How is the UK permanent residence application fee calculated? How much will a family of three spend in 2026?

This is not just for permanent residence - most categories have increased by around 6% to 7% this round: standard visitor visa £127 → £135, student visa £524 → £558, Skilled Worker (up to three years) £769 → £819, ETA from £16 to £20, employer sponsor license (medium and large) £1,579 → £1,682. A few items have been reduced, such as the child naturalization registration fee falling from £1,214 to £1,000.

Remember a rule: Home Office’s price adjustment basically occurs every spring. If your permanent residence window happens to span March or April, you may save hundreds of pounds by applying a week earlier - based on the rate for that day, not the day you turn five years old.

Do I need to pay IHS to apply for permanent residence in the UK?

Need not. The permanent residence application itself does not need to pay IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge, medical surcharge) , because after receiving ILR, you will have settled status, and the qualifications for using NHS are the same as those of locals, and you no longer need to pay this money in advance.

By the way, the current IHS rates are: £1,035 per year for adults, £776 per year for students, Youth Mobility and under 18s, exempt for Health and Care Workers. This number has not changed since February 2024, and the current round of price adjustment in April 2026 has not been raised to IHS - "IHS is going to increase" that has been rumored for more than half a year, but has not been implemented for the time being.

After getting permanent residence, can the IHS I paid before be refunded?

This is the most profound misunderstanding. Many people think, "I got permanent residence with one year left on my visa, so I should be refunded IHS for that year" - is usually non-refundable .

The official line is: being approved for settlement itself does not constitute a reason for refunding the IHS paid for the previous period of limited leave. There are other situations where you can actually get a refund, such as the visa application being rejected or withdrawn, the approved time being shorter than the time you applied for and paid (leaving a complete unused period), or your leave being curtailed.

So when planning, don’t include “can be refunded later” in your budget. On the other hand, if you have determined that five years will be enough after more than one year when renewing, you should carefully consider how many more years you want to renew - the extra years purchased are actual prepayments.

A family of three applies for permanent residence in the UK, let me show you the general accounting

Assume that a couple plus a 12-year-old child apply for permanent residence in China at the same time:

· Application fee £3,226 × 3 = £9,678
· Life in the UK Test: £50 per session, two adults = £100 (test required for under 65s and over 18s; not required for children)
· B1 English test: about £150 per person, depending on the test site; those who have obtained a British undergraduate degree or above or have met the requirements in the previous visa may not need to retake
· Expedited (optional): Priority £500/person, Super Priority £1,000/person. There will be no price increase for and in 2026.

The hard part alone is close to £10,000. Super Priority for three people, just add another £3,000 - whether this is worth the money depends on whether you are in a hurry to change jobs, leave the country or get a mortgage. No rush, the standard channel is enough.

How to save money on permanent residence in the UK? Three ways to really save money

1. Card submission time. price adjustments generally take effect in spring, and the rates are calculated based on the day of submission. If it’s just a few days away, it’s better to prepare all the materials in advance.

2. Don’t buy more visa years for “insurance”. IHS is paid in advance on an annual basis and is basically non-refundable. Extending for two more years will result in an additional sunk cost of more than 2,000 pounds.

3. Confirm whether you are eligible for fee exemption. Some human rights-based family/private life paths can apply for fee waivers, but the work visa path is usually not applicable. Don't give up on this possibility, and don't count on it.

There’s also a hidden cost: miscalculating the day. The one-day difference in the minimum number of days of departure and continuous residence is a one-time repayment of £3,226. This kind of account can be calculated to the day using the 永居计算器 APP, which is more reliable than counting on the calendar by yourself. If you are not sure whether "this extra number of days will ruin five years", spending £5 on justiscript.com to get a written reply from a practicing British lawyer is much cheaper than taking a gamble.

After obtaining permanent residence, there is another payment: the naturalization application fee will be just over £1,700 in 2026, plus a naturalization ceremony fee of about £130. If you want to get it done in one step, you can calculate this amount in advance.

This article is for reference only, and the rates may be adjusted at any time. The latest announcement from GOV.UK shall prevail; please consult a licensed attorney for specific questions.

[Data source] GOV.UK "Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026"; GOV.UK "Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application"; House of Commons Library, The immigration health surcharge.