2026 ILR Fee Update
The Home Office increased the Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application fee from £3,029 to £3,226 on 8 April 2026. This guide has been updated to reflect the current settlement fees and associated application costs.
For many foreign nationals living in the UK, obtaining Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is the primary objective. This allows you to live, work, and study freely, making it an essential transition point to British citizenship. Nevertheless, it is also a considerable financial investment.
Calculating the total cost of settlement in the UK requires factoring in Home Office fees, mandatory tests, and optional priority processing. For detailed eligibility and document requirements, refer to our UK Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application guidance.
This guide breaks down the entire ILR application fee in a very clear way, which helps you to make a correct budget and to be free from unpleasant surprises during your settlement journey.
The standard ILR application fee (2026)
The Home Office charges a fixed amount for UK Indefinite Leave to Remain. While the standard fee applies to most economic and family settlement routes, your required form and specific category determine your exact application path. Here is how the standard fees map across common settlement routes:
| Route / Category | Form | Fee (Per Applicant) |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker, Health & Care, Global Talent, Innovator Founder, Long Residence | SET(O) | £3,226 |
| Spouse, Civil Partner, Unmarried Partner | SET(M) | £3,226 |
| EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) Settled Status | Online EUSS | Free |
ILR fee history and future increases
Settlement costs have risen steeply over recent years. ILR fees stood at £2,389 in 2022/23, before climbing to £3,029, and reaching £3,226 in April 2026. Because the Home Office frequently reviews and raises immigration fees in the autumn, applicants approaching their 5-year qualifying window often look closely at timing their application to avoid potential end-of-year or spring hikes.
How and when you pay
The ILR application fee is paid in full and upfront via the online portal when you submit your application form. The Home Office will not review or process your application until payment clears and biometrics are provided. If a payment fails or is declined, your submission will not go through.
Does the ILR fee cover my family?
No. One of the most common misunderstandings is that a single fee would cover the whole family unit. The Home Office fees are charged per individual.
- Main Applicant: £3,226
- Partner/Spouse: £3,226
- Child Dependant: £3,226
So, if you happen to be a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children) and you are making a joint application, your starting point for the application fees alone will be £12,904 in total.
Additional settlement costs
The standard ILR application fee of £3,226 fee only covers the very first step. To fully go through with your application, you will have to pay for several smaller but compulsory costs apart from this amount.
The Life in the UK Test
The majority of people between 18 and 64 years old who submit an application must pass the Life in the UK test. You are required to make a booking and pass this test before you can send your application.
- Cost: £50 for each test.
If you pass on your third attempt, you will have paid £150 before meeting this mandatory requirement.
English Language Test
You must demonstrate your English language proficiency unless you are exempt (for example, you hold a degree from the UK or come from a country where English is the main language).
- Cost: ~£150 (The price varies slightly depending on the provider, e.g., Trinity College London or IELTS)
If you pass on your second attempt, you will have paid £300 before meeting this mandatory requirement.
Optional: The cost of speed
The usual ILR processing can be as long as 6 months. If you leave the UK before a decision is made, the Home Office may treat your application as withdrawn under paragraph 34K. In case you cannot wait for half a year and the situation is urgent, you have a chance to pay extra for “priority” services as follows:
- Priority service: £500
- Super Priority service: £1,000
These fees are added on top of the standard ILR application fee of £3,226 per applicant.
Note: Priority slots are released daily in limited numbers. You must pay this fee for each family member you want to expedite.
The “hidden” savings: no Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fee
One of the biggest financial advantages in the process of applying for ILR is that you are not required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which is a charge that applies to most temporary visas (like if you are applying after 5 years on a work or family route) and is currently £1,035 per year.
It means that the Immigration Health Surcharge is not a part of the ILR application. Indefinite Leave to Remain gives you permanent access to the NHS without any additional payments. The saved amount can be as high as a few thousand pounds if you compare it with the extension of a temporary visa and the holder is a single applicant.
Total ILR cost scenarios
To support your budgeting efforts, here is the total amount in typical situations (assuming you use standard processing and pass both required tests on the first attempt).
Scenario A: Single Applicant
- Application Fee: £3,226
- Life in UK Test: £50
- English Test: £150
Total Estimated Cost: £3,426
Scenario B: Couple (main applicant + partner)
- Application Fee: £6,452
- Life in UK Test: £100
- English Test: £300
Total Estimated Cost: £6,852
Scenario C: Family of 4 (main applicant, partner & 2 children under 18)
- Application Fee: £12,904
- Life in UK Test: £100
- English Test: £300
Total Estimated Cost: £13,304
Are ILR fees refundable?
This factor alone carries the heaviest weight of consequences. The application fee associated with ILR is, in the majority of cases, non-refundable.
If your application is refused, no part of your money will be returned. The whole amount of £3,226 per application will be lost. If you decide to withdraw after biometrics, a refund will not be given to you. If you have made an error and your application is invalid, you may be refunded, but only if the processing has not been initiated, and that too, less a small administration charge (£30).
Due to high financial risks, a large number of applicants decide to bear the cost of a solicitor or immigration advisor who checks their application before they submit it. Even though it raises the cost (normally £1,000–£2,000), it acts as a kind of insurance that a mistake will not be the reason for the loss of the much bigger application fee.
Fee waivers for ILR hardly ever come into play. They are not generally possible for the Skilled Worker, Spouse, or Long Residence routes. The Home Office mainly keeps waivers for people who can prove on human rights grounds that they are destitute and cannot physically afford to pay the fee.
FAQs
No. Standard application fees and priority processing charges are strictly non-refundable once the Home Office begins processing your application.
Yes. Dependants under 18 pay the exact same standard application fee (£3,226) as main applicants, which can make family settlement applications a significant financial commitment.
No, the Home Office does not offer instalment plans or payment schemes. The full fee must be paid online at the time of submission.
The government regularly adjusts visa and settlement fees annually or bi-annually, typically announcing changes during autumn statements or budget cycles ahead of implementation.
No. Under Paragraph 34K of the Immigration Rules, leaving the Common Travel Area (the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands, and Isle of Man) while your in-country application is pending may trigger the withdrawal of your application.
Conclusion
An application for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) can be costly but will save you from the cycle of visa renewals and you no longer have to pay additional fees as you get permanent security in the UK.
To make sure that everything is fine with your application:
- Budget early: It is wise to start putting aside money at least a year before.
- Family costs check: do not forget to multiply the fee by every family member who is going to apply.
- Eligibility triple-check: As the fees are non-refundable, you should first ensure that you meet the salary, absence, and residence requirements before making a payment.
Need help with an ILR application? Get started with an intake questionnaire and let our refusal prevention matrix assess your eligibility.
Last reviewed by an IAA-regulated immigration adviser on 21 September 2026.