ILR Processing Time 2026 Standard, Priority and Super Priority

Executive Summary

ILR processing time in 2026 depends on which service tier you choose: standard (up to 6 months), Priority (5 working days, £500 additional), or Super Priority (next working day, £800 additional).

This guide sets out current processing times, route-by-route performance data, the full end-to-end application timeline, what causes delays, and the proposed earned settlement changes.

ILR Processing Times at a Glance 2026

  
ILR service tiers and processing times

Standard serviceUp to 6 months from biometric appointment — included in fee
Priority service5 working days from biometric appointment — additional £500
Super Priority serviceNext working day from biometric appointment — additional £800
Median standard processing SET(O)4–8 weeks in practice (community-reported data)
Median standard processing SET(M)4–8 weeks in practice — slightly longer than SET(O)

ILR service tiers and processing times
Standard service	Up to 6 months from biometric appointment — included in fee
Priority service	5 working days from biometric appointment — additional £500
Super Priority service	Next working day from biometric appointment — additional £800
Median standard processing SET(O)	4–8 weeks in practice (community-reported data)
Median standard processing SET(M)	4–8 weeks in practice — slightly longer than SET(O)

The 6-month standard is a service standard, not a guarantee

The Home Office's published service standard for in-country ILR applications is 6 months from the date of the biometric appointment. This is a target, not a legal guarantee. In practice, straightforward applications are typically decided in 4 to 8 weeks. Applications with complications can approach or exceed the full 6-month window.

Route-by-Route Performance 2026

  
ILR performance by settlement form (year ending March 2026)

SET(LR) — Long Residence~99% decided within 6 months
SET(O) — Skilled Worker and work routes~95–96% decided within 6 months
SET(M) — Spouse and Partner route~93% decided within 6 months
Total settlement grants (year ending March 2026)152,306 (down 11% year-on-year)
SourceHome Office Immigration System Statistics, March 2026

ILR performance by settlement form (year ending March 2026)
SET(LR) — Long Residence	~99% decided within 6 months
SET(O) — Skilled Worker and work routes	~95–96% decided within 6 months
SET(M) — Spouse and Partner route	~93% decided within 6 months
Total settlement grants (year ending March 2026)	152,306 (down 11% year-on-year)
Source	Home Office Immigration System Statistics, March 2026

Standard Service When It Is Appropriate

Standard processing is the right choice when there is no urgency your Section 3C leave is covering your lawful status, you have no imminent international travel, and you are not starting a new role that requires immediate proof of settled status. For the vast majority of applicants, the standard service produces a decision within 4 to 8 weeks without the additional cost of priority processing.

Standard service is not available to applicants whose current leave has expired and who are relying on Section 3C leave in those cases, confirming which service is available and appropriate is important given the implications of any further delay.

Priority Service 5 Working Days £500 Additional

Priority service costs £500 in addition to the standard ILR application fee and aims to deliver a decision within 5 working days of the biometric appointment. It is available for most ILR routes including SET(O) (Skilled Worker) and SET(M) (Spouse and Partner).

Priority service availability varies by route and by date

Priority service is not available for the 10-year Long Residence route (SET(LR)). It has also been suspended at various points in 2025 and 2026 due to UKVI operational pressures. Confirm current availability on GOV.UK before booking your biometric appointment and paying for the priority service.

Priority service is appropriate where you have urgent international travel in the next two to four weeks, a time-sensitive employment requirement that needs proof of settled status, or your current visa is expiring and you want certainty of decision before any gap in leave.

Super Priority Service Next Working Day £1,000 Additional

Super Priority costs £1,000 in addition to the standard ILR fee and aims to deliver a decision by 11pm on the day after your biometric appointment, provided that appointment is before 11:45am. If your appointment is after 11:45am, the decision may arrive on the second working day.

Super Priority must be booked through UKVCAS at the time you book your biometric appointment. It is not available at all UKVCAS locations or for all appointment dates. Book as early as possible after submitting the online application if Super Priority is needed.

Super Priority is appropriate for applicants with genuinely urgent needs imminent international travel for work, a time-sensitive legal or personal matter, or circumstances where waiting even 5 working days would cause significant hardship.

