ILR Application Costs and Fees

The current cost of an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application is £3,226 per person. This is the Home Office application fee for ILR applications made in the UK from 8 April 2026.

However, the application fee is not necessarily the total cost of obtaining ILR. Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to pay for the Life in the UK Test, an English language test, document translation, priority processing or professional immigration advice.

This guide explains the ILR application fee for 2026, additional costs, priority and super priority fees, dependant costs and potential solicitor fees.

If you are unsure about the total cost of your ILR application or need help preparing your application, call Wembley Solicitors on 020 3417 3700.

Table of Contents

How Much Does ILR Cost in 2026?

The Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application fee is currently £3,226 per person. The fee increased from £3,029 to £3,226 on 8 April 2026.

The £3,226 fee applies to the main applicant and each eligible dependant making an ILR application.

In addition to the application fee, you may have other costs depending on your circumstances.

Typical ILR costs include:

• ILR application fee: £3,226 per applicant
• Life in the UK Test: £50
• English language test: if required
• Priority service: £500, if available
• Super priority service: £1,000, if available
• Document translation: if required
• Immigration solicitor's fees: if you choose professional legal assistance

The exact amount you pay will depend on your immigration route, circumstances and the services you use.

Home Office Fee for an Indefinite Leave To Remain (ILR) Application

The standard Home Office fee for an ILR application made in the UK is £3,226 per person.

This fee applies to a wide range of settlement routes, though certain circumstances may have different fee arrangements or exemptions.

The fee is payable when you submit your application.

Has the ILR fee increased in 2026?

Yes. The ILR application fee increased from £3,029 to £3,226 on 8 April 2026, by £197 per applicant.

Therefore, if you are preparing an ILR application in 2026, you should budget based on the current £3,226 fee, rather than older figures that may still appear on websites or forums.

Is the £3,226 ILR Fee Per Person?

Yes. The £3,226 ILR application fee is charged for each person applying for settlement.

For example:

• One applicant: £3,226
• Two applicants: £6,452
• Three applicants: £9,678
• Four applicants: £12,904

If family members are eligible to apply at the same time, the cost can therefore become substantial.

Before submitting applications for several family members, check whether each person qualifies for ILR and whether they should apply at the same time.

Is There an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for ILR?

No. You do not normally pay the Immigration Health Surcharge when applying for ILR.

The IHS is generally associated with temporary immigration permission rather than settlement.

This means you should not add another annual IHS payment to the £3,226 ILR application fee when calculating the standard cost of your settlement application.

However, if you are not yet eligible for ILR and need to extend your temporary visa first, the IHS may apply to that separate application.

How Much Does the Life in the UK Test Cost?

The Life in the UK Test currently costs £50.

Many ILR applicants must pass the test before applying for settlement, subject to applicable exemptions.

The test is a separate cost from the £3,226 ILR application fee.

If you have not yet passed the test, you should factor the £50 cost into your ILR budget.

Read our ILR Life in the UK Test guide for more information about the test, exemptions and preparation.

Do I Need to Pay for an English Language Test?

You may need to pay for an English language test if you cannot meet the English requirement through another accepted form of evidence or an exemption.

The cost of an English language test varies depending on the approved test provider and the type of test you need.

You may not need to take a new test if you can satisfy the English requirement through another accepted qualification or evidence.

The English language requirement also differs between immigration routes.

Read our ILR English Language Requirements guide to find out whether you need an English test.

How Much Does ILR Priority Service Cost?

The UK priority service for eligible settlement applications costs an additional £500.

If available for your application, the priority service usually aims to provide a decision within 5 working days.

This is an additional charge and does not replace the £3,226 ILR application fee.

Therefore, an applicant using the priority service would normally pay:

£3,226 ILR application fee + £500 priority fee = £3,726

Priority service availability depends on the application and UKVI's current service options.

How Much Does ILR Super Priority Service Cost?

The super priority service costs an additional £1,000 for eligible settlement applications.

The service usually aims to provide a decision by the end of the next working day after the required identity and biometric steps, subject to the applicable conditions.

The cost would therefore normally be:

£3,226 ILR application fee + £1,000 super priority fee = £4,226

Super priority service is not available for every application, so you should check whether it is offered for your particular route before relying on it.

ILR Standard, Priority and Super Priority Costs

For a straightforward comparison:

• Standard ILR: £3,226
• ILR with Priority: £3,726
• ILR with Super Priority: £4,226

These figures are based on the current Home Office fees and exclude additional costs such as the Life in the UK Test, English testing, translations and solicitor fees.

