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Cost of Moving to the UK from Romania in 2026: Full Breakdown
Visa fees, IHS, flights, rental deposit, and setup costs — all itemised with current figures so you know exactly what to save before you go.
The total cost of moving from Romania to the UK in 2026 typically ranges from £5,000 to £12,000, including the visa fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge, flights, a rental deposit, and first month's rent. Where you plan to live has the biggest single effect on the total — London costs substantially more than any other UK city.
This breakdown covers every cost you are likely to face before your first UK salary arrives. For context on which visa applies to your situation, see our overview of UK visa options for Romanians and our complete guide to moving to the UK from Romania.
The Total at a Glance
The table below shows a realistic cost estimate for a single person moving from Romania to a mid-sized UK city (outside London) on a Skilled Worker visa with a standard 5-year grant. London figures are shown separately.
| Cost item | Outside London | London |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker visa fee (5yr, from outside UK) | £1,519 / £1,618 from 8 Apr 2026 | Same |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (5yr) | £5,175 | Same |
| Biometrics appointment | ~£80–£120 | Same |
| Flights Bucharest → UK | £100–£300 one way | Same |
| Rental deposit (5 weeks' rent) | £1,200–£1,800 | £2,000–£2,800 |
| First month's rent | £850–£1,300 | £1,500–£2,300 |
| Initial setup (bedding, kitchenware, SIM, etc.) | £300–£600 | £400–£700 |
| Emergency buffer (1–2 months expenses) | £1,500–£2,500 | £2,500–£4,000 |
| Total estimate (single person) | £10,724–£11,913 | £13,174–£17,418 |
These figures assume you are paying your own visa costs. If your employer covers the visa fee and IHS — which is common in healthcare, tech, and some professional services — the upfront cost drops to £2,000–£5,000 depending on location.
All Skilled Worker visa fees rose on 8 April 2026. The 5-year visa fee from outside the UK increases from £1,519 to £1,618. Figures in this guide show both. Always check gov.uk for the current fee schedule before paying.
1. Visa Fee and IHS
The two largest fixed costs before you leave Romania are the visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). Both are paid together during the online application — before a decision is made, and before you travel. Neither is refundable if your application is refused.
| Fee | Before 8 Apr 2026 | From 8 Apr 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker — up to 3yr (outside UK) | £769 | £819 |
| Skilled Worker — over 3yr (outside UK) | £1,519 | £1,618 |
| Health and Care Worker — up to 3yr | £304 | £324 |
| IHS — per year, per person | £1,035 (paid upfront for full visa duration) | |
| IHS — 3-year visa total | £3,105 per person | |
| IHS — 5-year visa total | £5,175 per person | |
Doctors, nurses, and most allied health professionals working for the NHS or an approved care provider are exempt from the IHS entirely. Over a 5-year visa, this saves £5,175 per person — by far the largest single cost saving available on any UK visa route. See our Health and Care Worker visa guide for eligibility details.
Your employer may cover all or part of these costs as part of a relocation package. There is no legal restriction on employers doing this, and it is common for skilled roles where competition for international hires is high. If an employer offers to cover the IHS, they must pay the full amount — partial payment is not accepted by UKVI.
2. Flights
Direct flights from Bucharest Henri Coandă (OTP) to London are operated by Wizz Air, Ryanair, Blue Air (check current availability), and TAROM. Typical one-way prices range from £60 to £200 for budget carriers booked in advance, and £150–£300 for full-service airlines or last-minute bookings.
If you are shipping luggage or a pet separately, factor in additional costs for courier services or specialist pet relocation. See our guide to shipping belongings to the UK for current freight costs.
3. Rental Deposit and First Month's Rent
In England and Wales, deposits are capped at five weeks' rent under the Tenant Fees Act 2019. In practice, most landlords charge the full five-week maximum. You will also need first month's rent in advance, paid before you receive the keys.
Average private rents across the UK in February 2026 (ONS data): London £2,273/month; South East £1,500; East of England £1,350; national average £1,285. The most affordable major cities include Belfast (~£750/month), Newcastle (~£800), and Cardiff (~£900).
| City / region | Avg monthly rent | 5-week deposit | First month + deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | ~£2,273 | ~£2,623 | ~£4,896 |
| South East | ~£1,500 | ~£1,731 | ~£3,231 |
| National average | ~£1,285 | ~£1,483 | ~£2,768 |
| Birmingham | ~£950 | ~£1,096 | ~£2,046 |
| Newcastle / Cardiff | ~£800 | ~£923 | ~£1,723 |
| Belfast | ~£750 | ~£865 | ~£1,615 |
You will need to pass a right to rent check before a landlord can give you keys — this means showing your passport and visa (or eVisa confirmation). As a new arrival without a UK credit history, some landlords may also ask for a larger deposit or a guarantor, though this practice has become less common since the deposit cap was introduced.
