Immigration Application Fees — Budgeting for ILR
Planning for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) means budgeting not only for Home Office application fees but also the immigration health surcharge, biometrics and possible legal support. Use our ILR timeline tool to see how fees stack up across your application timeline.
Typical cost elements
- Application fee — the Home Office charge for the specific ILR application route you choose.
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) — payable in many visa applications and sometimes charged per year of leave.
- Biometrics fees — appointment and biometric enrolment costs (varies by provider and country).
- Priority or super-priority services — optional paid services to speed up decisions (where available).
- Legal or advisory fees — if you choose specialist immigration help.
Estimating total budget
To produce a practical budget, add the one-off Home Office fee, multiply annual IHS by the number of relevant years, and include contingency (recommended 10–20% for unexpected requests or extra evidence fees). Remember biometric and appointment travel costs if you must attend a distant centre.
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Estimate your total ILR application fees
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One authoritative reference
For definitive and up-to-date fee tables, consult GOV.UK’s official pages on application fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge. These pages list the current amounts and any recent changes. GOV.UK — visas and immigration fees
Practical checklist to reduce surprise costs
- Check the exact fee for your ILR route on GOV.UK before submitting.
- Confirm whether IHS was paid previously and how it applies to a settlement application.
- Factor in biometrics and travel costs for appointments.
- Consider priority services only when time-critical and after weighing the cost-benefit.
- Get at least one independent quote for legal help if you plan to use a solicitor.
How fees interact with other planning elements
Fees can influence application timing — for example, applying earlier may save additional years of IHS or avoid higher future fees. Use the fees guide together with our Absence and Continuous Residence guides to plan the optimal submission moment.
Related guides (one link each)
- Absence Calculator Guide — counting absences & the 180-day test
- Continuous Residence Guide — 5 and 10 year rules explained
- Income & Financial Requirements guide
FAQs
Do I always have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for ILR?
Not always — exemptions and prior payments can affect liability. Check the official IHS guidance on GOV.UK for your specific case.
Can I recover fees if an application is refused?
Generally no: Home Office fees are usually non-refundable even if an application is refused. Confirm specifics on the GOV.UK fee pages.
Are priority services worth the cost?
Priority services reduce wait times but increase costs. Use them only when delay would cause material harm (e.g., job start dates) and confirm the service is available for your application type.
Updated: 7 June 2026 — plan costs carefully and use the ILR timeline tool when mapping fees across your application dates.
Understanding the ILR Priority Fee Options
When submitting your Indefinite Leave to Remain application, you will face a critical decision regarding the processing speed. The standard ILR service has a processing target of 6 months. During this time, you cannot travel outside the Common Travel Area (UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands), as doing so will automatically withdraw your application. This restriction can be extremely disruptive.
To avoid this, you can pay for priority services. The Home Office offers two options:
- Priority Service (£500 extra): Decision within 5 working days from your biometrics appointment or uploading documents via the app.
- Super Priority Service (£1,000 extra): Decision by the end of the next working day after your biometrics appointment (or within 24 hours).
Note that priority slots are limited and are released daily at specific times. If you have urgent travel plans, you must budget for this additional cost and be prepared to book your biometrics slot immediately.
IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) and Secondary Costs
A major financial benefit of acquiring Indefinite Leave to Remain is that you are no longer subject to the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). For standard visa extensions, the IHS is currently £1,035 per adult per year. By transitioning to ILR, you save thousands of pounds in future health surcharges.
However, the final application process still involves several secondary fees that you must plan for. In addition to the main application fee of £3,226, you must pay:
- Biometric Enrolment Fee: £19.20
- Life in the UK Test: £50
- English Language Test (B1): £150 to £200
- Document translation and certified copies: £50 to £150
- Legal advisor fees (optional): £1,000 to £2,500
Total Application Budget Examples (Single vs Family)
Immigration costs in the UK are among the highest in the world. Because fees are charged per person, family groups face substantial bills. Here are typical budget breakdowns for applications submitted in June 2026:
| Applicant Group | Standard Processing | Super Priority Processing | Key Elements Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Applicant | £3,445 | £4,445 | Fee, biometrics, Life in UK test, B1 test |
| Couple (No Children) | £6,790 | £8,790 | Double fees, biometrics, test fees for both |
| Family of Four | £13,280 | £17,280 | Four fees, biometrics, tests for two adults |
Fee Waiver and Refund Policies
Fee waivers for Indefinite Leave to Remain are extremely difficult to obtain. They are generally only available to applicants applying under human rights routes (such as the 10-year private life route) who can prove they are completely destitute and unable to meet their essential living costs. For economic migrants (Skilled Worker, Global Talent), fee waivers are practically never granted.
If you decide to withdraw your application, you must do so before your biometrics are enrolled to receive a refund of the application fee. Once you have attended a UKVCAS centre or submitted your biometrics via the IDV app, the Home Office will not refund your fee, even if the application is refused or withdrawn.
ILR Fee Payment Checklist
Before attempting to pay your Home Office fees, verify the following details:
- Card Limits: Contact your bank to inform them of a large transaction. Home Office payment systems will fail if your daily spending limit is exceeded.
- Credit Availability: Ensure your credit card has sufficient limit, or that your debit card account has cleared funds.
- Currency Exchange: If paying with an international card, account for exchange rates and conversion fees (typically 3%).
- Separate Transactions: If applying for family members, be prepared to make payments sequentially or verify if your bank flags repeated transactions as fraud.
- Receipt Retrieval: Save the PDF payment confirmation immediately after completion for your visa evidence pack.