How Much Does a Complete ILR Application Cost?

The total cost of an ILR application depends on your circumstances, but a straightforward applicant should budget for the £3,226 Home Office fee plus any applicable test, document, priority and legal costs.

For example, a person who needs the Life in the UK Test but does not use priority processing or a solicitor would pay:

• ILR application: £3,226
• Life in the UK Test: £50

Total: £3,276

If the same applicant uses super priority processing:

• ILR application: £3,226
• Life in the UK Test: £50
• Super priority: £1,000

Total: £4,276

This does not include any English test, translation or legal fees that may apply.

ILR Refunds and Payment Rules

The ILR application fee is generally only refundable in specific circumstances, such as where an application is withdrawn before processing has started or the application is rejected as invalid. A refused ILR application does not normally result in a refund.

Can I Get a Refund If I Withdraw My ILR Application?

You may be entitled to a refund if you withdraw your ILR application before UKVI has started processing it. The circumstances and timing of the withdrawal are important.

If you withdraw after processing has started, you will not normally receive the application fee back.

If you are considering withdrawing an ILR application, it is sensible to obtain legal advice first, particularly if your current immigration permission is close to expiring.

Will I Get a Refund If My ILR Application Is Refused?

You will not normally receive a refund of the ILR application fee simply because your application has been refused.

The application fee pays for the Home Office to consider your application, rather than guaranteeing a successful outcome.

If you are concerned that you may not meet the ILR requirements, consider getting your eligibility checked before submitting the application.

What Happens to the Fee If My Application Is Invalid?

An application that is rejected as invalid may qualify for a refund of the application fee. The Home Office refund policy sets out circumstances in which immigration application fees should be refunded.

This is different from a refusal. An invalid application may not have been accepted for substantive consideration because of a problem with the application or payment process.

Can I Get a Refund for ILR Priority or Super Priority?

Priority and super priority fees have separate refund rules. If you cancel your application, you may be entitled to a refund depending on when you cancel and whether you have already completed the required identity or biometric steps.

You will not normally receive a priority service refund simply because UKVI does not make a decision within the expected timeframe. However, UKVI may consider a refund where the delay resulted from circumstances outside its control, such as a technical problem.

Where a refund is due, it can take up to 28 days to be paid.

How Is an ILR Refund Paid?

Where a refund is approved, it is generally returned to the payment method or bank account used when the application was submitted. The Home Office states that refunds can take time to process.

The exact timing depends on the type of refund and the circumstances of the application.

What If I Cannot Afford the ILR Fee?

Some specific settlement routes have fee exemptions or waivers in limited circumstances.

For example, certain applicants applying for settlement on the basis of domestic violence or abuse may be able to apply without paying the standard fee if they meet the relevant financial criteria.

Other fee exemptions can apply in specific circumstances.

You should not assume that financial difficulty automatically means you do not have to pay the ILR fee.

If you believe you may qualify for a fee exemption or waiver, check the rules that apply to your particular settlement route before submitting your application.

Do Children Pay the Same ILR Fee?

Eligible children applying for ILR generally have the same £3,226 application fee when they are included as applicants for settlement.

Whether a child can apply for ILR depends on their immigration status and the settlement route available to them.

Do not assume that a child automatically qualifies for ILR simply because their parent qualifies.

Each applicant's eligibility should be checked before submitting the application.

Is There a Biometric Fee for ILR?

There is no separate fee for providing your fingerprints and photograph as part of an ILR application.

However, optional services connected with appointments or document scanning may have their own charges depending on the service you select.

These should be distinguished from the Home Office ILR application fee.

When Should I Pay the ILR Fee?

You normally pay the ILR application fee when you submit your online application.

Before paying, make sure you:

• Are applying under the correct settlement route
• Have completed the required qualifying period
• Meet the continuous residence requirements
• Have passed the Life in the UK Test if required
• Meet the English language requirement where applicable
• Have the required supporting documents
• Are ready to complete the application process

The application fee is substantial, so it is important to check your eligibility before submitting the application.

Need Help With Your ILR Application?

The ILR application fee is £3,226 per person, so it is important to make sure you qualify before submitting your application.

Wembley Solicitors provides specialist immigration advice and assistance with Indefinite Leave to Remain applications in London and throughout the UK.

We can help you assess your eligibility, review your immigration history and supporting documents, identify potential issues and assist with your ILR application.

To get specialist advice about your Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application, speak to an experienced ILR solicitor by calling 020 3417 3700 or completing our online enquiry form.