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The short answer
The UK Student visa fee for an applicant outside the UK is £558, per the Home Office fees table effective 8 October 2026 and GOV.UK's Student visa page. It is paid online in pounds as part of the application, together with the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 a year. Nigerians usually pay by card, so check your card's international spending limit first.
The Student visa fee is the one fixed number in a UK study plan. It is charged in pounds, paid online and, unlike tuition, the same for every applicant from Nigeria. This guide gives the current fee and its date, explains what else is paid in the same application and sets out the practical ways Nigerians pay.
The current fee
| Application from outside the UK | Fee | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Student, main applicant | £558 | Home Office fees table, effective 8 Oct 2026 |
| Student dependant | £558 | Home Office fees table, effective 8 Oct 2026 |
| Child Student | £558 | Home Office fees table, effective 8 Oct 2026 |
The fees table effective 8 October 2026 shows no change from the previous fee. The Home Office revises fees periodically, so if you are reading this some months later, check the GOV.UK Student visa page or the latest fees table on the day you apply. Do not rely on a figure from an agent's flyer.
What else is paid in the same application
GOV.UK's Student visa page says you pay the health surcharge as part of your application. For students it is £776 a year, with part-years over 6 months counted as a full year and visas of more than one year up to 18 months charged as £776 plus £388. So for a visa of 1 year and 4 months the online payment is £558 + £1,164 = £1,722.
The visa fee is not the money you must show. GOV.UK separately requires your first-year fees per your CAS plus living costs of £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 outside, for up to 9 months, held for 28 days. See the 28-day rule.
How payment works
- Complete the online Student visa application on GOV.UK using your CAS number.
- The application calculates the visa fee and the surcharge and takes you to a payment step.
- Pay in pounds by the methods the payment page accepts. The page shows them at the time.
- Keep the confirmation and the IHS reference number.
- Book your biometrics appointment. In Nigeria, UK visa centres in Abuja and Lagos are run by VFS Global, which began operating them on 19 November 2024.
- Any optional extras, such as Home Office priority at £500, are paid at booking where offered.
Paying from Nigeria: the practical options
The fee is charged in pounds, so whatever you use, the question is how the conversion happens and who sets the rate.
- Naira debit or credit card: your bank converts the charge. Nigerian banks set their own international spending limits and charges, and these change; check your bank's current limit before you start, because a declined payment can interrupt the application.
- Dollar card from a domiciliary account: converts dollars to pounds at the card issuer's rate.
- A relative's card abroad: common and allowed for payment, but remember that any surcharge refund goes back to the card or account that paid.
- A pound-denominated card or account: avoids a currency conversion at the point of payment.
Worked example
Example only. Zainab applies for a master's outside London. Her application calculates a visa of 1 year and 4 months. She pays £558 + £1,164 = £1,722 online. If her naira card is charged at an illustrative ₦2,000 per £1 (not a market rate), the debit would be ₦3,444,000, plus whatever charge her bank applies for international transactions. If her card limit is lower than that, she needs a second route ready before she starts.
What to check first
- The current fee on GOV.UK on the day you apply.
- Your card's international limit and the bank's charge.
- Who is paying, because refunds return to the payer.
- That your CAS number and passport details are correct before you pay.
- That you have the funds evidence ready, separately from the fee.
Where Pryme fits
If you receive pounds from family or savings abroad, a Pryme account keeps them as GBP until you choose to Swap, with the rate and fee shown first. For your funds evidence, Pryme and VerifyDoc.ai can produce a verifiable statement. For the full cost picture, see the UK student relocation budget.
Questions people ask
How much is UK student visa fee from Nigeria now?
£558 for applications from outside the UK, per the Home Office fees table effective 8 October 2026.
Can I pay UK visa fee with a naira card?
Many applicants do. Your bank converts the pounds and applies its own limit and charges; check them before you start the payment.
Is IHS included in the £558 student visa fee?
No. The surcharge is a separate charge of £776 a year for students, paid in the same online application.
Do dependants of UK students pay the same visa fee?
Yes. The fees table lists £558 for Student main applicants and dependants applying from outside the UK.
Sources
- Home Office immigration and nationality fees: 8 October 2026 (GOV.UK) · accessed Oct 2026
- Student visa (GOV.UK) · accessed Oct 2026
- Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application: how much you pay (GOV.UK) · accessed Oct 2026
- Student visa: money (GOV.UK) · 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.