants also have the right to work, subject to the general rules on working during full-time education.

Total Cost Summary: Indian Family of Four, 5-Year Skilled Worker Visa

This does not include flights, shipping costs, rental deposit in the UK, or the £1,270 maintenance fund that must be held in a regulated bank account for 28 consecutive days before the application.

The India to UK Skilled Worker Guide includes the full family cost calculator — broken down by visa duration and family size — alongside the maintenance fund requirements, the bank statement format the Home Office expects from Indian banks, and the IHS exemption documentation for Health and Care Worker applicants.

See more United Kingdom guides →