Table Of Contents:
- What are ILR Fees
- ILR Fees in 2025
- ILR Application Fee
- Biometric Enrolment Fee
- IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) (If Applicable)
- ILR Application Priority Processing Service Fees
- Legal Advisor Fees
- Other Fees
- Exemptions and Reductions in ILR Fees in 2025
- Conclusion
Applying for ILR (indefinite leave to remain) or settlement in 2025 requires the applicants to pay the latest ILR fee in 2025. If you apply for ILR with your dependants you must pay the fee for each individual, which means you and your dependants. The Home Office regularly updates the fees; therefore, it is essential to stay up to date with the latest fee applicable for ILR applications. To stay up to date, you should check the official UK government website gov.uk or consult with an immigration advisor.
The Home Office will not process your ILR application if there are issues with your fee. You must ensure that you have the required funds and that you pay the correct ILR fees amount.
What are ILR Fees?
There are a number of fees associated with a UK ILR application. Some of these fees are mandatory, such as the Home Office processing fee, while you need to pay extra fees if you choose optional services, such as the ILR priority processing fee or legal advisor service. You must pay the total fee before your application will be processed.
The Home Office keeps reviewing and updating its fees periodically. You must ensure you pay the correct ILR fees in 2025 to avoid issues with your application processing. Please note that the ILR fee is non-refundable, even if your application is refused.
ILR Fees in 2025
The mandatory fees related to an ILR application include the application fee, biometric enrolment fee, and immigration health surcharge (if applicable). The optional fees include a priority processing fee and legal fees.
1. ILR Application Fee
The ILR fees in 2025 are £3,029 per applicant. It applies both to the main applicant and their dependants.
This means the following:
- Total ILR Fee for the Main Applicant – £3,029
- Total ILR Fee for the Main Applicant and their partner – £6,058
- Total ILR Fee for the Main Applicant, their partner, and one child – £9,087
2. Biometric Enrolment Fee
As part of the ILR application process, each applicant needs to prove their identity. For this, you need to book an appointment at a UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service) center in the UK. You should book your appointment at one of the UKVCAS centers in the UK promptly after submitting your application to avoid delays.
On the date of appointment, you need to visit the UKVCAS and enroll your biometric information (your fingerprints and digital photograph). This is a mandatory step for each applicant, including your partner and children.
Currently, you need to pay £19.20 per applicant for each applicant’s biometric enrolment at the time of your biometric appointment.
3. IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) (If Applicable)
People with settled or ILR status in the UK can access NHS services for free, and as such, you do not need to pay
the NHS surcharge, also known as the IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) for ILR application.
Paying IHS is usually required to avail the NHS services in the UK on temporary routes, such as a UK skilled worker visa or a UK student visa.
Therefore, if you are granted limited leave instead of indefinite leave to remain because you have failed to meet the requirements for ILR, such as continuous residence or other specified criteria tied to your visa type, you then become liable to pay the immigration health surcharge.
In such a situation, you need to pay the IHS of £1,035 per year for most adult applicants and £776 per year for children under 18 at the time of their application.
4. ILR Application Priority Processing Service Fees
You will usually get a decision on your ILR application in 6 months. However, if you want a faster decision on your application, you can avail of priority or super priority service, which are offered by the Home Office. However, you need to pay for these services.
Please note that not all ILR application types are eligible for priority or super-priority service. You will get to know if priority services are available to you after completing your ILR application form. If you wish to avail yourself of one of these services, you should select the relevant option on the form and pay the additional fee depending on which of the two services you choose.
Priority Service
If you choose priority service, you need to pay £500 in addition to the standard ILR application fee. With a priority service, you will be able to get a decision within 5 working days of the enrolment of your biometric information.
Super Priority Service
If you choose super priority service, you need to pay £1,000 in addition to the standard ILR application fee. With a priority service, you will be able to get a decision at the end of the next working day after enrolling your biometric information.
5. Legal Advisor Fees
Even though this is a personal choice, many ILR applicants choose to seek the services of an immigration advisor to increase the chances of a successful application. This is a cost to you as all Immigration solicitors charge fees for their services, which cover services such as preparing an ILR application, reviewing the documents, and representing you in case of any issues or appeals. Their fees can vary depending on various factors, for example, the complexity of your case, the level of the service provided, and their reputation and experience.
6. Other Fees
There are other costs adding to the total of ILR fees in 2025. For example, you may be required to pass an English language test and a Life in the UK test. A Life in the UK test fee is £50, and the English language test will typically cost you in the range of £150 to £240.
Other than this, you may also have to get a certified translation of your documents, which are not in English or Welsh. In such a scenario, you need to pay any charges for the professional translation of documents and information, which may cost you £30 – £50 per page.
Exemptions and Reductions in ILR Fees in 2025
Unfortunately, unlike some visa categories, you do not have a general ILR fee exemption. This means all applicants are expected to pay the full ILR fees in 2025 set by the Home Office. However, in limited circumstances, such as human rights-based claims or exceptional circumstances, you might be eligible for a fee waiver for a dependant included in your ILR application.
Conclusion
Applying for ILR or settlement in the UK is an important milestone for you to secure a bright future for you and your family in the UK. If you decide to apply for ILR, you should be aware of ILR fees in 2025, which are £3,029 per applicant. This makes applying for ILR in 2025 costly, especially for families. Therefore, you need to carefully budget between the mandatory fees and the optional service fees.
Given that the ILR process involves substantial mandatory fees and other potential costs, you should take professional advice. This can help ensure you prepare a fully comprehensive and compelling ILR application to avoid delays or issues.
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