Tier 4 Visa Fee – Full Guide to Costs for UK Student Visas
Key Takeaways
The old Tier 4 (General) Student visa has been replaced by the UK Student visa route since October 2020, but many people and fee tools still use the term "Tier 4 visa fee." The standard application fee is currently £558 for both inside and outside UK applications.
The total upfront cost for a typical one-year master's in London can exceed £19,000 when you add up the visa application fee (£558), Immigration Health Surcharge (£1,552 for approximately 17 months of leave), a tuition deposit (£3,000–£5,000), and required maintenance funds (£13,761 in available bank savings).
The Immigration Health Surcharge is separate from the Tier 4 / Student visa application fee. It is charged per year of leave granted at a student rate of £776 per year and must be paid in full during the online application form before your case is considered.
Fees and immigration law change regularly. This guide is based on rules and fees in force on 4 October 2026. Always check the current fees on gov.uk before applying, as figures can change with little notice.
Children aged 4–17 use the Child Student visa route with its own sponsors and rules. Some applicants holding older Tier 4 leave can extend or switch from inside the UK, paying the current Student route fees.
Introduction to Tier 4 Visa Fees and the Modern UK Student Visa
"Tier 4" was the name of the UK student visa before October 2020. Despite being officially replaced, thousands of international students still search for "Tier 4 visa fee" when they actually mean the current Student visa under post-Brexit immigration law. If that describes you, this guide has everything you need.
This article covers fees, surcharges, and the money requirements for those who intend to study in the UK at universities, colleges, and independent schools - including both new applications and extensions of earlier Tier 4 (General) leave. Whether you are a first-time applicant or someone whose current visa expires soon, the cost structure works in essentially the same way.
A quick note on terminology: "Tier 4 General student," "4 General student visa," "Student visa," and "Child Student visa" all refer to routes within the UK's points-based immigration system. In practice, new applicants use the Student or Child Student route, while only those extending older leave may still see legacy Tier 4 wording on their documents.
This article is general guidance only and not legal advice. Immigration law and Home Office policy can change quickly. Always check the official gov.uk pages before paying any application fee.
Current UK Student Visa Fees (What People Call the "Tier 4 Visa Fee")
The standard Tier 4 visa application fee is £558. This applies whether you are making a student visa application from outside the UK or extending/switching from inside the UK. The fee increased from £524 to £558 on 8 April 2026.
The visa application fee covers Home Office processing of your application only. It does not cover the Immigration Health Surcharge, biometric appointments at some centres, priority services, document translation, courier costs, or any other ancillary charges. Visa application costs vary if applying from inside or outside the UK mainly because of different add-on services available at each location.
Visa applications are processed within 15 working days for standard overseas applications, and most applicants receive a decision within about three weeks. In-country standard applications typically take up to 8 weeks.
Here is a comparison of the main fee options:
Service | Fee (GBP) | Typical Decision Time | Available |
|---|---|---|---|
Standard (outside UK) | £558 | ~3 weeks (15 working days) | All countries |
Standard (inside UK) | £558 | Up to 8 weeks | UK only |
Priority (inside UK) | £558 + £500 = £1,058 | 5 working days | UK only |
Super Priority (inside UK) | £558 + £1,000 = £1,558 | Next working day | UK only |
Fees must be paid online as part of the student visa application using a debit or credit card. Your application is not submitted until payment is successfully completed.
The Child Student visa fee is also £558 as listed in the Home Office fee table. Dependants' fees and visit visas for parents are separate and not covered by the Tier 4 / Student application fee.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and How It Affects Tier 4-Style Costs
The Immigration Health Surcharge is a compulsory extra payment for most Student and Child Student applicants whose course lasts 6 months or more. It is payable in addition to the visa application fee, and visa applicants must pay the health surcharge upfront as part of the online application.
The Immigration Health Surcharge is £776 per year for students. Some older sources cite the IHS at £624 per year, which reflects a previous rate - the current student-discounted rate is £776. The Home Office calculates total IHS based on the full period of permission granted, rounding any partial year up to the next full year.
Worked example: A 12-month taught master's degree starting in September 2026. The Home Office typically grants permission from one month before the course start date to four months after the course end date, giving roughly 17 months of leave. Since 17 months crosses into a second year, IHS is charged for two full years: 2 × £776 = £1,552.
Paying the IHS allows access to the National Health Service on similar terms to UK residents. However, it does not cover prescriptions in England, dental treatment, or private medical costs. Refunds are generally only given if the visa is refused or shorter leave is granted.
