UK Student Visa Fee and IHS Cost for Nepali Students 2026

Official 2026 charges at a glance

The Home Office fee table published for 8 April 2026 increased the Student route charge from £524 to £558 for the main applicant and each dependant applying outside the UK. Always recheck GOV.UK immediately before payment because immigration fees can change during the year.

How the Immigration Health Surcharge works

The IHS gives eligible visa holders access to NHS healthcare from the date the visa starts, but some services still carry charges, including prescriptions, dental care, eye tests and assisted conception. Private medical insurance does not usually remove the requirement to pay the IHS.

An applicant outside the UK usually pays IHS when seeking permission for more than six months. There is no IHS for an outside-UK visa of six months or less. The student rate applies to students, their dependants and applicants under 18.

The visa can be longer than the course

GOV.UK calculates IHS from the immigration permission granted, not simply the dates of classroom teaching. Under the current Student rules, a course of 12 months or longer normally receives a period before the course and four months after it. That additional permission affects the surcharge.

Part-year calculation

• For a visa of more than six months but less than one year, the full annual student rate is charged.
• For a visa longer than one year but no more than 18 months, one full year plus half a year is charged.
• For more than 18 months but less than two years, two full years are charged.
• The official online calculation uses the visa duration produced from the application details.

Illustrative IHS examples

The table explains the rule but is not a quotation for a particular course. The exact total depends on the course dates, visa route, location of application and permission period. Use the amount generated in the official online application.

Example budget for a one-year master’s

A 12-month master’s Student visa commonly includes additional permission before and after the course. If the system calculates a duration of more than one year but no more than 18 months, the IHS would be £1,164. Adding the £558 application fee gives £1,722 before optional services, TB testing, travel to the appointment, document translation or bank conversion charges.

Do not assume every one-year course produces the same IHS. A pre-sessional course, a course shorter than 12 months or different course dates can change the permission and surcharge.

How much is the fee in Nepalese rupees?

UKVI states the charge in pounds, but the online payment journey shows the amount and currency required at checkout. The NPR cost can differ from a simple Google exchange-rate calculation because the payment rate, card issuer and transaction charges may differ. For safe planning:

1. Check the current pound amount on GOV.UK.
2. Complete the form to the payment stage without submitting inaccurate information.
3. Record the exact amount shown by the official payment page.
4. Ask the card issuer about international transaction limits and fees.
5. Keep an exchange-rate buffer and payment receipts.

Do not publish or promise a fixed NPR amount months in advance. A change in exchange rate can make it wrong even when the pound fee stays the same.

Costs for dependants

Each dependant makes a separate visa application and pays the Student route application fee. Dependants usually pay the same student IHS rate based on their own visa duration. A family should calculate each application separately rather than multiplying one checkout total without checking.

Eligibility to bring dependants is restricted under current Student route rules and depends on the course and sponsorship circumstances. Confirm eligibility before budgeting fees.

Optional services and appointment charges

A priority or super priority service may be offered, but availability depends on the route and location. The April 2026 fee table lists £500 for priority non-settlement service and £1,000 for super priority. These amounts are additional to the application fee and IHS. Paying for faster processing does not change the eligibility rules or guarantee approval by a particular travel date.

Visa application centres may offer optional document scanning, courier, lounge or premium-location services. GOV.UK says paying for optional services does not make a visa more likely to be approved. Review the live Nepal VFS page before purchase. A free appointment may be available; choose paid extras only when they solve a genuine need.

What happens if the visa is refused or withdrawn?

GOV.UK says IHS refunds usually arrive within six weeks of the visa decision, though appeals or administrative review can affect timing. Keep the payment card active where possible and retain all references.

If the IHS is underpaid

UKVI may email an applicant who did not pay or paid too little. For an application outside the UK, the current guidance gives seven working days to pay the requested balance. Failure to pay in full within the stated period can lead to refusal. Monitor inbox and spam folders after submission.

Complete cost-planning checklist

• £558 application fee confirmed on GOV.UK.
• IHS calculated from the full visa duration.
• Every eligible dependant budgeted separately.
• NPR exchange-rate and card-charge buffer included.
• TB test and certified translations budgeted.
• Travel to Kathmandu or any selected VAC included.
• Optional priority and VAC services treated as optional.
• Tuition deposit and visa maintenance funds kept separate from fees.
• All online receipts and reference numbers saved.