Moving to the UK From India in 2026: Visas and Costs
An Indian citizen needs a visa for every kind of trip to the UK, including a visit, and a move adds requirements to plan for: an English test at level B2 for work visas, a tuberculosis test, and the visa and healthcare charges. There is also one route open only to Indian citizens, the India Young Professionals Scheme, and a new social security agreement that came into force on 15 July 2026. This guide walks through each, from GOV.UK and Indian government sources, as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
A Skilled Worker visa costs £819 for up to three years or £1,618 for longer, plus a healthcare surcharge of usually £1,035 per year, and the job must usually pay at least £41,700. A Student visa costs £558. The India Young Professionals Scheme gives Indians aged 18 to 30 up to 2 years in the UK without a job offer, through a ballot, for a £340 fee. Applicants from India coming for 6 months or more need a tuberculosis test. Work visa applicants must prove English at level B2.
Step 1: Visiting
India is on the UK's visa national list, so an Indian citizen applies for a Standard Visitor visa before travelling. A visit visa for up to 6 months costs £135. A visitor can usually stay for up to 6 months and cannot do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person.
Step 2: Choose a route to live in the UK
| Route | Main condition | Application fee |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | A job with a licensed sponsor, usually paying at least £41,700 per year or the going rate, whichever is higher | £819 for up to three years, £1,618 for longer |
| Student | A course place, and £1,529 per month in London or £1,171 elsewhere, for up to 9 months | £558 |
| India Young Professionals Scheme | Aged 18 to 30, a bachelor's degree level qualification or above, £2,530 in savings, and selection in a ballot | £340 |
| Family | A partner or family member who is British or settled in the UK | £2,064 |
| High Potential Individual | A qualification from an eligible university in the last 5 years | £880 |
| Global Talent | A leader or potential leader in academia or research, arts and culture, or digital technology | £766 |
| UK Ancestry | A Commonwealth citizen with a grandparent born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man | £726 |
India is listed as a member country by the Commonwealth, which brings Indian citizens with a UK-born grandparent within the Ancestry route.
Step 3: The India Young Professionals Scheme
- Check that you are eligible: an Indian citizen between 18 and 30, with a qualification at bachelor's degree level or above and £2,530 in savings, and no children under 18 who live with you or whom you support.
- Enter the ballot. You must be selected before you can apply.
- Apply within 90 days of the invitation email: apply online, prove your identity and provide your documents.
- Pay the £340 application fee and a healthcare surcharge of £1,552.
- Travel within 6 months of applying.
The visa lets you live and work in the UK for up to 24 months. You can work in most jobs, study, and be self-employed within limits. You cannot extend your stay or include family members on your application. A decision usually comes within 3 weeks.
Step 4: Three requirements to plan for
| Requirement | What applies to applicants from India |
|---|---|
| Tuberculosis test | India is on the list of countries where you need a test if you are coming to the UK for 6 months or more. It is a chest x-ray at a clinic approved by the Home Office, and the certificate is valid for 6 months |
| English language | India is not on the list of countries whose nationals are exempt. For a Skilled Worker visa you must prove English to at least level B2 |
| Visa before travel | Required for every route, including visits |
Ways to prove your English
- A degree from a UK institution
- A degree from an institution outside the UK that was taught in English
- An English test from an approved provider
- A UK school qualification
Step 5: Budget
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Healthcare surcharge, most visas | £1,035 per year, for example £3,105 for a 3-year visa |
| Healthcare surcharge, students and under-18s | £776 per year |
| Savings for a Skilled Worker visa | Usually at least £1,270 |
| Average UK private rent, August 2026 | £1,400 a month |
| Average private rent in London, August 2026 | £2,332 a month |
Doctors, nurses and people in health or adult social care should check the Health and Care Worker visa, which is cheaper and carries no annual surcharge. Note that overseas recruitment of social care workers ended on 22 July 2025.
Step 6: Students and the Graduate visa
After successfully completing an eligible UK course on a Student visa, you can apply for a Graduate visa from inside the UK. Its length is changing:
- 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026
- 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027
- 3 years if you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification
A Graduate visa cannot be extended, but you may be able to switch to another visa such as Skilled Worker.
Step 7: Social security under the 2026 agreement
The UK and India signed a Double Contributions Convention that came into force on 15 July 2026, alongside their trade agreement. It ensures that workers moving between the two countries pay social security contributions in one country at a time.
- The general rule: you pay in the country where the work takes place.
- Detached workers: an employee sent to work temporarily in the UK by an Indian employer on or after 15 July 2026 stays under Indian social security legislation if the work is not expected to exceed 60 months, and does not pay UK National Insurance contributions.
- Evidence: a certificate of coverage from India's Employees' Provident Fund Organisation.
- Everyone else: a person who is hired directly in the UK pays UK National Insurance contributions in the same way as other workers.
Step 8: Driving and belongings
- Driving: India is not on the list of designated countries. You can drive in Great Britain on your full licence for 12 months from when you became resident. After that you need a provisional licence and must pass the theory and practical driving tests.
- Belongings: you might be able to claim transfer of residence relief on tax and duty, with form ToR01 before you move.
Step 9: Settlement and citizenship
With a work visa you must usually have lived and worked in the UK for 5 years to apply for indefinite leave to remain, which costs £3,226. A reform that would make 10 years the baseline for many migrants was awaiting final decisions in September 2026.
On nationality, the two countries take different positions. Dual citizenship is allowed in the UK. India's Ministry of External Affairs states that the Overseas Citizenship of India scheme is not to be misconstrued as dual citizenship and does not confer political rights.
Frequently asked questions
How can an Indian move to the UK?
With a visa: Skilled Worker with a sponsored job, Student, Family, Global Talent, High Potential Individual, or the India Young Professionals Scheme for those aged 18 to 30 who are selected in the ballot.
How much does a UK work visa cost from India?
A Skilled Worker visa costs £819 for up to three years or £1,618 for longer, plus the healthcare surcharge of usually £1,035 per year.
Do Indians need a TB test for a UK visa?
Yes, if you are coming to the UK for 6 months or more and have lived in India for 6 months or more. The certificate is valid for 6 months.
What English level is needed for a UK work visa?
Level B2 for a Skilled Worker visa. You can prove it with an approved test or with a degree taught in English.
What is the India Young Professionals Scheme?
A visa that lets Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 with a degree live and work in the UK for up to 2 years. You must be selected in a ballot, and the fee is £340.
How long can Indian students stay in the UK after graduating?
2 years on a Graduate visa if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, or 18 months if you apply from 1 January 2027. PhD graduates get 3 years.
Can I drive in the UK on an Indian licence?
For 12 months from when you became resident. After that you must pass the British theory and practical driving tests.
Official sources
- GOV.UK — Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor: Visa national list
- GOV.UK — Skilled Worker visa
- GOV.UK — India Young Professionals Scheme visa
- GOV.UK — Student visa
- GOV.UK — Graduate visa
- GOV.UK — Tuberculosis tests for visa applicants
- GOV.UK, Home Office — Immigration and nationality fees, 8 October 2026
- GOV.UK — Immigration health surcharge
- GOV.UK, HM Revenue & Customs — UK and India: new social security agreement
- GOV.UK — UK-India Double Contributions Convention explainer
- GOV.UK — Driving in Great Britain on a non-GB licence
- The Commonwealth — Member countries
- Ministry of External Affairs, India — Overseas Citizenship of India Scheme
- House of Commons Library — Changes to UK visa and settlement rules (21 September 2026)
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Requirements change by Immigration Rules, so check GOV.UK before you apply. Information, not legal advice.