Can the ILR fee be waived? Eligibility criteria and list of required documents

General work permit, spouse, and ten-year long-term residency applications usually cannot apply for Fee Waiver (fee exemption) solely based on low income; whether the fee can be waived depends on whether there is a specific basis for this application.

ILR Can you exempt the application category?

As of October 12, 2026, the application fee for the UK settlement standard is £3,226, according to Home Office's fee schedule applicable from April 8, 2026. For those cutting down on family expenses, this amount does require careful planning. When checking for exemptions, first take out the current approval letter, confirm the application category, and then check whether the one being prepared for submission is Settlement (Settlement) or Permission to stay (Limited Leave to Remain). These two English names often appear on similar pages, but the scope of fee exemptions needs to be checked separately.

Previously, the renewal was fee-exempt, but this cannot be directly used to exempt the budget for this permanent residency application.

Home Office"Fee Waiver: Human Rights-based and Other Specified Applications" lists the common categories, which refer to temporary resident applications for family life, private life, etc. There are also boundaries for the five-year partner route: this guidance covers applications where the sponsor receives designated disability or care-related benefits, and therefore the minimum income threshold does not apply. Ordinary work permit to permanent residency, ten-year long-term residency, cannot enter this exemption process by simply attaching a family income and expenditure statement; there is no general low-income exemption for ordinary spouse permanent residency.

If victims of domestic violence meet the criteria for the specific permanent residency route, they may also request exemption from the requirement by providing evidence that they are unable to afford basic living expenses; widowed partners have another set of specific regulations.

When applying for a child, nationality registration and permanent residency need to be separated. The UK government's "Get a citizenship application fee waiver if you’re under 18" provides fee waivers for those under 18 who are eligible for British nationality applications, and it checks the financial capacity of the child and their parents or guardians. It cannot be used for the permanent residency form based on age alone. When organizing documents, each applicant can be listed separately, indicating the name of this application, the corresponding fee item, and the basis for the exemption, then specifying whose financial documents need to be attached. If an adult meets the criteria for an exemption, it does not automatically apply to another application.

When a family applies for the special exemption for widows, some documents can be shared, but the materials must explain why each applicant meets the conditions.

The exemption after widowhood has specific criteria

Taking the application of a widowed person within the country as an example, the current "Immigration Rules" Appendix Bereaved Partner's BP 4.1 requires verification of the current or most recently approved visa category. BP 6.1 to 6.2 also require verification of the relationship between the deceased and the visa, as well as whether the partner relationship was genuine and continuous before the death. Holding a family partner visa that meets the regulations, with the partner being a British citizen or a settled person, is a common situation. A mere death certificate of the partner cannot replace these identity conditions; when the applicant holds another type of visa, additional relevant provisions need to be checked.

My judgment is that those who meet the criteria for the widower's special route and have basic living standards that are already difficult should prepare the exemption request together with their permanent residency application, without needing to first accumulate fees through loans.

The UK government's bereavement application guidance lists situations where evidence of financial hardship can be submitted: no accommodation and unable to afford; having accommodation but unable to afford basic living expenses such as food and heating; or low income, where paying fees would harm the child's welfare. Home Office In the "Fee waiver" section of the "Settlement: family life, private life and bereaved partners" updated on August 19, 2026, it is clearly stated that applicants are not required to take loans to pay, and relatives who provide living support are not expected to pay the application fee on their behalf.

Relatives temporarily provide accommodation, which will not automatically exclude this exemption; the content and scope of support need to be clearly written.

What else needs to be explained besides the bank balance?

When preparing financial documents for the application of a widower, I recommend using one page to summarize the materials: where you are currently living, who is paying the rent; where the income comes from, and what changes have occurred; how much is left in accounts and savings; and which expenses must be paid every month. After each item, indicate the corresponding pay slips, bank statements, bills, or supporting letters. The basic needs of the children should also be specifically written, avoiding just leaving the four characters "family difficulties." If relatives only take on accommodation or meals, you can ask them to explain what they provide and how long it can last, so that the case officer can see the actual available support.

This income and expenditure statement should reflect real life; a single balance screenshot is difficult to explain why the money is insufficient.

If the stay is for a family or private life limited visa within the scope, there are additional details regarding evidence requirements: the materials required by the above-mentioned Human Rights Fee Waiver guidance usually cover the six months prior to the application, and all account statements should be provided, with explanations for large transactions exceeding £250 and regular transactions. Transfers between one's own accounts, temporary financial support from relatives or friends, and one-time supplementary income can be labeled with their sources and purposes according to actual situations. This organization is intended to enable item-by-item verification between the income and expenditure statement and the transaction records, reducing the possibility of a single payment being misinterpreted as additional disposable income.

This assessment evaluates whether the applicant has the ability to pay after covering basic living expenses and children's needs; the applicant does not need to first become homeless.

The same human rights guidance also distinguishes between the application fee and IHS (immigration health surcharge): those who can afford the full application fee but cannot afford the entire IHS may request to be exempted only from IHS. The application fee for a single applicant cannot be partially waived on a proportional basis; however, for a family, each person's situation can be assessed individually. This distinction is suitable to be included in the family budget form: clearly indicating the application fee, IHS, and the items requested for exemption, to avoid misunderstanding that if one item is approved for exemption, it means all fees related to the entire application have been addressed.

This temporary residence arrangement will not make the regular permanent residency application fee payable in installments or discounted.

How to arrange the next steps if the money hasn't been gathered yet

When ordinary permanent residency is temporarily unaffordable, the next step is to return to the expiry date of the current permit. If the conditions for renewal are still met, it may be assessed to first apply for an extension of stay; only if this application itself falls within the fee exemption scope, will the Fee Waiver be further assessed. For those applying under family or private life routes, this can be considered as a continuation plan pending verification; for holders of work permits, they should follow their own renewal rules. Before changing the route solely to save costs, it is also necessary to verify the impact on the eligibility period for permanent residency, and one should not separate a financial arrangement from the identity requirements.

Approval of fee exemption only resolves the payment issue, and does not pre-approve the subsequent residence application.

The submission order should also be divided according to the route. Usually, the exemption for domestic family or private life, first obtain the fee decision, and then submit the corresponding residence application according to the notice; after approval, the submission should be arranged within 10 working days from the date of the decision. The special exemption for widows should be submitted with the corresponding permanent residency form, and attached with economic evidence. According to the guidance for handling cases of widows, if the exemption is not accepted, the applicant should be notified to submit the fee within 10 working days; if the fee is submitted on time and meets other validity requirements, the original application date can be retained. If the fee is not submitted as required, the application may be returned as an invalid application. The two periods handle different steps, and after receiving the notice, each item should be checked one by one.

Whether the fee can be waived depends on the application category and the living situation that can be proven. Once these two items are clarified, it will be determined whether to prepare for a special exemption or arrange an appropriate extension.

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

[Data source] Home Office Immigration and Nationality Fees Schedule (effective 8 April 2026); "Settlement: family life, private life and bereaved partners"; "Fee waiver: Human Rights-based and other specified applications".

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