If you are planning a trip, a course or a job move to the UK, the first number you need is the visa fee — and for Nigerians in 2026, that number is moving in two directions at once. The Home Office raised most fees on 8 April 2026, and the naira keeps shifting against the pound. This guide gives you the full picture of UK visa fees for Nigerians in 2026 in naira, route by route, plus the charges people forget until they are already deep into the application.
What Changed in UK Visa Fees From April 2026
The Home Office published a revised fee schedule that took effect on 8 April 2026, and it touched almost every category. According to reporting by The Eagle Online, the standard six-month visit visa moved from £127 to £135, while the student visa rose from £524 to £558. Settlement also went up: indefinite leave to remain now costs £3,226, up from £3,029, and naturalisation as a British citizen increased as well.
The student visa change is small in pound terms — £34 — but as a LinkedIn analysis by Delight Data Exploration noted in July 2026, it lands harder for a Nigerian family already funding a Masters in pounds. Work routes, dependant applications and long-term visit visas were also adjusted. The practical lesson: any fee figure you saw before April 2026 is out of date.
Why There Is No Official Naira Price
UK Visas and Immigration sets fees in pounds sterling, and some overseas routes are quoted in US dollars on the gov.uk fee portal. According to Legit.ng, the standard student visa for overseas applicants is listed in USD, which at the official exchange rate works out to over ₦1 million before health surcharges. There is no official naira price list, and any table you see — including the one below — is a conversion, not a quote.
What actually counts is the rate your bank or card issuer applies on the day the payment clears. That rate includes an FX markup, usually between 1% and 3% on Nigerian cards enabled for international transactions, plus any fixed bank charge. If the naira weakens between the day you budget and the day you pay, you pay more. Build that gap into your planning.
UK Visa Fees in Naira: Full Table by Route
The estimates below use a working rate of ₦2,000 to £1, roughly in line with the rate used in a July 2026 VisaForma Nigeria guide (₦1,996/£ on 24 July 2026). Treat the naira column as a guide only. It excludes the Immigration Health Surcharge, TB test, biometrics and courier costs, all covered further down.
| Route | Fee (GBP) | Estimated Naira | What it excludes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor (6 months) | £135 | ~₦270,000 | IHS not payable; TB test usually not required for visits under 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (2 years) | £480 | ~₦960,000 | IHS, travel insurance |
| Student visa (main applicant) | £558 | ~₦1,116,000 | IHS, TB test, biometrics, courier |
| Skilled Worker (CoS 3 years or less) | £819 | ~₦1,638,000 | IHS, TB test, sponsor costs |
| Skilled Worker (CoS over 3 years) | £1,618 | ~₦3,236,000 | IHS, TB test, sponsor costs |
| Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) | £3,226 | ~₦6,452,000 | Life in the UK test, biometrics, legal fees |
| Naturalisation as a British citizen | Increased April 2026 — confirm on gov.uk | Confirm on gov.uk | Ceremony fee where applicable, passport fee |
Note that sources disagree on some work-route figures: a PriceRadar Nigeria listing from May 2026 still showed pre-April numbers such as £524 for student and £827 for Skilled Worker. Those are stale. Always confirm the current figure on gov.uk before you pay.
Dependants
Each dependant pays their own visa fee at the same rate as the main applicant on most routes, plus their own IHS. A student bringing a spouse and one child is paying three visa fees and three health surcharges, not one.
The Costs Nigerians Forget: IHS, TB Test and Biometrics
Immigration Health Surcharge
The IHS is charged per year of your stay and is frequently larger than the visa fee itself. The standard rate is £1,035 per year for adults, and students pay a discounted rate. Students must pay for the full length of the course plus any grace period upfront — which is why the LinkedIn analysis put a one-year Masters at £1,552 of IHS, effectively two years paid in advance. At ₦2,000 to £1, that is roughly ₦3.1 million on top of the visa fee.
TB Test
Nigerians applying for stays of six months or more must be screened for tuberculosis at a Home Office-approved clinic, with centres in Lagos and Abuja. You pay the clinic directly in naira. Book early — appointment slots fill up, and the certificate must be valid when you apply.
Biometrics, courier and documents
Biometrics are collected at an approved visa application centre. Budget for the appointment, courier of your passport and documents, bank statements, and any certified translations. These are small line items individually but add up quickly.