Dependants must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge too - each dependant pays their own IHS fee based on the length of their visa. For a family applying together, this can significantly increase the total cost of the Student route application.
Breakdown of Total Upfront Costs for a Typical Student Visa Application
Many students underestimate the overall cost of a Tier 4 / Student visa because they focus on the application fee alone. Here is a realistic worked example for a single international student applying from outside the UK for a one-year degree level course in London.
Tuition fees average £12,000 per year in the UK, though many London master's programmes charge £20,000–£30,000. Using a mid-range example of £25,000 tuition:
Cost Item | Amount (GBP) |
|---|---|
Visa application fee | £558 |
Immigration Health Surcharge (2 years) | £1,552 |
Tuition deposit to secure place | £3,000–£5,000 |
Maintenance funds required (London, 9 months) | £13,761 |
Remaining tuition fees to be evidenced | Varies by deposit |
Minimum total funds needed | ~£19,871–£21,871 |
While maintenance funds are not "fees" - you do not hand them over to the Home Office - they are a critical part of financial planning for a Tier 4-style student visa. You must show funds for a full year's tuition fees plus living costs, and those funds must be held in a suitable bank account or covered by an official financial sponsor or government loan.
Some universities also charge for CAS deposits, accommodation booking fees, or airport pickup services. These are separate from Home Office fees but still affect your budget.
Fees for Extending a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa Inside the UK
A Tier 4 (General) student extension is needed when you are continuing to the next academic level at the same institution, repeating a year, moving to a new course, or progressing from a foundation programme to a full time degree level programme in the UK.
The application fee for extending a Student or legacy Tier 4 visa from inside the UK is the same as for new applications: £558 standard. Historical fees were lower - for example, around £448 in 2015 - but those figures are long outdated and should not be used for budgeting.
IHS must normally be paid again when extending, based on the additional leave requested. A student moving from a three years undergraduate degree to a 1-year master's would pay a second round of IHS fees covering the new period of permission.
For in-country extensions, you can choose from:
Standard service: £558, decision within about 8 weeks
Priority service: £558 + £500 extra, decision usually within 5 working days
Super Priority service: £558 + £1,000 extra, decision typically by next working day
Priority and Super Priority Processing Fees
Priority services are optional upgrades that speed up the Home Office decision on your Student or Child Student visa. They are paid on top of the standard application fee and IHS.
Service Type | Extra Fee | Typical Decision Time | Where Available |
|---|---|---|---|
Standard | Included in £558 | 3 weeks (outside UK) / 8 weeks (inside UK) | All locations |
Priority | +£500 | 5 working days | Inside UK; some overseas VACs |
Super Priority | +£1,000 | Next working day | Inside UK primarily |
Faster decision services do not guarantee approval. Fees for priority upgrades are usually non-refundable even if the visa is refused or the application is delayed for further checks or credibility interviews.
Only pay for priority services if you genuinely need a faster decision - for example, if your course start date is imminent or you have travel deadlines. Make sure your required documentation is complete and your application is well-prepared before spending the extra money.
Application Fee vs Maintenance Requirements (Do Not Confuse Them)
The Tier 4 / Student visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge are payable to the Home Office. Maintenance requirements are different - they are rules about how much enough money students must have available in their bank accounts or through sponsors.
Current maintenance requirements for degree level study:
Courses in London: £1,529 per month, up to a maximum amount of 9 months = £13,761 total. Students must show £11,385 for living expenses in London (this figure reflects the nine-month calculation used by many applicants).
Courses outside London: £1,171 per month, up to 9 months = £10,539 total.
Courses under nine months: Living costs are £1,265 per month.
Students must prove they have sufficient funds for living costs in the UK. You must hold required funds for 28 consecutive days before applying, evidenced by bank statements, official loan letters, or sponsor letters that meet the detailed rules in Appendix Finance of the immigration rules.
You need £11,385 for living expenses for nine months if studying in London, plus any unpaid course fees. Prepaid accommodation or tuition can reduce the total maintenance funds needed if the confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) or financial evidence clearly shows what has been paid already, up to the limits in current Student route guidance.
Maintenance requirements apply both to new student visa applications and to Tier 4 (General) extensions, including for the main applicant and dependants. Dependants require additional funds: £845 per month in London or £680 outside London per person.
