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

As soon as the whole family applied for permanent residency, they just stuffed everyone into the same bill, which was really convenient. But when it came time to pay, they found out that the family member's charge wasn't included at all.

As of September 20, 2026, the standard application fee for a general ILR is £3,226 per person, and applying for settlement itself does not require paying 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 "main applicant who meets the requirements first, while the partner still needs some time" in a Skilled Worker (skilled worker visa) family. It examines the difference between estimating based on remaining months and calculating based on the duration of the visa.

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

"The statement 'the main applicant obtained permanent residency, and the IHS for the entire family stopped' 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 under the dependent spouse category 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 permission" 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 dependent partner of a standard adult work visa holder is currently £1,035 per year; the application fee for renewal is charged separately and should be listed separately on the quotation.

Why is it still counted as three years when there are only ten months left?

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) states 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 expiration date 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 permanent residency 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 is not applicable to those who are exempt from medical care-related IHS or have reduced application fees. 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 follow 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 in this way, putting the hope of saving money on shortening the processing time.

Before making the payment, write a line for each family member: the expiration date of the current permit, the estimated date when the permanent residency conditions will be met, the category of this application, and the corresponding permit period. Confirm that the renewal is indeed necessary, and then calculate the application fee and IHS according to this period. For those who still have an active permit, also check whether it is necessary 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 Dependent Family Members, 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, what is the hardest to determine: the partner's renewal period, or whether the child can apply for permanent residency together? You can only discuss application situations in the comments section, no need to leave personal information.

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