UK Indefinite Leave to Remain: £3,226 Fees, Decision Times and New Settlement Plan — Nov. 15, 2026

Information checked: November 15, 2026, at 1:17 a.m. GMT (UTC+00:00), London, United Kingdom.

Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) still carries a published application fee of £3,226 per person, and a standard settlement decision usually takes up to six months. The bigger development for anyone budgeting or planning a future application is the UK government’s November 12 response to its earned-settlement consultation. It sets out a new default 10-year route, alongside faster and longer pathways based on circumstances. Applicants should not assume the new framework applies to an application until the relevant Immigration Rules and commencement arrangements are confirmed.

The immediate practical questions are whether your present route qualifies, how much the application will cost for everyone in your household, whether you can afford to wait for a decision, and what restrictions apply while the case is pending. The Home Office’s published fee, processing and status guidance provides a more reliable planning basis than headlines about proposed reforms.

Destaques

• Application cost: £3,226 for each main applicant and dependant applying for standard ILR; a family of four paying the standard fee would face £12,904 in application charges.
• Decision times: Usually within six months of biometrics; eligible faster services cost an additional £500 or £1,000 per person.
• Important restriction: Leaving the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man while an in-country application is awaiting a decision can cause it to be withdrawn.
• Policy development: The government’s November 12 earned-settlement response outlines a 10-year default and differentiated pathways, but applicants must check the rules applicable to their own filing date.

What changed in the UK settlement policy in November 2026?

On November 12, the Home Office published its response to the earned-settlement consultation, describing a framework under which 10 years becomes the usual qualifying pathway, subject to reductions for higher earnings, qualifying public service and specified British connections, and extensions for immigration breaches. The response also discusses transitional safeguards, family pathways and changes to how certain periods of residence count. These are policy decisions in the government response, not a substitute for the legally operative Immigration Rules. See the November 12 government response on earned settlement.

The policy response identifies a three-year route for certain exceptionally high contributors and a five-year route for qualifying higher earners and some other groups. It also describes longer periods for specific breaches. Those categories depend on multiple requirements, not salary alone. Technical rules and implementation details matter enormously, especially for people already partway through a qualifying period. Readers should avoid cancelling an existing visa, delaying an imminent eligible application or assuming they are protected by a transitional rule solely on the basis of a policy summary.

How much does indefinite leave to remain cost in 2026?

The Home Office fee table effective October 8, 2026 lists £3,226 per applicant for indefinite leave to remain, including dependants. That means two applicants paying the standard charge would pay £6,452, while four would pay £12,904, before any optional expedited service or other personal costs. These figures are application charges, not a guarantee of approval.

Applicants for ILR generally do not pay the immigration health surcharge (IHS) with their settlement application. If an ILR application cannot succeed but is instead considered for another period of limited permission, an IHS payment may become necessary. GOV.UK explains that distinction in its immigration health surcharge exemptions.

Budget separately for possible translation, legal advice, document retrieval, travel to an appointment and any paid appointment extras. These vary by person; they should not be presented as fixed Home Office fees. Check the live fee shown during the official application process before paying, because future fee regulations can change the amount.

How long does an ILR decision take, and can you pay for priority?

For common in-country routes, the Home Office says applicants usually receive a decision within six months after fingerprints and a photograph are provided. Cases requiring document checks, interviews or additional background review can take longer. The Skilled Worker settlement decision guidance describes the standard timeline and potential delays.

Where the relevant route and application offer the option, the Home Office priority decision service lists priority at an additional £500 per person, usually for a decision within five working days, and super priority at £1,000 per person, usually by the end of the next working day after eligible identity verification. Weekend or bank-holiday appointments can move super-priority timing to two working days. Faster service availability is route-specific and does not guarantee an outcome on the advertised day if further checks are required.

An applicant should not treat the six-month estimate as six months from opening a form online. Follow the precise route guidance and identity-verification instructions to establish when the decision clock starts. Keep copies of submitted evidence and monitor messages, including the spam folder, for additional document requests.

Can you travel abroad while waiting for an ILR decision?

Usually, do not leave the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man before a decision on an in-country application. GOV.UK warns that travel outside this area can cause the application to be treated as withdrawn, without a refund of the application fee. A planned vacation, overseas work assignment or family visit should therefore be discussed before filing, rather than assuming the pending application will remain valid.

People approaching visa expiry should also confirm that their application is valid, in time and made under the correct route. In some circumstances, section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971 preserves existing leave while a timely application is pending, but eligibility and the conditions carried over are case-specific; a pending application does not automatically give everyone new work or benefit rights.

What rights do you gain once ILR is granted?

ILR removes the time limit on a person’s permission to stay in the UK. Subject to the ordinary rules governing particular services and benefits, settled residents can work or run a business, study, access public services, and apply for public funds and pensions where eligible. ILR is not British citizenship, does not provide a British passport, and does not confer an unconditional entitlement to every benefit. The official ILR rights and status guidance explains the rights and limitations.

Successful applicants receive a digital immigration-status record, known as an eVisa. They should follow their decision notice, establish or access the appropriate UK Visas and Immigration account, and ensure passport and contact details are correct. That digital record helps them prove status to employers and other organizations without treating an expired physical card as an ongoing travel document.

Can you lose indefinite leave to remain after living overseas?

Yes. For standard ILR, an absence from the UK of two years or more at a time normally causes the status to lapse. Different absence rules apply to some EU Settlement Scheme settled-status holders, including generally five years and four years for Swiss citizens covered by that rule. ILR can also be revoked or invalidated in specified circumstances, including certain deportation or deception cases. Consult the official ILR rights and status guidance before planning a long move overseas.

British citizenship is a separate application. Many ILR holders must ordinarily wait at least 12 months after obtaining ILR before naturalizing, though some applicants, including certain spouses of British citizens, may fall under different timing rules. Applicants must still satisfy nationality requirements such as residence and good character.

What should applicants do next as earned settlement changes approach?

First, establish which published Immigration Rules govern your specific visa and intended ILR application, using the official route guidance rather than assuming the announced earned-settlement model has automatically changed your qualifying date. Second, total the application charges for each person and check whether priority processing is actually offered. Third, avoid nonessential overseas travel after filing and retain evidence of lawful residence, pay, absences and compliance. The GOV.UK long-residence guidance remains an important reference for applicants considering long residence, even as the government outlines future changes.

For applicants facing a tight visa-expiry deadline, a complex immigration history or a choice between applying now and waiting for reform details, advice from a properly regulated UK immigration adviser may be worthwhile. The November policy response is an important verified development, but the effect on any individual case depends on operative rules, transitional provisions and facts that cannot be inferred from the headline alone.

FAQ: UK indefinite leave to remain

Is ILR £3,226 in November 2026?

Yes. The Home Office’s October 8, 2026 fee schedule lists £3,226 for a standard ILR application per person, including applying dependants. Check the amount at submission for any subsequent change.

Does paying for priority guarantee ILR approval?

No. Priority and super priority purchase a faster usual decision target where available, not approval. Additional checks can extend the timeline.

Does ILR expire after two years abroad?

Standard ILR generally lapses after an absence of two years or more. Some EU Settlement Scheme settled-status holders have longer permitted absences, so check the rule for your status.

Official sources: Home Office fee table effective October 8, 2026; November 12 government response on earned settlement; Skilled Worker settlement decision guidance; Home Office priority decision service; immigration health surcharge exemptions; official ILR rights and status guidance; GOV.UK long-residence guidance.