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ILR Cost Calculator: What Settlement Really Costs in 2026

Add your family and options to see the full cost of applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain — fees, biometrics, tests and priority services, all in one total.

Build your application

Every applicant pays the full fee separately.

Adults applying (main applicant + adult dependants)

Dependent children (pay the same fee)

Processing service

Biometric enrolment (£19.20 each)

Standard UKVCAS appointment fee

Life in the UK test (£50 each)

Only adults who have not already passed it

English test (£180 each)

Only adults who still need to prove English

Estimated total cost

£3,245

Home Office fees for applications on or after 8 April 2026. IHS is not payable at the ILR stage. Estimate only — check the exact fee for your route on GOV.UK.

This is a cost estimate, not a quote or eligibility check. Fees change at least once a year — confirm the current figure on GOV.UK before you apply.

Built and maintained by the ILR Calculator UK editorial team · Fees reviewed against GOV.UK in force on 24 June 2026 · A cost estimate, not a quote or regulated immigration advice.

Indefinite Leave to Remain costs £3,226 per person from 8 April 2026 — and because every family member pays the full fee separately, the real total climbs fast. A single applicant using standard processing pays about £3,245 once biometrics are added; a family of four pays over £12,900 in application fees alone, before tests. The calculator above adds up every charge for your situation so there are no surprises at submission.

The full 2026 cost breakdown

These are the charges that make up an ILR application. Only the application fee and biometrics are unavoidable for everyone; the tests apply only if you have not already met those requirements.

ILR costs per person (2026)

Item	Cost	Who pays
ILR application fee	£3,226	Every applicant, including children
Biometric enrolment	£19.20	Every applicant (standard appointment)
Life in the UK test	£50	Adults who have not already passed
English language test	~£150–£200	Adults who still need to prove English
Priority service	+£500	Optional, per person, 5-day decision
Super priority service	+£1,000	Optional, per person, next-day decision
Immigration Health Surcharge	£0	Not payable at the ILR stage

Source: GOV.UK immigration and nationality fees, applications on or after 8 April 2026. The ILR fee rose from £3,029 to £3,226 on 8 April 2026. See our ILR fees and processing times guide for the detail and fee history.

Why families pay so much more

The single biggest surprise in ILR budgeting is that there is no family rate and no child discount. Each person on the application is a separate application for fee purposes, so a couple pays £6,452, and a family of two adults and two children pays £12,904 — in application fees alone. Add biometrics for each and a test or two, and a family total can approach £13,000 to £14,000. If you are applying as a family, it is worth checking that everyone’s qualifying dates line up so you are not paying to apply more than once.

Why there’s no Immigration Health Surcharge at ILR

Many applicants brace for the Immigration Health Surcharge and are relieved to learn it does not apply to settlement. The IHS — currently £1,035 per year — is charged on temporary visas to fund NHS access during limited leave. ILR is permanent, so no surcharge is due at this stage. You will already have paid the IHS across the visas that got you here, but it is not part of the ILR bill.

One exception. If you apply for ILR but the Home Office grants further limited leave instead of settlement, the IHS can become payable for that period of leave. The calculator assumes a standard ILR grant, where no IHS applies.

Costs people forget to budget for

Beyond the headline fee, a realistic budget should allow for:

Premium biometric appointments. The standard UKVCAS slot is £19.20, but weekend or on-demand appointments can add £60–£200 per person.
Document translation. Any non-English document needs a certified translation.
Re-tests. If you do not pass the Life in the UK test or English test first time, each re-sit is another fee.
Citizenship later. If you plan to naturalise after ILR, budget a further £1,839 down the line. Our British citizenship guide covers that stage.

The one cost worth spending to avoid is a refused application: the £3,226 fee is non-refundable, so confirm your eligibility and absences before you pay.

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ILR cost: frequently asked questions

How much does ILR cost in 2026?

The standard ILR application fee is £3,226 per person for applications made on or after 8 April 2026. Each applicant, including each dependant child, pays the full fee separately, so a family of four pays £12,904 in application fees alone. On top of that most people budget £19.20 for biometric enrolment, £50 for the Life in the UK test if not already passed, and around £150 to £200 for an English test if needed.

Do I have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for ILR?

No. Indefinite Leave to Remain is exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). The IHS, currently £1,035 per year, is paid on the temporary visas you hold before settlement, not at the ILR stage. If you apply for ILR but are granted further limited leave instead, the IHS may apply to that leave.

Do children and dependants pay the full ILR fee?

Yes. There is no reduced rate for children. Every dependant on the application, including children, pays the same £3,226 fee as the main applicant, and each is charged separately. This is why the cost scales so quickly for families.

How much are the ILR priority and super priority services?

The priority service costs an extra £500 per person and targets a decision within 5 working days. The super priority service costs an extra £1,000 per person and targets a decision by the end of the next working day after your biometric appointment. Both are optional, charged per applicant, and not available on every route.

Is the ILR fee refundable if my application is refused?

No. The ILR application fee is not refunded if your application is refused, because it pays for the Home Office to process and decide the case. You may get the priority-service element refunded if the Home Office misses its service standard for its own administrative reasons, but the main fee is non-refundable. This is why checking your eligibility carefully before applying matters.

Does this calculator store the numbers I enter?

No. The ILR cost calculator runs entirely in your browser. The number of applicants and options you select are never sent to our servers, never stored, and never retained after you close the page. There is no sign-up and no data is collected.

How this tool is produced

Our editorial and accuracy standards

ILR Calculator UK is an independent, free settlement-planning resource. The figures in this calculator are taken from the published GOV.UK immigration and nationality fees and are reviewed after each annual fee change, with the review date shown at the top of the page. Read our full editorial standards.

This is a cost estimate and general information, not a quote or regulated immigration advice. Fees vary by route and change at least once a year. For advice on your own application, use an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) or a solicitor.