How Much Does Family Visa Cost UK 2026

Quick answer

A UK family visa (spouse or partner route) costs £1,938 per applicant when you apply from outside the UK in 2026. This is the standard Home Office fee; additional costs for biometrics, TB tests, and translations usually add AED 1,200–2,000. Always verify the latest amount on the official GOV.UK site before you pay.

Who needs a UK family visa from the UAE?

If you are a UAE resident or visitor and want to join a British partner, spouse, or fiancé(e) in the UK for more than six months, you must apply for entry clearance under the family route. Children under 18 who are not already British citizens also need separate visas. Short tourist visits under six months use the standard visitor visa instead.

2026 UK family visa fees explained

Core application fee

The official Home Office fee for a spouse, civil partner, or unmarried-partner visa applied for outside the UK is £1,938. Each dependent child pays the same amount. This fee is non-refundable even if the application is refused.

Biometric enrolment (UAE centres)

After you submit the online form you must book a UKVCAS appointment at VFS Global in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. The enrolment itself is included in the £1,938, but optional passport return courier or SMS updates cost extra—usually AED 150–300.

TB test (mandatory for UAE residents)

Every applicant aged 11 or over must provide a valid TB test certificate from an approved clinic. In the UAE the test costs around AED 350–450 and the certificate is valid for six months. Children under 11 are exempt.

Document translation and certification

Marriage certificates, birth certificates, and police clearance letters in Arabic must be translated into English by a certified translator. Budget AED 80–120 per page plus attestation at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (verify current fee with MOFA).

Step-by-step: applying from Dubai or Abu Dhabi

1. Check you meet the financial requirement (minimum £18,600 gross annual income for a couple, rising with children).
2. Complete the online application on GOV.UK and pay the £1,938 fee by card.
3. Book the earliest available VFS Global appointment in the UAE.
4. Attend the appointment with your printed form, passport, TB certificate, and supporting documents.
5. Wait for the decision—standard processing is 12–15 weeks; priority service costs an extra £1,000 and reduces it to 30 working days.

Common mistakes expats make

• Paying the wrong fee because they confuse the inside-UK “further leave to remain” fee (£1,258) with the entry-clearance fee.
• Forgetting that both partners must show they meet the English-language requirement; the applicant usually takes an approved test in the UAE.
• Submitting bank statements that are less than 28 days old on the date of application, triggering an automatic refusal.
• Omitting translations or not getting them attested, which leads to requests for more information and weeks of delay.

Cost comparison: family visa vs visitor visa

A standard UK visitor visa costs £127 and lasts up to six months. If you only need a short holiday, the visitor route is far cheaper. However, once you are in the UK you cannot switch to a family visa from inside the country; you must return to the UAE and apply again.

Tips to keep costs down

• Apply during off-peak months (January–March) to secure earlier VFS appointments and avoid peak courier fees.
• Use the same translator for all documents to negotiate a bundle rate.
• Pay the optional “keep my passport” service so you can travel while the visa is processed.
• Double-check the financial evidence threshold on GOV.UK; using a sponsor with higher income can remove the need for extra cash savings.

After approval: what you pay in the UK

Once your vignette is in your passport you still have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) online before you travel. For a spouse visa the IHS is £1,035 per year, so £2,070 for a typical 30-month visa. Children pay the same. You can pay in instalments, but the full amount must be cleared before you collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) in the UK.

Key takeaway

Budget roughly £4,000–£4,500 per person (AED 19,000–21,000) when applying for a UK family visa from the UAE in 2026: £1,938 Home Office fee, £1,035–£2,070 IHS, plus test, translation, and courier costs. Start gathering financial documents early, book your TB test first, and always double-check the latest fees on GOV.UK before you pay.