Anyone who is applying for leave to remain in the UK or British citizenship will need to pay a fee to the Home Office.
Some types of immigration applications are fee exempt, so will be free. If no exemption applies then the applicant will need to pay a specified fee, unless they can apply for a fee waiver. Fee waivers are only available to people making applications on the basis of their family or private life in the UK and to children who are applying to register as a British citizen.
Immigration fees are revised (and usually increased) in April each year and can be changed at other times. A person must check what fee they will need to pay well in advance of making their application. They would also need to find out if they are required to pay the NHS surcharge (Immigration Health Charge) in addition to the application fee.
For more information, see the current immigration and nationality fees.
A person will not be required to pay a fee if they are making one of the following applications:
An application made by an adult under the family or private life rules, or outside of the rules raising Article 8 family and private life grounds, will cost £3,635.50 (£1,048 application fee + £2,587.50 Immigration Heath Charge). On 24 July 2024, the cost will increase to £3,845.50 due to an increase in the application fee to £1,258. A separate fee must be paid for each family member included in the application.
If the person cannot afford the fee they should ask their legal representative if they can apply for a fee waiver. A fee waiver is applied for as part of the online application process and the person will need to submit evidence that they meet the requirements of the Home Office fee waiver policy for the fee to be waived.
A person can apply for a fee waiver if they are applying for leave to remain on one of the following grounds:
A fee waiver must be granted if the person can demonstrate that one of the following applies to them:
A person or family receiving accommodation and financial support from Adult Social Care or Children's Social Care may qualify for a fee waiver. The local authority will need to provide evidence of any support being provided and may be approached by the Home Office for further information about their involvement.
For more information, see the Home Office guidance, Fee waiver: Human Rights-based and other specified applications.
A Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa holder will qualify for a fee waiver if they are applying for further leave to remain on that route, has already had the NRPF condition lifted, is in receipt of public funds, and can demonstrate that they cannot afford the fee and/or Immigration Health Surcharge. For more information, see the Home Office guidance, Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route.
An application to register a child under 18 as a British citizen costs £1,214.
Children who are looked after by a local authority are exempt from paying the fee. However, if in the first instance the application is refused, looked after children will be required to pay £372 for an internal review. The fee will be reimbursed if the review is successful.
A child under 18 can apply for a fee waiver if they and their parent(s) do not have sufficient funds at their disposal to pay the required fee after meeting their essential living needs.
A fee waiver must be granted if the applicant and parent(s) are assessed and found:
A family receiving accommodation and financial support from social services may qualify for a fee waiver. The local authority will need to provide evidence of any support being provided and may be approached by the Home Office for further information about their involvement.
For more information, see the Home Office policy guidance: Affordability fee waiver: Citizenship registration for individuals under the age of 18 and the Child citizenship fee waiver request form.
