Moving to the UK is one of the biggest expenses a South African family will ever take on, and the visa fee is only a small part of it. This guide adds up the main costs so you can budget properly, with links to the detailed guides for each one.

All rand figures use R21.92/£ (Oct 2026), and R16.64/$ for TB tests.

How much does it cost to move to the UK?

Example: two adults and two children under 11, moving to England with a 20ft container.

CostSkilled Worker (3 years)Ancestry (5 years)
Visa fees + health surchargeR309,990R460,630
TB tests (4 people, IOM clinic)R8,320R8,320
One-way flights (4 people)R16,000–R30,000R16,000–R30,000
20ft container to the UKR40,000–R60,000R40,000–R60,000
Rental deposit + first month's rentR69,210R69,210
TotalR443,520–R477,520R594,160–R628,160

The Ancestry visa costs more upfront because you pay the health surcharge for 5 years instead of 3. Over the same period, a Skilled Worker family would pay a second round of fees when extending.

Moving on your own and travelling light costs far less: a 3-year Skilled Worker visa is about R86,010 including the surcharge, plus a TB test (about R2,660), a one-way flight and a deposit and first month's rent.

How much are visas and the health surcharge?

This is the biggest cost by far. You pay the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge for every year of your visa, upfront.

Visa (family of four)TotalApprox. ZAR
Skilled Worker, 3 years£14,142R309,990
UK Ancestry, 5 years£21,014R460,630
Spouse / Partner (1 adult, first 2 years 9 months)£5,169R113,300

Health and Care Worker visa holders don't pay the surcharge, so their costs are much lower.

What else do you pay before you leave?

CostAmount
TB test (age 11+)$160 (about R2,660) per person at IOM clinics
TB test (under 11)$90 (about R1,500)
English test (Skilled Worker, Spouse)Varies by test
Documents (unabridged birth certificates, translations)Varies
Travel to a VFS centre and TB clinicVFS: Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban or Gqeberha (plus a limited service in Bloemfontein). TB clinics: Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria only

How much are flights and shipping?

CostTypical amount
One-way flight per personAbout R4,000–R7,500
Shared container (part of a home)About R25,000–R40,000
20ft container (2–3 bedroom home)About R40,000–R60,000
40ft container (4–5 bedroom home)About R70,000–R105,000

You can usually bring your household goods in without UK duty or VAT under Transfer of Residence relief, if you apply on form ToR1 before shipping.

How much does it cost to set up a home?

Average private rents (September 2026):

AreaAverage monthly rentApprox. ZAR
UK£1,406R30,820
England£1,466R32,130
London£2,338R51,250
Scotland£1,011R22,160
Wales£848R18,590

To move into a rental in England you usually pay a deposit of up to 5 weeks' rent plus the first month's rent:

AreaDeposit (5 weeks)First monthTotal to move in
England (average)R37,080R32,130R69,210
London (average)R59,130R51,250R110,380

Landlords can't charge most other fees in England. Admin, referencing and similar fees are banned under the Tenant Fees Act. You can still be asked for a holding deposit of up to 1 week's rent, which comes off what you owe.

How much should you have in the bank when you arrive?

On top of the costs above, you need money to live on until your first UK salary. A common rule of thumb is 2–3 months of rent and living costs. For some visas, like Skilled Worker and Student, you also need to show a minimum balance when you apply.

What other costs are easy to forget?

  • School uniforms and starting costs (state schools themselves are free).
  • A car, or public transport passes.
  • Furniture and appliances, especially if you don't ship a container.
  • Phone contracts and broadband. Without a UK credit history, you may need to pay upfront at first.
  • Tax emigration and moving money, including professional fees if you cease SA tax residency or cash in an RA.
  • Your next visa extension, if your visa is shorter than 5 years.