Short answer: For an ordinary adult spouse or partner application, the Home Office application fee is £2,064 outside the UK or £1,407 inside the UK. Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is separate. A typical overseas 33-month grant has adult IHS of £3,105; a typical 30-month UK extension has adult IHS of £2,587.50. Dependants and optional services can materially change the total.
Planning a life together should include a realistic budget. A price described simply as “the spouse visa fee” may exclude the largest part of the government charges. Below we separate the application fee, IHS and professional support so you can see what is being paid to whom.
Typical costs for one adult applicant
| Charge | Ordinary overseas partner application | Ordinary UK partner extension or switch |
|---|---|---|
| Home Office application | £2,064 | £1,407 |
| Illustrative permission length | 2 years 9 months | 2 years 6 months |
| Adult IHS for that length | £3,105 | £2,587.50 |
| Government subtotal | £5,169 | £3,994.50 |
| LIA standard professional fee for the agreed application | £500 | £500 |
| Illustrative combined total | £5,669 | £4,494.50 |
These examples concern ordinary grants, such as applications involving a British or settled partner. A fiancé application has a different duration and charging pattern; certain protection-status sponsors can also lead to shorter grants. Use the actual route and grant length when budgeting. See official family visa charges.
Why 2 years 9 months is not 2.5 years of IHS
IHS charging uses the applicable annual rate and rules for partial years. For an adult ordinary partner application, the annual rate is £1,035. The official family guidance explicitly gives £3,105 for 2 years 9 months and £2,587.50 for 2 years 6 months.
Calculating 33 months as 2.5 years would understate the government bill by £517.50. The length of a course, a work contract or the time you personally expect to remain in the UK is not necessarily the visa period used for charging. Follow the official IHS calculation guidance and the payment journey’s final amount.
What happens when children apply with you?
The family visa application fee is normally charged for each dependant applying. The reduced IHS rate for a person under 18 at application is £776 per year. On the illustrative partner grant lengths above, child IHS is £2,328 for 33 months or £1,940 for 30 months.
For a mother and an under-18 child applying overseas for the ordinary 33-month period, the example government total is £5,169 plus £4,392, or £9,561. At the standard £500 professional fee per applicant, the combined illustrative budget is £10,561 before other costs. This assumes both people need and qualify for these applications; a British child, for example, needs a different analysis.
Make one budget row per person. Do not multiply the adult IHS across children, and do not treat the whole family as a single £500 professional application.
Optional services and third-party costs
- Faster processing: paid priority services depend on the route, location and availability. The UK family page describes a £1,000 super-priority option where available; it is separate from advice and ordinary government charges.
- Appointments: premium times, locations and document assistance can carry provider charges. Check the actual booking options instead of adding a universal “biometrics fee”.
- Evidence preparation: English tests, TB testing when required and translations may need separate budgets.
- Currency and bank charges: overseas payments may involve local-currency conversion or card-provider fees.
Buying an optional service does not change the underlying eligibility requirements or guarantee an outcome. Avoid non-refundable travel commitments based only on an expected processing time.
What exactly does the professional fee cover?
London Immigration Assistance’s standard professional fee is £500 per application, per person for the agreed service. It is not the Home Office fee and does not include IHS. Your care letter explains the scope; any different case-specific fee is agreed before you instruct us.
If you need both a fiancé application and a subsequent partner application, discuss both stages rather than assuming one professional or government payment covers them. The same principle applies to later extensions and settlement.
Check the date before relying on a quoted fee
The figures were checked on 6 October 2026 against the 8 April fee table and the published 8 October table. The ordinary partner figures shown here are unchanged in the latter. Check the official payment page again when you apply; a saved screenshot or older blog does not fix the fee you will be charged.
Frequently asked questions
Does the £500 professional fee include government charges?
No. It is the standard professional fee for one person’s agreed application. Government and third-party charges are separate.
Is a spouse visa extension the same price as the first overseas application?
No. The ordinary UK application fee and the typical grant length differ, affecting IHS and the total.
Should I budget for every family member?
Yes. Confirm which people need an application, the relevant fee and IHS rate, and the agreed professional charge for each.
Build a budget that fits your family
Use our visa cost calculator as a planning aid, then ask us to confirm the route and scope. A free consultation can help you separate essential charges from optional extras before you commit.
Official sources
Sources checked: 6 October 2026. Check the current official requirements for your application date.
- GOV.UK: uk family visa
- GOV.UK: partner spouse
- GOV.UK: how much pay
- GOV.UK: home office immigration and nationality fees 8 april 2026
- GOV.UK: home office immigration and nationality fees 8 october 2026
This guide provides general information and is not a decision about your individual eligibility. Rules and charges can change. The agreed service and care letter set out our professional scope; no outcome is guaranteed.