4. Initial Setup Costs
Once you have accommodation, expect to spend £300–£700 on basic setup costs in the first month. If you are renting furnished, this is lower. If unfurnished, budget significantly more for furniture. Key items:
- UK SIM card: £10–£20 (pay-as-you-go) — you can set this up on arrival at the airport
- Bedding, towels, kitchen basics: £100–£300 (IKEA, Argos, or second-hand via Facebook Marketplace)
- Council tax registration (free to register, but budget for the first payment — varies by borough)
- Contents insurance: ~£5–£15/month — worth having from day one
- National Insurance number application (free — but allow 4–8 weeks for the letter to arrive)
- GP registration (free on the NHS — see our GP registration guide)
5. Monthly Living Costs After Arrival
The £1,270 minimum savings requirement for the visa covers the application — it is not enough to live on. Once you arrive, typical monthly costs for a single person in a mid-sized UK city:
| Expense | Outside London | London |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed) | £750–£1,100 | £1,500–£2,000 |
| Council tax | £80–£180 | £120–£250 |
| Gas & electricity | £90–£130 | £100–£150 |
| Groceries | £200–£350 | £220–£380 |
| Transport (monthly pass) | £50–£100 | £170–£210 (Zones 1–3) |
| Phone contract | £15–£35 | £15–£35 |
| Monthly total estimate | £1,185–£1,895 | £2,125–£3,025 |
The gap between your first working day and your first pay date is the most financially vulnerable period. Most UK employers pay monthly. If you start mid-month, your first pay may be a partial month. Having two months of living costs saved before you travel removes this risk entirely.
6. What Employers Often Cover
Relocation packages vary widely, but common employer contributions for international hires include some or all of the following:
- Visa application fee and IHS — most common in healthcare, finance, and technology
- One-way flight to the UK
- Temporary accommodation for the first 2–4 weeks
- Removal/shipping costs for belongings
- First month's rent contribution or interest-free salary advance
None of these are legally required, and smaller employers often offer nothing. The time to negotiate is before signing your employment contract — once you have signed, your leverage is significantly reduced. If an employer is sponsoring your visa, they have a vested interest in ensuring your arrival goes smoothly, which puts you in a reasonable position to ask.
If your employer covers visa costs, they may include a repayment clause requiring you to pay back all or part of the costs if you leave within a set period (typically 1–2 years). Read any repayment clause carefully before signing. This is standard practice and legal in the UK.
Planning Your Budget
The wide range in total cost — from £5,000 to £12,000 or more — reflects how much location matters. The visa fee and IHS are the same regardless of where you move; it is the rental deposit and first month's rent that vary most. Choosing a city outside London doesn't just reduce your ongoing monthly costs — it can reduce your upfront savings requirement by £3,000 or more compared to moving to the capital.
Two variables are worth negotiating before you move: whether your employer covers visa costs, and whether you can negotiate a delayed start date to give yourself more time to save. Both conversations are easier before you sign than after. The figures above are based on current data but costs change — particularly rents, which have risen 3–5% annually in 2025–26.
Use this breakdown as a starting point, then build your own version with current rent data for your specific target city from Rightmove or Zoopla before committing to a savings target.
Disclaimer: All figures in this guide are estimates based on publicly available data as of April 2026. Visa fees, rents, and living costs change regularly. Always verify current visa fees at gov.uk before applying. Rent figures sourced from ONS Private Rental Market Survey (February 2026 data). Last reviewed April 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
The total cost typically ranges from £5,000 to £12,000 in 2026. The main costs are the Skilled Worker visa fee (£1,519–£1,618 for a 5-year visa), the Immigration Health Surcharge (£5,175 for 5 years), flights (£100–£300), a rental deposit (5 weeks' rent, typically £1,200–£2,600 depending on city), first month's rent, and initial setup costs. London costs significantly more than other UK cities, mainly due to higher rents.
Yes. There is no legal restriction preventing an employer from covering the Skilled Worker visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge on your behalf. Some employers — particularly in healthcare, technology, and finance — routinely offer visa cost coverage as part of relocation packages. It is worth negotiating before accepting a job offer. If an employer covers the IHS, they must pay it in full.
No. The visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge are both non-refundable if your application is refused. This makes getting the application right the first time especially important — particularly the salary threshold and Certificate of Sponsorship details, which are the most common reasons for refusal on the Skilled Worker route.
Outside London, the most affordable major UK cities in 2026 are typically Belfast (~£750/month average rent), Newcastle (~£800), and Cardiff (~£900). Birmingham, Sheffield, and Coventry also offer substantially lower rental costs than London. The visa fee is identical regardless of destination, but the rental deposit and first month's rent can be £1,500–£3,000 less in northern cities versus London.
The Skilled Worker visa requires a minimum of £1,270 in savings (held for 28 days before applying) unless your employer certifies maintenance. In practice you need far more. A realistic minimum for moving to a mid-sized UK city, paying your own visa costs, is £8,000–£10,000. This covers the visa fee, IHS, flights, rental deposit, first month's rent, and a 1–2 month living cost buffer before your first salary arrives. For London, budget £11,000–£14,000.
No. Holders of the Health and Care Worker visa — covering NHS doctors, nurses, and most allied health professionals — are exempt from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge. Over a 5-year visa, this saves £5,175 per person. It is one of the most significant financial advantages of the Health and Care Worker route compared to the standard Skilled Worker visa.
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