Acceptable Financial Institutions, Loans and Sponsorship (Linked to Money Rules, Not Fees)
While this article focuses on fees, students frequently lose their visa application fee because their financial evidence does not meet the rules around acceptable banks, official loans, or sponsorship letters.
Funds must be held in a personal or parent/guardian account with a regulated financial institution that is not on the Home Office list of unacceptable banks. If using a parent's account, you must provide proof of relationship and consent. Check Appendix Finance for the latest list.
Government-backed or state education loans can be accepted as proof of funds if the loan letter includes all required details: the student's name, the amount available, and confirmation that funds will be released for study in the UK.
Official financial sponsorship - for example, a government or international organisation paying tuition fees and living costs - can reduce or remove the need to show personal bank statements. But partial sponsorship means you must still meet the remaining maintenance requirements with your own money.
Using an unacceptable institution, or failing to show the 28-day holding period, usually results in refusal with loss of the Tier 4 / Student visa fee. Careful planning of financial evidence is just as important as budgeting for fees.
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and CAS-Related Costs
You must provide a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) as part of your application. A CAS is an electronic reference number issued by a licensed student sponsor - your university or college - that you enter into the online application form to confirm your course offer and sponsorship.
The Home Office does not charge a separate "CAS fee." However, many universities require an enrolment or tuition deposit before issuing a CAS. This deposit can range from a few hundred pounds to several thousand, depending on the institution and course.
Before issuing a CAS, universities typically check:
Academic qualifications and progress
Outstanding course fees
Attendance records (for extensions)
UKVI study time limits
Whether the student still meets entry conditions
Some institutions charge an administration fee if they have to issue a second CAS due to a refused visa or if you change your course dates. This indirectly increases the cost of pursuing a valid student visa.
Inaccuracies on the CAS - wrong course dates, incorrect tuition amount, missing deposit information, or wrong study location - can lead to extra IHS charges or insufficient maintenance being shown. Always carefully check your CAS details before paying application and IHS fees.
Online Application Form, Biometric Fees and Visa Application Centres
The application process for a Student visa involves several steps:
Creating a UKVI account online
Entering personal details, CAS number, and financial information
Declaring previous immigration history
Paying the visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge
Booking and attending a biometric appointment
You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before travel. Most applicants will book a biometric appointment at a visa application centre (VAC) or UKVCAS service point, where fingerprints and a digital photograph are taken. Biometric enrolment is covered in the standard fee, but optional priority services may require additional fees.
Some commercial visa application centres charge extra for document scanning, courier return, SMS updates, or lounge access. These are optional and separate from the Tier 4 / Student visa fee.
Students may need to pay for tuberculosis tests depending on nationality, and students may need to pay for English language tests depending on nationality. Certain subjects require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate, which is free to obtain but adds time to the application process.
Biometric residence permits (BRPs) are being phased out in favour of digital eVisas, but check the latest Home Office policy for any biometrics-related fee changes. Budget a small extra amount for incidental costs: photographs, translations, notarisation, and courier costs.
Child Student Visa Fees and Family-Related Costs
The Child Student visa route is for children aged 4–17 who want to study at independent fee-paying schools in the UK. The visa application fee is £558 - the same as the adult Student visa.
Main cost elements for a Child Student application:
Visa application fee: £558
Immigration Health Surcharge: £776 per year of leave
School registration or acceptance fees (varies widely)
Higher living costs if a parent also lives in the UK
There is a separate Parent of a Child Student visa route allowing one parent to accompany a child under 12 at an independent day school, with its own visa fee and IHS charges.
Teenagers on the Child Student route may later transition to the main Student visa route at age 16 or over, paying the adult student visa application fee and IHS for any new course at university level.
Regarding dependants on the adult Student route: only research-level students can bring dependents. Postgraduate students can bring dependents if studying 12 months or longer. Students on English language courses cannot bring dependents. Each dependant - whether a partner or child - must pay their own application fee and IHS separately.
Working While Studying and After Graduation – Impact on Overall Cost
Work rights do not change the Tier 4 / Student visa fee itself, but they influence how students assess the overall affordability of a UK visa and studying in the country.
For degree level students at licensed sponsors:
You can work up to 20 hours per week during term time
Full-time work is allowed during official vacation periods
Part-time course students cannot work in the UK
Work placements as part of a course may have different rules
You may work after your course ends for a short period before your leave expires
Being able to work part-time can help with day-to-day living costs, but should not be relied upon to meet initial maintenance requirements. Those funds must be already available and documented before you apply.
