21 February 2020
Surprisingly, the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)’s fee schedule for 2020 – 2021 remains the same as last year. The Home Office has on many past occasions raised the UK immigration and nationality fees between March and April annually. However, there are no changes in the processing fees for applications made inside and outside the UK this year. This includes UK settlement partner, fiancée and spouse visas as well as in country further leave to remain (FLR), indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and naturalisation applications.
The cost of applying for a UK settlement visa from outside the UK, i.e. fiancée, unmarried partner or spouse of a British Citizen or legal permanent resident, will remain £1,523 per applicant in 2020 -2021. The UKVI settlement priority service will be available at the same cost of £573 per applicant. Dependent children under the age of 18 are required to pay a separate visa application and priority service fee regardless of the outcome as the UKVI visa application processing fees are non-refundable. The NHS fee also remains the same.
In country further leave to remain (FLR) applications designed to switch to or extend an existing partner or spouse visa from within the UK will cost £1,033 plus an optional super priority service fee in the amount of £800 per applicant. Priority applications are normally processed within 24 hours, usually on the same day the applicant attends a biometrics and scanning appointment at their local Sopra Steria UKVCAS centre in the UK. There is an additional fee payable for scanning services, if the applicant chooses not to self-upload the documents on the official website. The UKVCAS staff can scan the documents on the spot.
For indefinite leave to remain (ILR) applications, the current Home Office fees remain the same, i.e. £2,389 for applicants with no dependents, plus an additional £800 super priority service fee, if the UKVI fast track service is required to ensure the same day decision.
ILR holders who wish to apply for naturalisation are expected to pay £1,330.
