Updated 27 October 2026
A UK student visa from Kenya costs £558 to apply, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 for each year of the visa, and you must show your outstanding course fees plus £1,529 a month for living costs in London or £1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to nine months. This guide sets out every UK student visa Kenya applicants need to budget for in KSh, the documents, the TB test at IOM Gigiri, and the order of steps, using the UK government’s own pages.
Updated October 2026.
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In this guide
UK student visa Kenya costs at a glance
KSh figures use the Central Bank of Kenya rate of about KSh 173.26 per pound (27 October 2026) and are rounded. Your bank’s selling rate will be higher.
| Cost | Amount | About KSh |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa application (outside the UK) | £558 | 96,700 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge, per year of visa | £776 | 134,400 |
| IHS for a 3-year visa | £2,328 | 403,300 |
| Living costs to show, London (9 months) | £13,761 | 2,384,200 |
| Living costs to show, outside London (9 months) | £10,539 | 1,826,000 |
| TB test at IOM Kenya (age 11+) | US$107 | 13,900 |
On top of these you need the unpaid part of your first-year tuition, as shown on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). Most guides online list the visa fee but skip the health surcharge and the TB test, which together can cost more than the visa itself.
Who can apply
You can apply for a Student visa if you are 16 or older, have an unconditional offer from a licensed student sponsor (a UK university or college on the Home Office register), can speak, read, write and understand English, and have enough money. The offer is confirmed by a CAS reference number, which your university sends once you accept the place and meet its conditions. Under Appendix Student of the Immigration Rules, the CAS must have been issued no more than six months before you apply.
Documents you need
- A valid passport.
- Your CAS reference number.
- Proof of money for course fees and living costs (see below).
- Proof of English, usually the evidence your university used to assess you; some courses need a Secure English Language Test. Our IELTS fees and test centres in Kenya guide and the IELTS vs PTE vs TOEFL vs Duolingo comparison explain the options.
- A tuberculosis test certificate, because Kenya is on the UK’s TB testing list for stays of more than six months.
- An ATAS certificate if your course is in certain sensitive science or engineering subjects (your CAS will say).
- Parental consent if you are 16 or 17.
How much money you must show
The UK’s financial evidence guidance requires your outstanding course fees plus £1,529 for each month of the course in London, or £1,171 outside London, up to a maximum of nine months. A dependant adds £845 a month in London or £680 a month elsewhere, again up to nine months, though most taught master’s students can no longer bring dependants. If you paid an accommodation deposit to the university, up to £1,529 can be offset.
The money must normally have been held for 28 consecutive days, ending no more than 31 days before you apply. It can be in your account or your parents’ account (with a letter of consent and proof of the relationship), or come from an official sponsor or a regulated student loan. Kenyan bank statements are accepted if they meet the rules. If you are moving savings, plan the timing so the 28-day window is clean; our guide to diaspora and foreign-currency accounts covers holding money in pounds.
The TB test at IOM Kenya
UK visa TB tests in Kenya are done by IOM at 78 UN Crescent, Gigiri, Nairobi (+254 709 890 000, iomnbomhac@iom.int). The fee is US$107 for applicants aged 11 and above and US$62 for younger children, paid before the exam at the CBA Gigiri branch or by M-Pesa paybill at the clinic, and it is not refunded if your visa is refused. Book at least 10 weeks before travel: if the chest X-ray is abnormal, sputum tests can take up to 8 weeks. The certificate is valid for six months from the X-ray.
Step-by-step: how to apply from Kenya
- Accept your offer and meet the conditions; get your CAS number.
- Do the TB test and gather financial and English evidence.
- Apply online on gov.uk up to six months before your course starts, and pay the £558 fee and the health surcharge.
- Prove your identity: you will either use the UK Immigration: ID Check app or book an appointment at the visa application centre in Nairobi to give fingerprints and a photo.
- Wait for a decision, usually within three weeks of your biometrics for applications from outside the UK.
- You will get an eVisa; you cannot travel before the start date on it.
Common reasons Kenyan applications fail
- Funds not held for the full 28 days, or a large unexplained deposit.
- Bank statements older than 31 days at the date of application.
- A parent’s account used without the consent letter and birth certificate.
- Using an unlicensed agent who files false documents. Check any agent against our CUE list of licensed study abroad agencies and read how to verify a study abroad agent.
Getting help with admission and housing
If you are still choosing a university, a free counselling platform such as Edvoy (affiliate link) can help you compare courses and apply. For student rooms, University Living (affiliate link) lists university-approved housing; an accommodation deposit paid to your university can reduce the money you must show.
UK student visa Kenya: frequently asked questions
How much is the UK student visa fee for Kenyans?
The application fee is £558 from outside the UK, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 per year of the visa.
How much bank balance do I need for a UK student visa?
Your unpaid first-year tuition plus £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month outside London, for up to nine months, held for 28 consecutive days.
Do Kenyans need a TB test for a UK student visa?
Yes, for stays longer than six months. The test is done at IOM Kenya in Gigiri and costs US$107 for applicants aged 11 and over.
How early can I apply?
Up to six months before your course starts, and your CAS must be less than six months old.
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