UK permanent residence application fee rises to £3,226! New regulations in April 2026, IHS will not increase, but these pitfalls should be avoided
On April 8, 2026, Home Office’s new round of immigration fee adjustments officially came into effect. This price increase affects almost all visa types, but the most painful thing for is the permanent residence application fee - which jumps directly from the original £3,029 to £3,226, an increase of £197 per person. If you apply for ILR as a family of four, you will have to pay nearly £800 more under the new policy.
The good news is that the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) has not increased this time - it is still £1,035/year for adults and £776/year for students, children under 18 and Youth Mobility visa holders. But don’t be too happy: IHS payment errors, delayed payments or miscalculated amounts will result in the application being directly rejected or invalidated. This "invisible pit" has already tricked many people this year.
This article helps you clarify: the latest fees for ILR and IHS in 2026, payment time points, common mistakes, and how to use "永居计算器" to accurately countdown to avoid wasting thousands of pounds due to miscalculation of time or fees.
📊 New fees in April 2026: ILR has increased, IHS has not increased
From 8 April 2026, the Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application fee will rise from £3,029 to £3,226, an increase of £197 per person. This is a per capita fee, and spouses and children must pay separately.
💰 Actual Case : Mr. Wang’s family of four (husband and wife + two children) all meet the 5-year permanent residence conditions. If submitted before April 8, the total cost of FamilyMart ILR is £12,116; if submitted after April 8, the total cost becomes £12,904 - if is submitted a week late, it will cost an extra £788.
The naturalization application fee has also increased from £1,605 to £1,709, plus the £130 citizenship ceremony fee, for a total of £1,839.唯一的好消息是，18 岁以下儿童的英籍注册费（Registration as British Citizen for a child）从 £1,214 降到了 £1,000，降幅 £214——这是长期维权的结果，但 £1,000 对很多家庭来说依然是一笔沉重负担。
For IHS, for , the rates remain unchanged in 2026: adults £1,035/year, students and children under 18 years old £776/year. You do not need to pay IHS when applying for permanent residence, but if you are still in the renewal stage (such as Skilled Worker renewal, spouse visa renewal), IHS must be paid in full in advance, and must be paid in full before submitting the visa application. .
⚠️ 3 "hidden pitfalls" of IHS payment - visa rejection if calculation is wrong
Although the IHS rate has not increased, errors in the payment process will directly lead to the application being rejected or invalidated. The following are the three most common "pitfalls" in 2026:
1️⃣ The payment amount is incorrectly calculated: the visa duration is rounded up to 6 months
IHS is charged based on the duration of the visa rather than actual usage. If your visa is for 2 years and 7 months, must be calculated as for 3 years (any fraction over 6 months will be charged as half a year). Many people think that "I will only stay for 2.5 years" and only pay for 2.5 years. As a result, the system automatically rejects the payment or requires back payment.
📌 Tip : Use GOV.UK official IHS calculator (https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application) to avoid calculation errors. Enter the visa start and end dates, and the system will automatically calculate based on the 6-month rule.
2️⃣ Wrong payment time: it must be completed before signing, and cannot be paid separately in advance
IHS must be paid as part of the visa application process and must be completed before the application is submitted. cannot be paid separately for several months in advance, nor can it be paid after the signature is submitted. If Home Office finds that IHS has not paid or the amount is insufficient, it will give you a 14-calendar-day deadline for making up the payment; if you miss the deadline, your overseas application will be directly rejected, and your domestic application will be invalidated.
3️⃣ Family members pay separately: Each applicant must have an independent IHS Reference Number
When spouses and children apply as dependents, each person must pay IHS separately, at the same rate as the main applicant (adults £1,035/year). Many people think that "a family can pay together", but in the end, only the main applicant's money is paid, and all family members' applications fail.
After the payment is completed, each person in will get a Reference Number starting with "IHS" + 9 digits. This number will be automatically associated with the visa application form. If the number is lost or incorrectly filled in, subsequent applications will not be approved.
