How much does it cost to apply for permanent residence in the UK? 2026 latest ILR fee and IHS full solution
After five years, Life in the UK has also passed, and I am preparing to submit permanent residence (ILR / Indefinite Leave to Remain) - but I was stunned when I opened the payment page: is 3,226 pounds per person, which easily exceeds 10,000 pounds for a family of four.
Many people only find out at this point that not having enough money prepared in advance is more frustrating than not having all the materials. Today, I will break down every payment for permanent residence in the UK in 2026 and explain clearly, especially whether the IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge), which is most easily confused, requires . If you miscalculate this item, you may spend thousands of pounds more in vain.
UK permanent residence application fee 2026: 3,226 pounds per person
This is the largest cost of permanent residence. According to the latest fee schedule of the UK Home Office (Home Office) effective on April 8, 2026, the core fee for to apply for ILR is £3,226 per person.
Note a few key points:
👉 This is the price of "per person" . You, your spouse, and each accompanying child will each pay a share of 3,226 pounds. Families with children have a hard cost here.
👉 There is no additional charge of for collecting biometric information (fingerprints + photos), it is included.
👉 Regardless of whether you are applying for a Skilled Worker visa, a spouse visa, or a 10-year long-term residence (Long Residence) route, the fee for the mainstream ILR application is basically a uniform 3,226 pounds.
Reminder: Once the money is submitted and accepted by the Ministry of Interior, even if it is finally rejected, it is usually and will not be refunded . Therefore, the materials must be checked repeatedly before payment.
Do I need to pay IHS for permanent residence application? This is the easiest place to waste money
Let’s talk about the conclusion first to help you save worry: When applying for permanent residence (ILR) with , you usually don’t need to pay IHS.
When many people hear "immigration application", they subconsciously think that they have to pay IHS. In fact, IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) only applies to "limited leave" (limited leave) - that is, visas with a limited time limit, such as work visas, study visas, and spouse visas. And ILR is "indefinite leave" (indefinite leave) . Obtaining it equals long-term status, so this step no longer requires IHS separately.
So where did IHS spend its money? Spend your years on the way to permanent residence. The IHS standards in 2026 are:
· Adults: £1,035/year
· Students, minors, youth exchange programs: £776/year
For example: a Skilled Worker obtains a 5-year visa at one time. When renewing or applying, he or she must pay in advance for 5 years at a time - 1035×5 = £5,175. This money has already been paid during the visa application process. When you get to the permanent residence stage, you don’t need to pay it again.
So if you see someone asking you to "pay IHS" on the permanent residence application page, check it calmly first and don't be misled into paying twice. (IHS of the Health and Care Worker medical visa itself is exempt from £0. This kind of friends also saved this money in previous years.)
The hidden costs of permanent residence in the UK: Don’t miss out on testing, English, and expediting
The 3,226 pounds is just the "ticket". There are a few items that are easily overlooked when you actually file the bill:
🔹 Life in the UK Test: £50/person/time . This is a mandatory requirement for permanent residence, and is subject to passing the exam. If canceled 72 hours in advance, a full refund will be given. It is recommended to pass the exam as early as possible and don’t rush around before submitting the application.
🔹 English proficiency certificate : Most paths require B1 level. If you are not exempted by an English degree, you have to take a Secure English Language Test (SELT) recognized by the Home Office. The cost is about 150 pounds, and each institution varies slightly.
🔹 expedited service (optional) : Ordinary ILR processing can take up to 6 months. If you are in a hurry to confirm your identity, leave the country, or change jobs, you can pay more and take the express route. Among them, the Super Priority super priority service is about £1,000, and the results will be available before the end of the next working day at the earliest.
But I want to pour cold water on you: not all paths of can use Super Priority, and the quota is also extremely popular. It is usually released in the early morning and is snatched up within a few minutes. Not everyone deserves to worry about this £1,000, unless you are really pressed for time.
How much does it cost to live permanently in the UK as a family? Calculate the general ledger
Let’s lay out the numbers for 2026 and feel it intuitively (estimated based on the most common situations):
single applicant (standard submission)
ILR £3,226 + Life in UK £50 + English test about £150
≈ £3,426 (excluding expedited)
Family of four (couple + two children)
ILR £3,226 × 4 = £12,904
plus test and English fees for two adults
≈ £13,000 Start
Don't panic when you see this number - the money is not that suddenly appeared all at once. The real bulk (IHS) has been handed over in the past five years of visas. The permanent residence step mainly consists of the ILR application fee. If you start planning your cash flow a year or two in advance, you will be much less stressed.
In addition, we strongly recommend: first calculate the number of days of residence accurately and confirm that you actually meet the conditions, and then spend the money to submit. The 5-year path usually requires no more than 180 days of overseas travel in any 12-month period. If the number of days exceeds the limit and the application is rejected hastily, the 3,226 pounds will be wasted. If you are not sure, you can use 永居计算器APP to calculate the number of days you have been in the UK, or add our licensed lawyer on WeChat to ask first, which is much more cost-effective than making remedial measures afterwards.
To sum it up in one sentence: You need to prepare enough money, and you need to pay it right.
For the core cost of permanent residence in the UK in 2026, remember three figures: ILR £3,226/person, Life in UK £50, and English about £150; IHS generally does not need to be paid at the permanent residence step; expedited Super Priority is about 1,000 pounds, but it is not available to everyone.
The fee policy changes every year. The figures in this article are based on the fee schedule of the Ministry of the Interior on April 8, 2026. Please be sure to refer to the latest announcement of GOV.UK before actual submission. This article is for reference only. Please consult a licensed attorney for specific cases.
💬 Let’s chat in the comment area: , how much have you spent in total on visas and IHS in the past few years that you have been living permanently? Which one surprised you the most? You are also welcome to tell us which path you are taking (Skilled Worker/spouse visa/BNO/10-year long-term residence).
📌 The fee policy changes every year. If you find it useful, please bookmark this article , and check it out again before submitting for signature, so that you can check it later.