How much does a UK visitor visa cost?
For applications made outside the UK, the current official fee for a Standard Visitor visa valid for up to 6 months is £135. Long-term Standard Visitor visas are available with 2, 5 or 10 year validity for applicants who expect to visit the UK regularly.
Does a longer visa mean you can stay in the UK for years?
No. The validity of a long-term visitor visa and the permitted length of an individual stay are different things. A long-term visa can allow repeated visits during its validity, but each visit is normally still limited to the period allowed under the visitor rules.
Are visa application centre services included in the Home Office fee?
Not necessarily. Optional appointment-centre services, courier services, document scanning or faster-decision services—where available—can involve separate charges. Those are different from the Home Office visa application fee.
Should you pay for flights before the visa is decided?
Current UKVI guidance says you should not book travel until you have received a decision. Applicants should therefore avoid assuming that paying for non-refundable travel proves the strength of a visa application.
Why fees should be checked again before payment
Home Office fees can change. The amounts above reflect the fee table effective from 8 October 2026. Before paying, check the live GOV.UK application page because the official fee shown during the application process is the amount that applies.
Official reference: Home Office immigration and nationality fees · Reviewed 2 November 2026.