What does ILR cost, including tests and optional services?

Start with the application fee

ILR means indefinite leave to remain, also called settlement. For the sponsored-work settlement process covered here, GOV.UK lists a fee of £3,226 for each applicant. These figures were checked on 14 October 2026.

An eligible family can use the same form in some circumstances, but that does not mean one application fee covers everyone. Three applicants at this rate would pay £9,678 in application fees. This arithmetic does not establish that all three qualify.

Check tests for each person

The Life in the UK Test costs £50 per booking. Check whether each person needs it, has already passed or has an exemption. Keep the result and use the official booking guidance.

English evidence depends on the settlement route and the applicant. The main applicant on the work routes in the linked overview does not need to prove English again. Adult dependants can have different requirements. Do not buy a test for everyone before checking.

Where another test, qualification check or translation is needed, obtain the actual provider price. There is no single extra-test price that applies to every family.

Keep optional services optional

If available and you are eligible, the priority service adds £500 and super priority adds £1,000. Check what is offered for your application and the timing stated there; availability and decision times depend on the service and case.

The general faster-decision page and route pages can describe different processing expectations. Use the information for the actual service offered, rather than treating a headline time as a guarantee.

GOV.UK lists an exemption from the health surcharge for indefinite leave applications. Its guidance explains that a charge can be required if limited permission is granted instead.

Work through a small budget

Made-up example: one worker needs a first Life in the UK Test and applies for standard ILR at the stated fee. £3,226 plus £50 gives £3,276, before any other relevant costs. If eligible super priority is chosen, the illustration becomes £4,276.

Add optional learning materials, repeat test bookings, translations, travel to appointments and agreed professional fees only where relevant. Keep an unpaid estimate separate from a receipt.

REKODHA’s Financial Readiness helps organise a household estimate. Recheck the fee table and each family member’s circumstances before paying. Keep the date and assumptions beside the figures so a later change is easy to understand.

A small step you can take today

Use this checklist to review your starting point.

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How REKODHA can help