After graduation, many students may be eligible for a Graduate visa. The Graduate Route visa allows students to stay and work in the UK for a limited time after graduation - typically two years, or three years for PhD students. This route has its own application fee and IHS requirements, separate from the original Tier 4 / Student visa fee. Budget not just for the first visa, but also for potential future immigration routes if you hope to remain in the UK for work or further study.
Common Mistakes That Waste Tier 4 / Student Visa Fees
Losing your £558 fee (plus £1,552 or more in IHS) because of an avoidable error is painful. Here are frequent mistakes that lead to refusal:
Providing incomplete bank statements or using an unacceptable financial institution
Failing to hold funds for 28 consecutive days before the application date
Submitting an application after the current visa expires without having made a valid in-time application
Not showing enough money for both unpaid course fees and living costs
Fee and payment errors are also common:
Entering wrong card details and missing payment deadlines
Trying to pay with someone else's card without proper consent or documentation
Not finishing the online application form after paying the IHS
Inaccuracies on the confirmation of acceptance for studies, such as incorrect course dates or tuition amounts, can cause maintenance calculations to be wrong. Even if you have actually paid enough money, the Home Office will assess your application based on what the CAS says.
Relying on outdated information about historic Tier 4 visa fees or old maintenance rates found on forums is another trap. Always check current Student visa guidance and the official fee table before applying.
Consider getting your application reviewed by a qualified immigration adviser or your university's visa support team, especially for Tier 4 (General) extensions. The cost of professional advice is almost always less than the cost of a refused application.
Staying Up to Date with Changes in Immigration Law and Fees
Home Office fees, the Immigration Health Surcharge rate, and maintenance requirements have all increased several times in the last decade and are likely to continue changing. This guide is based on rules and fees in force on 4 October 2026.
To find the most accurate UK visa fee for your situation, use the official fee calculator on gov.uk:
Select your country of application
Choose visa category "Study"
Pick visa type "Student" or "Child Student"
Select the appropriate sub-type
Check any updates to Student route guidance, Appendix Finance, and immigration rules changes well before you submit a student visa application. Policy shifts can affect both fees and eligibility without much advance warning.
Early planning - including understanding the full cost of the Tier 4 / Student visa, IHS, and maintenance - reduces the risk of last-minute surprises or inability to travel in time for course start dates. Prepare your documents, confirm your financial evidence meets every requirement, and pay your fees with confidence.
FAQ – Tier 4 Visa Fees and UK Student Visa Costs
Is the Tier 4 (General) student visa still available, or is it now called the Student visa?
Tier 4 (General) was replaced by the "Student" and "Child Student" routes in October 2020. Many university pages, fee tools, and forums still use the term "Tier 4 visa fee" informally, which is why you probably ended up here. New applicants should select "Student" or "Child Student" in the online application form and fee calculator. Only those extending older Tier 4 leave may still see legacy Tier 4 wording on historic documents.
Do I have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge even if I have private health insurance?
Yes. Most Student and Child Student applicants must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge regardless of any private medical insurance they hold. It is a legal requirement attached to the visa grant. Private health insurance can supplement NHS access for things like faster specialist referrals, but it does not remove or reduce the mandatory IHS payment at the time of your visa application.
Can I get a refund if my Tier 4 / Student visa is refused or if I cancel my application?
If your application is refused, the IHS is normally refunded automatically. However, the visa application fee itself is usually not refunded except in limited situations where the Home Office has not yet started processing the application. If you withdraw before biometrics or before the case is considered, you may sometimes qualify for a partial refund by following the cancellation procedure in your UKVI account.
Are visa fees different for Child Student visas and adult Student visas?
In recent years the Child Student visa fee has been set at the same level as the main Student visa fee - currently £558. However, always check the latest fee table because rates can diverge and may change without much notice. A separate fee is payable for each person: each child, each parent under the Parent of a Child Student route, and each dependant must pay their own application fee and IHS.
Do I pay the visa fee and IHS again if I switch to a Graduate visa after my studies?
Yes. Applying for a Graduate visa after completing an eligible course requires paying a new visa application fee and a new Immigration Health Surcharge based on the length of the Graduate visa. Your original Tier 4 / Student visa fee and IHS only cover the period of study and any wrap-up time granted with that visa. They do not carry over to any post-study work route. For further information, check the Graduate visa section on gov.uk to obtain current fee details before you complete your application.