UK Visa Lodge Fee for International Students (Nepal) — 2026 Guide

The direct answer

The fee you pay when you lodge (submit) a UK Student visa application is £558. That is separate from the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which is £1,035 per year of your course, and separate again from the £65 TB test certificate that Nepalese applicants need for any course longer than 6 months. Families often hear "£558" quoted as "the visa cost" — it isn't the full cost of applying, it's one line item on it.

None of these three fees include your tuition deposit, your proof-of-funds (maintenance) money, or your living costs once you arrive. Those are tracked separately on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and in your bank statements.

What you actually pay to lodge the application

Quote these three figures separately to a family, in their own units (one is a flat fee, one is per year, one is a flat fee). Do not add them together into a single "visa cost" number — the IHS scales with how long your course is, so the total is different for a one-year masters than a three-year bachelor's.

Proof of funds — the money the visa actually checks

The visa fee gets your application looked at. What decides whether it's approved is largely the maintenance (living-cost) money in your bank account. The requirement is £1,483 per month if your course is in London, or £1,136 per month if it's anywhere else, for a maximum of 9 months regardless of how long your course actually is. This is on top of the tuition fee shown on your CAS — it is not a figure you subtract from anything.

The "visa minimum" column is the official Home Office figure. The "realistic" and "rent" columns are sector estimates, not official figures — they exist so a family doesn't budget to the legal floor and then run short once rent and food are paid. In London the floor and the realistic cost are close together. Outside London, especially in Bradford, Huddersfield or Northern Ireland, the gap between the two is bigger — which is exactly why those regions give the strongest total-cost outcome in this list, since tuition at Bradford starts at £15,700 for a classroom-based masters and £16,100 for a classroom-based bachelor's (bradford.ac.uk).

Whether a campus counts as "London" or "outside London" is a Home Office definition tied to the institution's address, not a judgement about how urban the place feels. It is worth £347 a month either way, so confirm which side of the line your specific campus sits on before you calculate anything — use the Master Reckoner to check a course and its real London/non-London status together.

The 28-day rule — this is where applications actually fail

The maintenance amount has to sit in the account for 28 consecutive days, and the end of that 28-day window has to fall within 31 days of the date you submit the visa application. This timing rule, not the visa fee itself, is the single most common reason a Student visa gets refused. Check the dates on the bank statement against the application date before you submit — don't assume the balance alone is enough.

Documents to have ready alongside the fee payment

• CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) — issued by the institution after you pay the deposit. It carries the course, the fee, and the amount already paid; your visa application is built around it.
• Bank statements meeting the 28-day rule above.
• Academic transcripts and certificates (NEB/+2 or bachelor's) — Nepalese documents may need official translation.
• English language evidence — IELTS/PTE/TOEFL as the course requires, or an approved national qualification where the institution accepts one.
• TB test certificate from a UKVI-approved clinic, for courses over 6 months.
• Valid passport with enough remaining validity for the course.
• Sponsor documents, if the maintenance funds aren't in your own name — relationship evidence plus the sponsor's consent letter and their own bank statements.
• ATAS certificate, if your subject is a sensitive science or engineering postgraduate course.

Dependants — check this before you pay anything

For a taught masters starting on or after 1 January 2024, dependants are not permitted at all. Only a PhD, another doctorate, a research-based higher degree, or a government-sponsored course over 6 months qualifies for a dependant visa. The dependant maintenance figures — £845/month in London, £680/month outside London — exist in the rules but are not relevant to a standard one-year MSc, MA or MBA applicant. If a married student is planning to bring a spouse, have this conversation before they pay a tuition deposit, not after.

Common questions

What is the UK student visa fee for Nepali students?

It is £558, paid when you lodge the application. This does not include the Immigration Health Surcharge (£1,035 per year of your course) or the TB test certificate (£65), which are paid separately. All three apply regardless of nationality — there is no reduced rate for Nepali applicants.

How much money do I need to show for the UK student visa?

£1,483 per month if your course is in London, or £1,136 per month outside London, for up to 9 months — on top of your tuition fee. The money must sit in the account for 28 consecutive days, ending within 31 days of your application date. Check your course's exact city against the UK study hub before assuming which rate applies.

Do I need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge separately from the visa fee?

Yes. The IHS is £1,035 per year of your course and is a different payment from the £558 application fee. It gives you NHS access while you study in the UK.

Can I bring my spouse or children on a UK student visa?

Not on a standard taught masters, bachelor's or foundation course starting on or after 1 January 2024. Dependant rights are restricted to PhD and other doctoral-level research degrees, or a government-sponsored course over 6 months. If this matters to your plans, check the course level against this rule before applying — browse course options and levels on the Master Reckoner or read more guides on the blog.