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.
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.
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.