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

As soon as the whole family applied for permanent residency, they just stuffed everyone into the same bill, which was so 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 ILR is £3,226 per person, and applying for permanent residency itself does not require paying the IHS healthcare surcharge. However, within the same family, some members can apply for permanent residency 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 examines 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 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, "applying for permanent residency this time" and "extending the limited period permit this time" should be separated: no IHS is required for the former, while for the latter, payment must still be made according to its own renewal period if there is no exemption. 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 individually 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 permit 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 permit. 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: Both spouses are 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 discounts, 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 in the future, there will be application fees applicable at that time.

This example does not include exams, translations, optional rush services, or paid appointments, and is not applicable to those exempt from medical care-related IHS or who have a reduced application fee. 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 for adult partners. Applicants who are under 18 years old when applying, 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 mistaking the service quotation for the total government fee.

[数据来源] Home Office现行收费表、工作路线受养家属指引、英国政府IHS缴费说明；核验日期为2026年9月20日。

本文仅供参考，具体问题请咨询持牌律师。

你家做预算时，最难确定的是伴侣续签期限，还是孩子能否一起申请永居？评论区可以只聊申请情形，不必留下个人信息。

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