Home Office Fee Changes 2026 — ILR, Visa & Citizenship Costs Updated
What changed on 8 April 2026?
On 8 April 2026, the Home Office increased the vast majority of immigration and nationality application fees by approximately 6–7%. These increases affect applicants both inside and outside the UK, as well as employers who sponsor international workers. The government's stated rationale is to shift more of the financial burden of immigration processing from general taxation to those who use the services.
| Application Type | Before 8 Apr | From 8 Apr 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| ILR (settlement) — per person | £3,029 | £3,226 |
| Limited Leave to Remain (visa extension) | £1,538 | £1,666 |
| British citizenship (naturalisation) | £1,605 | £1,709 |
| Child citizenship registration | £1,214 | £1,000 ↓ |
| Biometric enrolment (UKVCAS) | £19.20 | £19.20 (unchanged) |
| Sponsor licence (large company) | £1,576 | £1,682 |
ILR fee — now £3,226 per person
The standard Indefinite Leave to Remain application fee rose from £3,029 to £3,226 on 8 April 2026 — an increase of £197 per applicant. This applies to all ILR routes: Skilled Worker, Long Residence, Spouse, BNO, and others. Every applicant — including children — pays the full fee. A family of four now faces over £12,900 in Home Office fees alone, before biometrics, tests, and legal costs.
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The fee was £2,885 before April 2025, then rose to £3,029, and has now risen again to £3,226. That represents a 12% increase over just two years. The ILR fee has risen by over 500% since 2014 according to migration charities.
One piece of good news — child citizenship fees fell
In an unusual move, the Home Office reduced the fee for child citizenship registration from £1,214 to £1,000 from 8 April 2026. This follows sustained campaigning by children's rights groups who argued the previous fee was disproportionate for children who grew up in the UK. Children's naturalisation applications also reduced to £1,000.
Check your British citizenship readiness
See exactly when you can apply for naturalisation after acquiring ILR.
Skilled Worker salary compliance change — 7 April 2026
Alongside the fee changes, an important Skilled Worker compliance rule took effect on 7 April 2026: sponsored workers must now be paid at least the minimum salary in each pay period, rather than averaged across the year. Previously, an employer could underpay in some months and compensate in others — now UKVI can detect breaches on a period-by-period basis. Workers on irregular pay structures or commission-heavy salaries should ensure their base pay meets the threshold every month, as non-compliance could affect visa validity and the ability to complete the qualifying period for ILR.
English language requirement rise — confirmed for March 2027
Via HC 1691, laid before Parliament in March 2026, the English language requirement for most settlement routes (ILR) will rise from CEFR level B1 to B2 from 26 March 2027. This is not yet in force — if you apply for ILR before March 2027, B1 still applies. But if your ILR date falls after that, you will need to pass a B2-level approved English language test (e.g. IELTS SELT at B2).
B2 is roughly equivalent to A-level standard — a meaningful step up from B1. If English is not your first language, start preparing now rather than leaving it to the last minute.
What if I applied before 8 April 2026?
If your application was submitted and fees paid before 8 April 2026, the old fee applies — you do not need to pay the difference. The new fee applies only to applications submitted on or after 8 April 2026. Partially completed or saved online applications do not lock in earlier fee levels — the fee is determined by the date of submission and payment, not the date you started filling in the form.
Detailed History of ILR Fee Adjustments
UK immigration application fees have risen steadily over the last decade, making settlement one of the most expensive processes globally. The latest major fee change took place on **8 April 2026**, when the standard Indefinite Leave to Remain application fee was increased to **£3,226** per person (up from the previous fee of £2,885).
Historically, Home Office fees were designed to cover administrative processing costs. However, current fees are set above cost price to fund wider border enforcement and the public services budget. This policy has faced substantial criticism from migrant support groups and trade unions, but the government has confirmed that fees will remain high to reduce the burden on domestic taxpayers.
IHS and Priority Service Cost Increments
While ILR applicants do not have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), they face substantial costs if they want their application processed quickly. The standard service takes up to 6 months. For priority processing, you must pay:
- Priority Service (£500): Decision within 5 working days from biometric submission.
- Super Priority Service (£1,000): Decision within 24 hours (next working day).
These fees are charged in addition to the base application fee of £3,226. If you apply as a family, every individual member must pay the priority fee to have their cases processed together, which can add thousands of pounds to the total cost.
Budgeting for Family Settlement Applications
Because there are no discounts for children or secondary dependants, the total cost for a family to settle in the UK is extremely high. A family of four (two adults and two children) applying in June 2026 will face a base cost of £12,904 in application fees alone.
Adding biometric fees (£19.20 per person), Life in the UK tests (£50 per adult), and English language exams (£150 per adult) brings the standard processing budget to over £13,280. If the family requires Super Priority processing to avoid travel disruptions, the budget exceeds £17,280. It is vital to plan for these costs months in advance.
Payment Processing Failures and Declines
A common administrative hurdle when submitting a visa application is a payment failure. Because Home Office transactions are large, bank security algorithms frequently flag them as potential fraud and decline the payment.
If a transaction is declined, the Home Office portal may lock you out or cancel the session, forcing you to start the application form again. To prevent this, you should contact your bank card provider in advance to authorize the large payment, verify your credit limit, and ensure you have sufficient cleared funds in your account.
Fee Changes Preparation Checklist
Ensure you are financially prepared for your application:
- Confirm Current Fee: Verify the application fee is £3,226 per person before completing your payment.
- Call Bank Early: Contact your credit/debit card issuer to raise daily transaction limits and white-list the Home Office merchant code.
- Separate Accounts: If paying for multiple dependants, ensure you have multiple cards or pre-approved funds ready.
- Life & Language tests: Book and pass tests early so you do not waste fee payments on incomplete submissions.
- Emergency Fund: Maintain a buffer of £1,000 for unexpected priority slot bookings or document scanning fees.