UK ILR Full Cost Calculator
Calculate the complete cost of your UK ILR application: Home Office fee, Life in the UK test, legal adviser, priority processing, and Naira equivalent. Add dependants to see the family total.
Based on 2024 UK Home Office fee schedule. ILR fee: £2,885 per person. No IHS on ILR. All costs are estimates. Verify at gov.uk before applying.
You. Always 1. Pays the full £2,885 ILR application fee.
Spouse, children aged 18+, or any other dependant applying for ILR alongside you. Each pays £2,885. Children under 18 are exempt from the Life in the UK test.
Standard is slowest and cheapest. Priority and super priority cost more but return a decision faster. These fees are per application (not per person).
Toggle on the costs that apply to your situation. The total updates instantly.
For Naira equivalent only. Not a live rate. Update to today’s rate if needed. Check AbokiFX for current rates.
Adds a monthly savings target to reach the total ILR cost by your target date.
Naira equivalent
At ₦2,100/£1
Cost breakdown
Cost composition
ILR Cost Mistakes That Catch Nigerian Applicants Off Guard
Budgeting only for your own fee and forgetting dependants
Each dependant applying at the same time pays the full £2,885. A family of four applying together pays £11,540 in application fees alone, before Life in the UK tests, legal fees, or priority processing. Many Nigerian families are surprised by this because dependant children are included at the same fee regardless of age.
Assuming the application fee is refundable if the application fails
The £2,885 per-person ILR fee is not refunded if the application is refused. Common refusal reasons include applying too early (more than 28 days before qualifying), missing the Life in the UK test pass certificate, incomplete absence records, or gaps in qualifying leave. Prepare all documents carefully before submitting and paying the fee.
Not budgeting for a Skilled Worker renewal before ILR
If your current Skilled Worker visa expires before your ILR qualifying date (very common for people who switched employers or started on a 3-year visa), you need to renew the Skilled Worker visa first. That renewal costs approximately £827 visa fee plus IHS for the renewal period, which can add £3,000 to £6,000 to your total cost before even reaching ILR.
Underestimating legal adviser fees or choosing unregulated advisers
Immigration legal services vary widely in cost and quality. Only use solicitors registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) or advisers registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). Unregulated “consultants” or “visa agents” cannot legally provide immigration advice in the UK. If the fee sounds cheap, verify the adviser’s registration before paying anything.
How the ILR Full Cost Calculator Works
The calculator adds every fee bucket that touches an ILR application: the mandatory Home Office application fee, the Life in the UK test, optional priority processing, optional legal adviser fees, and optional travel to the biometric appointment centre. Multiply by the number of people applying to get the full family total.
ILR Cost Scenarios for Nigerian Applicants
| Situation | Applicants | App fees | Life in UK tests | Legal (est.) | Total estimate | ~Naira |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single applicant, standard, no adviser | 1 | £2,885 | £50 | £0 | £2,935 | ~₦6.2m |
| Single, priority, with adviser | 1 | £3,385 | £50 | £1,200 | £4,635 | ~₦9.7m |
| Couple (2 adults) | 2 | £5,770 | £100 | £1,500 | £7,370 | ~₦15.5m |
| Family: 2 adults + 1 child under 18 | 3 | £8,655 | £100 | £2,000 | £10,755 | ~₦22.6m |
| Family: 2 adults + 2 children under 18 | 4 | £11,540 | £100 | £2,000 | £13,640 | ~₦28.6m |
| Single, super priority, full support | 1 | £3,885 | £50 | £2,500 | £6,435 | ~₦13.5m |
Naira at ₦2,100/£1. Legal adviser figures are estimates for guidance; actual costs vary by case and provider. Travel and translation costs not included in table.