🧮 Accurate calculation of permanent residence time: 180 days rule + application window period
The fee has increased, and it is even more important to calculate the time - if you submit too early, it will be rejected (because it is not yet 5 years old), and if you submit it too late, you will waste thousands of pounds in price increase fees of .
Core rules for the 5-year permanent residence path (Skilled Worker, Spouse Visa, Global Talent, etc.):
- ✅ Have lived legally in the UK for 5 consecutive years
- ✅ In any 12-month rolling period, the total number of departures shall not exceed 180 days
- ✅ Passed Life in the UK Test + B1 English language test
- ✅ No serious criminal record or immigration violations
⏱️ The 180-day rule is a "rolling calculation" : forward any 12 months from the day you apply for ILR, and the number of days away from the country cannot exceed 180 days. Many people think that "every calendar year does not exceed 180 days", but as a result, their visas are rejected because the cumulative number of days in multiple years exceeds the limit. You can use 永居计算器 APP to accurately track each entry and exit record and automatically calculate the earliest application date.
application window period : Most visa types allow ILR applications to be submitted within 28 days 5 years ago. For example, if your 5-year deadline is May 10, 2026, you can submit it as early as April 12. If you want to submit before the April 8 price increase, you must make sure your 5-year milestone is on or before May 6.
💡 Practical advice: 4 steps to save money + avoid pitfalls
① If your 5-year node is in May-June 2026, check immediately if you can submit
before April 8
A family of four can save £788, which is worth preparing materials in advance and making an expedited appointment Life in the UK Test.
② Use official IHS calculator + 永居计算器 APP double verification
IHS uses the GOV.UK official tool to calculate the amount, and uses the 永居计算器 APP to calculate the number of entry and exit days to each day, so as to avoid visa rejection due to "a few days off" or "a miscalculated exit".
③ Keep all IHS Reference Number and payment voucher
The IHS number of each family member should be saved separately. It is best to take a screenshot + email backup. This is the only proof if there is a system error or a refund is required.
④ If you are unsure, please consult a licensed lawyer in advance
If you have complicated circumstances (such as changing visa types midway, having a history of visa rejection, or having complex exit records), don’t guess on your own—a visa rejection will not only cost you the application fee, but will also affect subsequent applications. You can add our lawyer WeChat uklvshi (Ethan) for a free preliminary evaluation.
🔮 Future trends: Will fees continue to rise?
This price increase is not an isolated incident - Skilled Worker salary thresholds, Health and Care visa restrictions, and permanent residence path reforms have all continued to tighten in recent years. Home Office has stated that there will be another round of 6.5% fee adjustments later in 2026, mainly for naturalization and some work visas.
The government's position is clear: immigration fees are not just about "cost recovery", but also consider "the economic benefits brought by immigration, the value of granting status and broader policy objectives" - in other words, fees will continue to rise, and the increase may exceed inflation.
For Chinese people in the UK, the earlier you plan and submit your application, the better you can lock in the relatively low fee. If you're approaching the 5-year mark, now is the best time to prepare.
💬Interactive topics
Do you think the UK permanent residence application fee of £3,226 is reasonable? What is your ILR application fee budget? Welcome to share your opinions and experiences in the comment area 👇
📋 Data source
1. GOV.UK – Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table/home-office-immigration-and-nationality-fees-8-april-2026
2. GOV.UK – Indefinite leave to remain if you have family in the UK: https://www.gov.uk/indefinite-leave-to-remain-family
3. Free Movement – Home Office fees going up from 8 April 2026: https://freemovement.org.uk/fees-up-from-8-april-2026-child-citizenship-down/
⚖️ Disclaimer : This article is for reference only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a licensed immigration attorney for specific application questions. UK immigration regulations change frequently, please refer to the latest announcement from GOV.UK.
📚 Data source
·https://www.davidsonmorris.com/immigration-health-surcharge/
·https://sponsorcompanies.co.uk/resources/immigration-health-surcharge
· https://freemovement.org.uk/fees-up-from-8-april-2026-child-citizenship-down/