How is the application fee calculated? Do family members in 2026 still need to pay IHS?

As soon as the whole family applies for permanent residency, they just put everyone on the same bill, which is really convenient. But when it's time to pay, they find out that the family member's charge wasn't included at all.

As of September 20, 2026, the standard application fee for ILR is £3,226 per person, and applying for settlement itself does not require the IHS health surcharge. However, within the same family, some members can apply for settlement while others renew their visas. This calculation specifically focuses on the costs for a family applying under the standard Skilled Worker (Skilled Worker Visa) category, where the main applicant meets the requirements but the partner still needs a certain period. It looks at the difference between estimating based on remaining months and calculating based on the visa duration.

ILR exempt from IHS, family members should check their own application

"The statement 'if the main applicant obtained permanent residency, the IHS for the entire family will stop' is not valid."

The explanation for the spouse's dependent visa and permanent residency states that the partner has not yet met the requirements, and can apply separately later, continuing to renew as a dependent spouse after the main applicant obtains permanent residency. This refers to those who already hold the corresponding dependent permit; it cannot be applied to a new partner coming to the UK after obtaining permanent residency. When budgeting, "this application for permanent residency" and "this application for extension of limited period permit" should be separated: the former does not require IHS, while the latter, if no exemption applies, still requires payment according to its own renewal period. The change in the main applicant's status does not exempt the other application from the healthcare surcharge; whether the two applications are submitted on the same day will not combine different applications into one charge.

The current fee for a dependent partner of a standard adult work visa holder is £1,035 per year; the application fee for renewal is charged separately and should be listed separately on the quotation.

Only ten months, why is it still counted as three years?

Home Office's updated "Dependent family members in work routes" on August 3, 2026, directly gives an example in the "Key facts": The main applicant has already obtained permanent residency through a work visa, and the family member is only ten months short of meeting the five-year requirement, but must still apply for a three-year visa and pay the corresponding fee. The current "Immigration Rules" Appendix Skilled Worker paragraph SW 36.1(b) stipulates that when the main applicant has obtained or is in the process of obtaining permanent residency through a work visa, the dependent partner can obtain a three-year visa. This regulation applies to couples with staggered qualification periods: the expiry date of their own, and the renewal approval period, need to be checked separately.

Ten months remaining, cannot be directly used as the renewal fee period.

Do a hypothetical calculation: The couple is in the UK, the main applicant applies for a work visa to settle permanently, and the adult partner must renew the visa to continue their eligibility period. Calculated according to the standard three-year category within the country, no application fee discount, no IHS exemption. Only reserve one year for the partner IHS, compared to reserving three years as required, here are two budgets.

The two algorithms differ by £2,070; when the partner applies for settlement later, there will be the application fee applicable at that time.

This example does not include exams, translation, optional rush service, or paid appointments, and does not apply to those with medical care-related IHS exemptions or fee discounts. If you have children at home, you need to confirm separately whether the child can apply for permanent residency this time; when renewing, you cannot directly copy the three-year period of an adult partner. Applicants who are under 18 years old at the time of application, IHS will be calculated at £776 per year, and the duration of approval still needs to be verified according to the child's own rules.

I do not agree with using the "one-year IHS" budget to renew the dependents' visas, putting the hope of saving money on shortening the approval period.

Before making the payment, write a line for each family member: the current permit expiration date, the expected date to meet the permanent residency requirements, the category of this application, and the corresponding permit period. Confirm that renewal is indeed necessary, and then calculate the application fee and IHS according to this period. Those who still have an active permit should also verify whether they need to submit the application now. Obtain a quotation for "family processing" and ask the other party to list the government fees, medical surcharge, and service fees per person, to avoid misunderstanding the service quotation as the total government fee.

[Data Source] Home Office Current Fee Schedule, Work Route for Dependants, UK Government IHS Payment Instructions; Verification date is September 20, 2026.

This document is for reference only. For specific issues, please consult a licensed attorney.

When making a budget, the hardest part is determining whether the partner's renewal period or the child's eligibility for permanent residency is more difficult to confirm? You can only discuss application scenarios in the comments section, no need to leave personal information.

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