UK Visa Cost From India 2026: Full Fees, VFS Centres, Processing Times

TL;DR

A three-year UK Skilled Worker visa from India in 2026 costs approximately £3,950 to £4,300 for a main applicant: the £719 Home Office fee, £3,105 IHS surcharge, around £30 in VFS Global service charges and a mandatory TB test of roughly £80 are the main line items. VFS operates centres in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Hyderabad, processing times for Skilled Worker applications typically run two to five weeks, and India consistently tops UK Skilled Worker grant statistics. The section below works through the centre network, TB test logistics, processing times and a worked household budget.

Last reviewed: 31 May 2026

Application centre network - VFS in six major cities

VFS Global operates six UK visa application centres across India: Mumbai (Trade Centre, Bandra Kurla Complex), Delhi (Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Connaught Place), Chennai (Fagun Towers, Egmore), Bengaluru (Global Tech Park, Outer Ring Road), Kolkata (Rene Tower, Park Street) and Hyderabad (BAB Towers, Banjara Hills). All six centres process the full range of UK visa categories and offer priority and super-priority appointment slots subject to availability. The country-wide spread means most Indian applicants are within reasonable travel distance of an accepting centre, in contrast to many other source countries where applicants travel cross-border or several hundred miles within country to reach the nearest VFS centre. The country-comparison view at UK visa fees by country and the household total at the UK visa fee calculator set the Home Office figures into context for the India-specific extras below.

The VFS Global India service fee runs at approximately £30 for the standard application, lower than the operator's typical fee in many other markets because the application volume from India is by far the largest of any single country. Optional add-ons include premium lounge access (around £75), out-of-hours biometric capture (around £100), on-demand mobile biometric collection at the applicant's address (around £200 to £300 depending on city) and courier return of the passport (around £25). For most applicants the standard tier with courier return is sufficient and the optional add-ons are skipped.

TB test requirement - India is on the listed countries

India appears on the Home Office list of countries from which applicants must present a tuberculosis test certificate for any UK visa of more than six months. The current list is published on gov.uk and India has been on it since the policy was introduced. The certificate must come from an approved clinic, and the IOM panel includes clinics in all six VFS cities plus several other major Indian cities. Typical cost runs £55 to £75 per person, lower than in many other listed countries. Each applicant including dependants takes a separate test, and the certificate is valid for six months from issue. Children under 11 are screened clinically rather than by chest X-ray.

The TB certificate must be presented at the VFS centre at the biometric appointment along with the printed online application form, passport and supporting evidence. Applications without the certificate are rejected at the front desk and re-booking incurs a fresh VFS service fee. The standard sequence is to book the TB test first (clinic slots are usually available within a week in major cities), receive the certificate (usually issued within 48 hours of the X-ray), then book the VFS biometric appointment.

Processing times by visa type from India

Home Office published processing times for Indian applicants are among the fastest globally because the volume of applications and the maturity of the VFS centre network support efficient processing. Typical 2026 timings from biometric submission to decision:

Skilled Worker (standard): two to five weeks
Skilled Worker (priority service, £500 add-on): five working days
Skilled Worker (super priority, £1,000 add-on): next working day
Student visa: two to three weeks during term-start months, longer during peak July-September
Visitor visa: two to three weeks standard, often faster outside summer peak
Family route (spouse, parent): eight to twelve weeks standard, given the more extensive documentary review

The Settlement category processing for partners switching from a Skilled Worker visa to Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years runs longer (typically six to eight months from in-country submission), but that timing applies to the in-country application after arrival and is not part of the initial outside-UK Skilled Worker process from India.

Why India is the largest single source country - Home Office migration statistics

The gov.uk Immigration System Statistics quarterly release publishes visa grants and refusals by nationality, route and year. India has been the largest single source country for UK Skilled Worker visas in every recent quarterly release, accounting for a substantial share of total grants in the route. The migration statistics also break out Student visa grants by nationality, where India tracks closely with China at the top. Skilled Worker refusal rates for Indian applicants are at or below the global average for the route, reflecting the maturity of the visa application infrastructure in India and a high proportion of employer-sponsored maintenance certifications that simplify the financial evidence required.

