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The short answer
For a child joining a Skilled Worker parent from Nigeria, GOV.UK lists a visa fee of £819 for up to three years or £1,618 for longer, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 a year for under-18s unless the parent is on the Health and Care Worker visa. You may also need to show £315 of funds for one child (£200 for each extra child) held for 28 days, then pay for the flight.
Bringing a child to join you is usually the moment a UK move starts to feel settled. It is also expensive, and the costs arrive at once: visa, health surcharge, documents, flight and the first weeks of school uniform and winter clothes. This guide sets out the official costs for the most common case, a child joining a parent on the Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa, and shows how to add them up.
The official costs
| Cost | Amount (as at Oct 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Visa fee, outside UK, up to 3 years | £819 per person | GOV.UK Skilled Worker: how much it costs |
| Visa fee, outside UK, more than 3 years | £1,618 per person | Same page |
| Visa fee if parent's job is on the immigration salary list | £628 (up to 3 years) or £1,235 | Same page |
| Immigration Health Surcharge, under 18 | £776 per year | GOV.UK IHS page |
| IHS for dependants of Health and Care Worker visa holders | Exempt | GOV.UK IHS page |
| Funds to show | £315 for one child, £200 for each additional child | GOV.UK partner and children page |
GOV.UK says dependants apply for the same length of time as the main visa holder, so a child joining a parent with three years left pays the up-to-three-years fee. Fees change, often in April; check both GOV.UK pages on the day you apply.
The funds requirement
GOV.UK says the money must have been held for at least 28 days in a row, with day 28 falling within 31 days of the application. You usually do not need to show it if you have been in the UK on a valid visa for at least 12 months, or if your employer confirms on the certificate of sponsorship that it will cover the family's costs for the first month.
Worked example: one child, three-year visa
In this example the parent is a software engineer on a Skilled Worker visa with three years left, in a job that is not on the immigration salary list. The Home Office figures are from GOV.UK; the travel and document lines are illustrative.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Visa fee (up to 3 years) | £819 |
| IHS: £776 x 3 years | £2,328 |
| Total paid to the Home Office | £3,147 |
| Funds held (shown, not spent) | £315 |
| Flight Lagos to London, one way (illustrative) | £600 |
| Documents, translations, courier, travel to the visa centre (illustrative) | £150 |
| Total cash outlay in this example | £3,897 |
If the same parent were a Health and Care Worker visa holder, the IHS line would be zero and the Home Office total would be £819. The £315 is not a fee: it is money you show you hold.
Documents and timing
- The child's passport. A Nigerian passport valid for the trip, or a British one if the child is British. Nigerian passports for children are issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service; allow time for appointments.
- Proof of relationship. A birth certificate naming the parents. GOV.UK asks for a full birth certificate showing both parents' names for a child born in the UK; for a child born in Nigeria, have the Nigerian birth certificate and any translation ready.
- Where the child lives. GOV.UK says the child must live with you, unless in full-time education away from home, and must not be married or in a civil partnership.
- The other parent. If only one parent is in the UK or the other parent is staying in Nigeria, check GOV.UK's documents guidance for the child's route on consent and parental responsibility before applying.
- Decision time. GOV.UK says a decision outside the UK usually comes within 3 weeks of applying and proving identity, with faster options for a fee.
This is information, not immigration advice. If the child's other parent is not in the UK or circumstances are unusual, get regulated advice before applying.
Two children or more
Costs scale per child. Each child pays the visa fee and, unless exempt, the IHS. For two children on a three-year visa outside the salary list, the Home Office total is 2 x (£819 + £2,328) = £6,294, and the funds to show rise to £315 + £200 = £515. Families often bring children in stages to spread the cost, but each separate application must still meet the funds rule on its own date, and children travelling without a parent may need extra airline paperwork.
Costs after arrival
The first months add their own bills: school uniform, a winter coat, a school bus pass or travel card, and possibly childcare. Child Benefit is generally treated as a public fund, so most work-visa holders cannot claim it; see Child Benefit on a UK visa.
If the child has been living with grandparents, settle any final school or household costs in Nigeria before they travel; the monthly-costs guide has a checklist.
Where Pryme fits
If you are paying Nigerian costs before the move, such as the passport, school clearance or the grandparents' expenses, a Pryme account lets you hold naira alongside pounds and pay from it without a fresh conversion each time. Swap shows the rate and fee before you approve, and one account holds GBP and NGN.
Questions people ask
How much is a UK dependant visa for a child from Nigeria?
For a child of a Skilled Worker, GOV.UK lists £819 for up to three years or £1,618 for longer when applying from outside the UK, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge.
How much is the IHS for a child?
GOV.UK lists £776 a year for under-18s. Dependants of Health and Care Worker visa holders are exempt.
How much money do I need to show for my child's visa?
£315 for one child and £200 for each additional child, held for 28 days in a row, unless you have been in the UK for 12 months or your sponsor certifies maintenance.
How long does a child dependant visa take from Nigeria?
GOV.UK says usually within 3 weeks after applying and attending the visa centre, with faster decisions available for a fee.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa, how much it costs (updated 14 Sep 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa, your partner and children (updated 14 Sep 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Public funds (updated 9 Apr 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.