The Full ILR Application Timeline

  
End-to-end ILR application timeline

Step 1 Complete the online SET form1–2 hours submit online via GOV.UK
Step 2 Pay the application fee and choose service tierSame session fee is non-refundable
Step 3 Book biometric appointment at UKVCASTypically 1–4 weeks after fee payment
Step 4 Attend biometrics and submit documentsAppointment day
Step 5 Await decisionNext working day (Super Priority) / 5 days (Priority) / up to 6 months (standard)
Step 6 Receive eVisa confirmationDigital status update via UKVI account

End-to-end ILR application timeline
Step 1 Complete the online SET form	1–2 hours submit online via GOV.UK
Step 2 Pay the application fee and choose service tier	Same session fee is non-refundable
Step 3 Book biometric appointment at UKVCAS	Typically 1–4 weeks after fee payment
Step 4 Attend biometrics and submit documents	Appointment day
Step 5 Await decision	Next working day (Super Priority) / 5 days (Priority) / up to 6 months (standard)
Step 6 Receive eVisa confirmation	Digital status update via UKVI account

ILR Application Fees 2026

  
ILR fees from 8 April 2026

SET(O) Skilled Worker and work routes£3,226 per applicant
SET(M) Spouse and Partner route£3,226 per applicant
SET(LR) Long Residence£3,226 per applicant
Priority service all routesAdditional £500
Super Priority service most routesAdditional £1,000
Immigration Health SurchargeNot payable on ILR applications

ILR fees from 8 April 2026
SET(O) Skilled Worker and work routes	£3,226 per applicant
SET(M) Spouse and Partner route	£3,226 per applicant
SET(LR) Long Residence	£3,226 per applicant
Priority service all routes	Additional £500
Super Priority service most routes	Additional £1,000
Immigration Health Surcharge	Not payable on ILR applications

The ILR fee increased from £3,029 to £3,226 on 8 April 2026. The fee is non-refundable if the application is refused. There is no IHS on ILR applications unlike limited leave extensions.

What Causes ILR Delays?

Criminal disclosures: Applications where the applicant has declared a criminal conviction require additional processing time for enhanced background checks and Good Character assessment.

Complex immigration history: Previous visa refusals, overstays, or absences that approach the 180-day limit require additional caseworker scrutiny.

Document verification: Where the Home Office needs to verify documents with overseas authorities particularly overseas criminal records processing can extend significantly.

Requests for Further Information (RFI): If UKVI issues an RFI, the processing clock pauses until you respond. Respond promptly and completely — delays in responding directly extend the overall processing time.

Seasonal peaks: ILR applications peak in certain months particularly Q1 and Q3. Submitting during peak periods can increase standard processing time.

Proposed Changes Earned Settlement

ILR qualifying period extension — outcome pending

The 2025 Immigration White Paper proposed extending the standard ILR qualifying period from five years to ten years for most applicants. The consultation closed February 2026. No changes have been enacted as of September 2026. Any enacted change is expected to include transitional arrangements for applicants already on qualifying routes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does ILR take in 2026?

Standard processing takes up to 6 months from the biometric appointment. In practice, most standard SET(O) applications are decided in 4 to 8 weeks. Priority service (£500) targets 5 working days. Super Priority (£1,000) targets the next working day.

What is the ILR application fee in 2026?

£3,226 per applicant from 8 April 2026 for most settlement routes. There is no Immigration Health Surcharge on ILR applications. Priority service adds £500; Super Priority adds £1,000. The fee is non-refundable if refused.

Is ILR priority service worth paying for?

It depends on your urgency. If you have imminent international travel, an urgent employment requirement, or your leave is expiring imminently, Priority or Super Priority is worth the additional cost. If there is no urgency, standard processing typically delivers in 4 to 8 weeks and the £500 or £1,000 premium is unnecessary.

What is Super Priority ILR and how do I book it?

Super Priority is a next-working-day ILR decision service costing £1,000 additional. It must be booked through UKVCAS when you book your biometric appointment. It is not available at all UKVCAS locations or for all dates. The appointment must be before 11:45am for a same-day (next working day) decision.

Preparing an ILR Application or Unsure Which Service to Choose?

Noble Rose prepares ILR applications across all qualifying routes — SET(O), SET(M), and SET(LR). We advise on processing tier selection, verify absence records, review complex immigration histories, and manage Home Office correspondence. IAA regulated Level 1. Cambridge.

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