UK Skilled Worker Visa Total Cost from Bangladesh 2026

A UK Skilled Worker visa from Bangladesh costs far more than the government visa fee alone. When you add the Immigration Health Surcharge, mandatory TB test, English test, degree verification, VFS fees, and document preparation, the total for a single applicant applying for a 3-year visa comfortably exceeds £4,500 — roughly BDT 650,000 at current exchange rates.

This breakdown covers every mandatory and near-mandatory cost so you can plan your finances accurately.

The Main UK Government Fees

Visa application fee: £769 for most standard Skilled Worker roles (3-year visa). This was subject to a 7% increase in April 2025 and may increase again. The fee is non-refundable if your application is refused for reasons other than a Home Office error.

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £1,035 per year of the visa. For a 3-year visa, you pay £3,105 upfront at the time of application. This gives you access to NHS services during your stay and is paid online before you submit the application.

If you are applying as a Health and Care Worker, you are exempt from the IHS. This exemption also extends to your dependants. The saving for a family of three (applicant, spouse, one child) is over £9,000 for a 5-year visa.

Total UK government fees (standard 3-year Skilled Worker, single applicant): approximately £3,874

Bangladesh-Specific Mandatory Costs

TB test (IOM Dhaka): $85 USD (~BDT 10,000) for the chest X-ray for applicants aged 11 and over. If a sputum culture is required due to an unclear X-ray, an additional $85 USD (~BDT 10,000) applies. Budget approximately BDT 10,000-20,000 for this step.

Police Clearance Certificate (Special Branch PCC): BDT 500 treasury challan fee. Minimal cost, but factor in transport and time.

English Language Test:

• IELTS for UKVI: approximately BDT 27,450 (British Council / IDP, 2026 rates)
• PTE Academic UKVI: approximately $220 USD (BDT 25,000-28,000)
• If you use the MOI route via ECCTIS QLS: £210 (~BDT 31,500) — but this replaces the English test cost

ECCTIS Statement of Comparability (if required for skill level): £69.60 standard (BDT ~10,400) or £284.40 fast-track (BDT ~42,600)

ECCTIS QLS (if using for English language exemption): £210 (~BDT 31,500)

UGC and document attestation: Variable. Budget BDT 10,000-20,000 for document preparation, attestation fees at MOE, MOFA e-Apostille, and any certified translation costs.

VFS Global Bangladesh Fees

VFS Standard Service: Included in the visa fee paid online — no additional charge for the appointment itself at the Dhaka main center.

VFS Sylhet center: Mandatory additional fee of £76.50 (~BDT 13,150) if you apply through the Sylhet center.

VFS Chittagong center: Mandatory additional fee of £80.00 (~BDT 13,750) if you apply through the Chittagong center.

Priority Visa Service: £500 (~BDT 85,900) — reduces processing from 3 weeks to 5 working days. Available at most times but book early.

Super Priority Service: £1,000 (~BDT 171,900) — next working day decision. Availability is inconsistent in Bangladesh; check the VFS portal at time of booking.

Document scanning at VFS: BDT 1,200 if you do not upload your own documents. Self-uploading through the VFS portal is free and keeps you in control of document quality.

Family Application Costs

If you are bringing a spouse and children, multiply the main fee categories:

Per dependant:

• Visa application fee: £769 per person (same as the main applicant)
• IHS: £1,035 per year per person (or £776 per year if applying as a Health and Care Worker — check current rates, HCW dependants are NOT exempt from IHS unlike the main applicant)
• TB test: Required for each dependant separately

Example: Applicant + spouse + one child applying for 3 years:

• 3 × £769 visa fees = £2,307
• 3 × £3,105 IHS = £9,315
• 3 × TB tests = ~BDT 30,000
• Plus English test, ECCTIS, document attestation for each dependant where applicable

For a family of three on the standard Skilled Worker route, total costs often reach BDT 1.8-2.2 million when all components are included.

Costs You Can Reduce

Use the MOI/ECCTIS route instead of IELTS: If your degree genuinely qualifies, the QLS at £210 is cheaper than the IELTS at BDT 27,450 — though it adds risk and complexity.

Self-upload documents: Skip VFS document scanning (BDT 1,200) by uploading through the online portal.

Apply for standard service: Priority and super priority add significant cost. If you have 3-4 weeks available before your CoS start date, the standard 15-working-day processing is sufficient.

The Non-Financial Cost: Time

The document preparation chain in Bangladesh — police clearance, UGC attestation, TB test, ECCTIS verification — runs 3-4 months if started properly. The financial outlay matters, but the timeline cost is equally significant. Starting these steps late forces you into fast-track services, which doubles or triples certain costs.

For families and individuals planning the full document and application sequence, the Bangladesh to UK Skilled Worker Guide includes a complete cost planner and a backwards-timeline template from CoS start date to VFS appointment.

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