The combination of high grant volumes and low refusal rates makes India something of a benchmark for processing efficiency in the UK visa system. Service levels in the Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru centres typically run faster than the global average, and the gov.uk processing time tables for India often sit at the lower end of the published range. Applicants from India are also less likely than applicants from many other countries to elect priority service, because standard processing already runs within the timeframe most employers need to confirm a start date.

Worked example budget - single Skilled Worker applicant from Mumbai, three-year grant

The realistic cash budget for a single Skilled Worker applicant filing from Mumbai on a three-year grant breaks down as follows. All figures in pounds sterling at the 2026 schedule:

Home Office application fee (outside UK, up to 3 years, standard occupation): £719
Immigration Health Surcharge (3 years adult): £3,105
VFS Global service fee (standard tier, Mumbai centre): £30
TB test certificate at approved clinic: £65
Biometric enrolment: £19.20
Courier return of passport to Mumbai address: £25
INR to GBP transfer fee and FX margin: £30 to £50 depending on payment method

Total realistic upfront cost: roughly £4,000 for a single applicant on a three-year grant. Adding a spouse on the same application (full second adult: £719 fee, £3,105 IHS, £30 VFS, £65 TB, £19.20 biometric) lifts the household total by approximately £3,940. Adding two children at the under-18 IHS rate (£719 fee per child, £2,328 IHS per child, plus VFS, TB and biometric per child) adds approximately £3,170 per child. A family of four therefore lands at approximately £14,300 to £15,000 in upfront Home Office and country-layer charges before any solicitor fees or priority service.

The India-specific saving relative to a similar applicant from Nigeria or Pakistan is roughly £100 to £250 across the household, driven by the lower TB test cost and the lower VFS service fee in India. The saving is modest in absolute terms but reflects the operational efficiency of the high-volume India VFS network.

Frequently asked questions

Which Indian cities have UK visa application centres?

VFS Global operates six UK visa application centres in India: Mumbai (Bandra Kurla Complex), Delhi (Connaught Place), Chennai (Egmore), Bengaluru (Outer Ring Road), Kolkata (Park Street) and Hyderabad (Banjara Hills). All six accept the full range of UK visa categories and offer priority and super-priority appointment slots. Applicants select the centre at the booking stage of the online application.

Is the TB test mandatory for Indians applying for a UK visa?

Yes, for any UK visa of more than six months. India is on the Home Office list of countries from which applicants must present a TB test certificate. The certificate must come from an approved IOM-affiliated clinic and costs roughly £55 to £75 per person. Visitor visas of six months or less do not require the TB certificate.

How long does a Skilled Worker visa from India typically take?

Standard processing for Skilled Worker applications from India runs two to five weeks from biometric submission, which is at the faster end of the global range. Priority service compresses the decision to five working days for a £500 add-on, and super priority to next working day for a £1,000 add-on. Student and Visitor visas typically decide in two to three weeks during non-peak months.

Can dependants in India apply alongside the main applicant or separately?

Dependants can apply concurrently with the main applicant or separately at a later date. Concurrent application is the more common route because the family is travelling together and the biometric appointments can be co-scheduled. Each dependant pays the full Home Office application fee at the same rate as the main applicant, the IHS at the adult or under-18 rate, and a separate VFS service fee, TB test and biometric enrolment.

Why does India consistently top UK visa grant statistics?

The gov.uk Immigration System Statistics show India as the largest source country for UK Skilled Worker visas and a top-two source for Student visas. The drivers are deep professional and educational ties between the two countries, a mature VFS centre network supporting efficient processing, and a high proportion of employer-sponsored Skilled Worker applications that satisfy the financial requirements without separate maintenance evidence. Refusal rates for Indian applicants sit at or below the global average for the route.

Sources

Disclaimer: The figures on this page are estimates based on the Home Office fee schedule and VFS Global India price list current at the date shown. Kael Tripton Ltd is not authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner, or the Financial Conduct Authority and does not provide immigration advice. For application-specific advice consult a regulated immigration adviser. Verify current fees against gov.uk before applying.