What the Ancestry visa costs

Ancestry Visa Fee Breakdown

The UK Ancestry visa has two mandatory fees that every applicant must pay. These fees apply whether you are applying from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, or any other Commonwealth country.

1. Visa Application Fee

The standard application fee for the Ancestry visa in 2026 is £726 per person. This fee is non-refundable, even if your application is refused. You pay it online when you submit your application through GOV.UK.

2. Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

The Immigration Health Surcharge gives you access to NHS healthcare during your stay. In 2026, the rate is £1,035 per year. Since the Ancestry visa is granted for 5 years, the total IHS payment is £5,175.

The IHS must be paid in full upfront when you submit your application. If you leave the UK before your visa expires, you can apply for a partial IHS refund.

Total Cost per Applicant

• Visa fee: £726
• Immigration Health Surcharge (5 years): £5,175
• Total: £5,901

Dependant Costs

If you are bringing family members, each dependant pays the same fees:

• Spouse or partner: £726 visa fee + £5,175 Immigration Health Surcharge = £5,901
• Each child under 18: £726 visa fee + £5,175 Immigration Health Surcharge = £5,901

For a family of four (two adults and two children), the total government fees would be approximately £23,604.

Additional Costs to Budget For

Beyond the government fees, you should budget for several additional costs:

• UK birth certificates. If you need to order your grandparent's birth certificate from the UK, this costs £12.50, or £38.50 for the priority service. See the GOV.UK certificate ordering page.
• Certified copies. Getting documents certified typically costs £5 to £20 per document. See our certified copies guide.
• Document translations. If any supporting documents are not in English, you will need certified translations, which typically cost £20 to £50 per page.
• Visa application centre fees. Some centres charge a service fee on top of the visa fee. This varies by country and centre.
• Priority processing. Available at some visa application centres for an additional fee: £500 for the priority service and £1,000 for the super priority service.
• Courier or postage. Returning your passport by courier may cost £50 to £100 depending on your location.

Cost Comparison with Other Visa Routes

The Ancestry visa is competitively priced compared to other UK visa categories:

• Skilled Worker visa (5 years): £1,618 visa fee from outside the UK + £5,175 Immigration Health Surcharge. The employer also pays the Immigration Skills Charge, which is £1,320 for the first 12 months and £660 for each further 6 months if they are a medium or large sponsor. See the Skilled Worker cost guide.
• Spouse visa (5-year route): Two applications, £2,064 from outside the UK and £1,407 to extend from inside the UK, so £3,471 in visa fees + £5,175 Immigration Health Surcharge. See the spouse visa cost breakdown.
• Global Talent visa: £561 endorsement fee + £205 visa fee, so £766 in total, + £5,175 Immigration Health Surcharge. See the Global Talent cost guide.

For a full comparison of UK visa fees, see our complete UK visa fees guide.

ILR and Citizenship Costs

After 5 years, you can apply for ILR from the Ancestry visa. The additional costs at that stage include:

• ILR application fee: £3,226 per person. See the ILR cost guide.
• Life in the UK test: £50 per attempt. See the Life in the UK test guide.
• British citizenship: £1,709 to apply plus a £130 ceremony fee, so £1,839 per adult after ILR. See the citizenship cost guide.

Payment Methods

All fees are paid online by debit or credit card when you submit your application. You cannot pay by bank transfer, cheque, or cash. Make sure your card allows international payments, as the payment is processed in British pounds.

Fee Waivers and Refunds

There is no fee waiver available for the Ancestry visa. The visa fee is non-refundable if your application is refused. However, if your application is withdrawn before a decision is made, you may be eligible for a partial refund.

The IHS is refundable in certain circumstances. If your visa is refused, the IHS is automatically refunded. If you leave the UK before your visa expires, you can apply for a refund of the unused portion.

Budgeting Tips

• Start gathering documents early to avoid rush fees for birth certificates and certified copies.
• Check whether your country's visa application centre charges additional service fees.
• Factor in the cost of flights and initial accommodation in the UK.
• Remember that you cannot access public funds until you receive ILR, so budget for your first few months in the UK.

Next Steps

Once you understand the costs, check the eligibility requirements and gather your supporting documents. For the complete application process, see our Ancestry visa complete guide.

For official fee information, visit the GOV.UK Ancestry visa page.

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