Short answer: The current ordinary ILR application fee is £3,226 per applicant. Settlement normally does not require IHS. Optional faster-processing services, tests or evidence costs, and professional fees are separate. The fee is not one payment covering every family member.
Settlement is an important step towards a secure future in the UK. A clear budget helps you plan without confusing the government charge with an adviser’s price or assuming that paying extra changes the eligibility assessment.
What goes into an ILR budget?
| Item | How to budget |
|---|---|
| Ordinary Home Office ILR application | £3,226 for each applicant |
| IHS for ordinary settlement | Normally not payable |
| Priority or super-priority service | Optional and route-dependent, where available |
| Evidence and tests | Depends on language, Life in the UK, translations and circumstances |
| LIA standard professional service | £500 per application, per person, for the agreed work |
The Skilled Worker settlement overview and long-residence page state current ordinary charges. Check the actual route before applying; not every application described informally as “permanent residence” uses the same process.
A one-person and two-person illustration
For one eligible person using the ordinary ILR application and LIA’s standard agreed professional service, the illustrative subtotal is £3,226 plus £500, or £3,726, before optional processing and third-party costs.
For two eligible applicants on the same assumed charging basis, the government fees are £6,452 and the standard professional fees total £1,000, giving £7,452 before extras. Check each person’s eligibility: the principal worker reaching settlement does not automatically mean every dependant qualifies on that date.
These are budgeting illustrations, not fee quotes for every circumstance or decisions about eligibility.
Why there is normally no IHS for ILR
The IHS exemption guidance says applicants for indefinite leave to enter or remain do not ordinarily pay the surcharge. This is different from applying for another period of limited permission.
Where an application results in limited permission instead, further IHS questions can arise under the applicable process. Do not assume an amount shown on a different extension calculator is the ILR charge.
Optional faster processing
The Skilled Worker settlement page describes a £500 priority option and a £1,000 super-priority option where available. The faster-decision guidance explains route availability and when the relevant service clock begins.
Not every route offers every option. A usual processing target is not an unconditional guarantee, particularly where further checks are needed. Faster processing does not reduce the qualifying residence period, solve missing documents or guarantee a successful outcome.
The government’s £500 priority charge and LIA’s £500 standard professional fee are separate payments for different purposes. Make that distinction explicit in your budget.
Tests and evidence costs
Some applicants need language evidence or the Life in the UK Test; others can use accepted previous evidence or an exemption. Check before paying for another test. Translations or other evidence preparation may also cost separately.
The public settlement pages say there is no government fee for taking the required biometric information, while premium appointments or provider assistance can have separate charges. Do not add a universal old “biometric enrolment fee” to every budget.
Check eligibility before the payment
Establish the route, qualifying period, relevant absences and other requirements first. A work-route applicant also needs to consider applicable salary and ongoing sponsor requirements. A long-residence applicant uses a different residence framework.
Paying the application charge is not a way to test whether you might qualify. Prepare the evidence and select the correct application date before making that commitment.
Fee-date checks
The published 8 October 2026 fee table, checked on 6 October, retains £3,226 for the ordinary ILR category. Recheck the official charge at submission because future changes are possible.
Keep the government receipt, any optional-service receipt and professional care letter separately. That makes it clear which organisation charged each amount and what it covered.
Frequently asked questions
Does £3,226 cover my whole family?
No. The ordinary charge is per applicant. Eligibility and fees need checking for each person.
Is IHS normally added to ILR?
No, ordinary settlement is exempt. An extension or a grant of limited permission is a different position.
Does priority processing guarantee ILR?
No. It concerns processing arrangements, not the decision or eligibility requirements.
Build the right settlement plan
London Immigration Assistance can help prepare a routine ILR application within our scope. Discuss your route, dates and budget with us. Our standard professional fee is £500 per application, per person; government and third-party charges are separate, and any different fee is agreed before instruction.
Official sources
Sources checked: 6 October 2026. Check the current official requirements for your application date.
- GOV.UK: indefinite leave to remain tier 2 t2 skilled worker visa
- GOV.UK: long residence
- GOV.UK: who needs pay
- GOV.UK: home office immigration and nationality fees 8 october 2026
- GOV.UK: faster decision visa settlement
This guide provides general information and is not a decision about your individual eligibility. Rules and charges can change. The agreed service and care letter set out our professional scope; no outcome is guaranteed.