Sample Budget: One-Year Masters Student From Nigeria
Here is what the visa-related spend looks like before tuition and living costs, using the figures above:
- Student visa fee: £558 (~₦1,116,000)
- IHS, two years upfront: £1,552 (~₦3,104,000)
- TB test, biometrics and admin: roughly £150 (~₦300,000)
- Total visa-related spend: approximately £2,260, or about ₦4.5 million
That is before tuition, accommodation, the maintenance funds you must show in your bank account, and flights. If the naira slips to ₦2,200 to £1 by the time you pay, the same bill crosses ₦4.9 million. This is why the exchange rate matters as much as the fee itself.
How to Pay UK Visa Fees From Nigeria
- Apply on gov.uk. Complete the application on the official portal and pay online. Use a naira debit or credit card enabled for international transactions.
- Check your card limits. Many Nigerian cards have daily international spending caps far below ₦1 million. Raise the limit with your bank before you start — a declined payment mid-application is a headache.
- Factor in FX markup and bank charges. Your bank converts at its own rate plus a markup. Compare a couple of banks if the sum is large.
- Use approved application centres only. Book biometrics through the official centre. Never use agents promising discounted fees or “guaranteed” approvals — they cannot pay UKVI less than the published fee, so any discount is a red flag.
- Keep your receipts. You will need the IHS reference number and payment confirmation for any refund request.
Refunds and What Happens If You Are Refused
The visa application fee is generally not refunded if your application is refused. You paid for the decision, and the decision was made.
The IHS is different. If your visa is refused and you never enter the UK, the surcharge is refundable. UKVI usually processes this automatically, but it can take several weeks. If it does not arrive, you can request a refund through your UKVI account using your IHS reference number. Keep your refusal letter and payment evidence ready.
Other costs — TB test, biometrics, courier, agent fees — are gone. That is another reason to get the application right the first time.
Budgeting Tips as the Naira Moves
- Track the CBN rate and add a buffer. Add 5–10% on top of today’s conversion so a rate move does not derail you.
- Apply early. If fees rise again, applying before the change locks in the lower fee.
- Confirm current figures on gov.uk before paying. The table here is a guide; the portal is the authority.
- Pay in one go where possible. Splitting payments across days exposes you to two different rates.
Conclusion
For 2026, a Nigerian visitor pays about ₦270,000 for a six-month visa, a student pays around ₦1.1 million in visa fees before a much larger IHS bill, and settlement applicants face over ₦6 million at current rates. The pound figure is fixed; the naira figure is not. Budget with a buffer, pay through official channels, and check gov.uk on the day you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a UK visa fee in naira in 2026?
It depends on the route and the exchange rate. At roughly ₦2,000 to £1, a six-month visit visa is about ₦270,000, a student visa about ₦1.1 million, and ILR about ₦6.4 million. These are conversions, not official prices.
Did UK visa fees increase in April 2026?
Yes. The Home Office raised most fees on 8 April 2026, including visit visas (from £127 to £135), student visas (from £524 to £558), ILR (to £3,226) and naturalisation.
How much is the UK student visa fee in naira?
The fee is £558, roughly ₦1.1 million at ₦2,000 to £1. It excludes the Immigration Health Surcharge, TB test and biometrics, which together can add over ₦3 million.
Do I get a refund if my UK visa is refused?
The visa fee is generally not refunded. The Immigration Health Surcharge is refundable if you are refused and never enter the UK, usually automatically, or by request through your UKVI account.
How do I pay UK visa fees from Nigeria?
Apply and pay online on gov.uk using a naira card enabled for international transactions. Raise your card’s international limit first, expect an FX markup, and use only approved visa application centres.
Sources and further reading
- UK raises visa, citizenship fees, Nigerians to pay more + Full List |
- UK Student Visa Fees Rise to £558, Nigerian Students Face £4.27 Million Cost | Delight Data Exploration 发布的此话题相关的动态 | 领英
- UK Increases Visa and Citizenship Fees for Nigerians, Other Foreign Nationals from April
- UK shows study visa fees for Nigerians, lists costs applicants should know – UK Government Releases Student Visa Fees for Nigerians, Shows Amount Applicants Wil
- UK Visa Fees From Nigeria: The Full ₦ Table (2026)
