Every Home Office fee, the health surcharge and what an adviser costs, from first application to settlement.
Start the eligibility checkContact usThe short answer
A UK spouse or partner visa costs £2,064 in Home Office fees for the first application from abroad, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge. Over the full route to settlement, the government fees come to about £12,390 per applicant. This guide breaks down every step so you can budget before you apply.
If you want help with the application itself, see our spouse and partner visa service.
Spouse visa fees at a glance
| Step | Home Office fee | Immigration Health Surcharge | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry clearance (first application from abroad) | £2,064 | £3,105 (3 x £1,035) | £5,169 |
| Extension after about 2.5 years (further leave to remain) | £1,407 | £2,587.50 (2.5 x £1,035) | £3,994.50 |
| Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) | £3,226 | None | £3,226 |
| Whole route, per applicant | £6,697 | £5,692.50 | £12,389.50 |
The health surcharge is paid in advance for the length of permission granted. The first grant is usually about 33 months, so the surcharge is charged for three years; the extension is charged for two and a half. Check your own grant length on the application.
What is the Immigration Health Surcharge?
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) gives you access to the NHS during your stay. The adult rate is £1,035 per year; the rate for students and children is £776 per year. It is paid when you apply, on top of the application fee. You do not pay it for ILR, because ILR is permanent.
Step 1: Entry clearance fee
The £2,064 fee applies when you apply from outside the UK for the partner route. It is the same whether you are married, in a civil partnership or an unmarried partner. If you apply from abroad you will also pay for biometrics at a visa application centre, and possibly for optional services such as priority processing at the centre.
Other costs to plan for:
An approved English language test, if you do not meet the requirement another way (costs vary by provider);
A tuberculosis test and certificate, if you are from a listed country;
Translations and certified copies of documents;
Travel to the application centre.
Step 2: The extension fee after 2.5 years
Many people search for the spouse visa extension fee, or spouse visa extension after 2.5 years fees. The Home Office fee to extend inside the UK is £1,407 per person, plus the surcharge for the extension period. The English requirement rises to A2, and you must meet the financial requirement again.
To get a faster decision on an in-UK application you can pay for a priority service. The super priority service has been listed at £1,000 on top of the application fee.
Step 3: Indefinite leave to remain
After completing the five-year route you can apply for ILR under the current rules. The Home Office fee is £3,226 per person. You must also pass the Life in the UK test and meet the English requirement at B1. The government has announced proposed Earned Settlement changes, including English at B2 and a different qualifying period for some applicants. No start date has been published, so check the rules in force when you apply. We update this guide when the fees and rules are confirmed. See our ILR application service.
Naturalisation as a British citizen is a separate application with a Home Office fee of £1,709 and a ceremony fee on top. See British citizenship help.
Costs for children and dependants
Children applying alongside a parent pay their own application fees and the surcharge at the child rate of £776 a year. The Home Office fee for a child on the partner route is the same as the adult fee for the same application type, and for ILR the child fee is also listed at the adult amount. If you have more than one child, the costs add up quickly and need planning.
Can you get a refund or a fee waiver?
Refunds. The application fee is usually not refunded if your application is refused. The Immigration Health Surcharge is refunded if the application is refused or withdrawn before a decision.
Fee waivers. A fee waiver is possible in limited human-rights cases where you cannot afford the fee, but it is not available for every route and the evidence required is strict. We can tell you whether it might apply.
What a regulated adviser costs
The Home Office does not charge for representation. If you use an adviser, you pay their professional fee on top. Our fees at Noble Rose Immigration Service Ltd are:
| Service | What it covers | Our fee |
|---|---|---|
| Initial advice | Eligibility assessment, risks, next steps | £60 to £125 |
| Document check | Review of your evidence against the rules | £200 to £700 |
| Family application support | Preparing and submitting the application | £400 to £1,050 |
We agree the scope and price in writing before work begins. Complex cases, such as an unusual income position, an earlier refusal or a long gap in a relationship, fall at the higher end.
How to budget for the whole route
A practical way to plan:
Before applying. Set aside the entry clearance fee, the surcharge, an English test, a TB test if needed, translations, and an adviser if you want one. This is roughly £5,200 to £6,500 depending on your case.
Around month 30. Plan for the extension fee, surcharge and any documents, roughly £4,000 to £4,500 including support.
At the five-year point. Plan for the ILR fee of £3,226 and the Life in the UK test.
If the total is more than you can pay at once, remember you do not have to pay it all up front: each stage is paid when you apply for it.
Common cost mistakes
Forgetting the surcharge and treating the application fee as the only cost.
Paying for a service that duplicates what you can do free, such as booking your own appointment.
Applying too late to extend, which can leave you without permission and with a higher cost to fix.
Using an unregulated agent. Check the register of the Immigration Advice Authority.
How much is a spouse visa in the UK?
The entry clearance fee is £2,064 plus the surcharge of £3,105 for a typical first grant, so about £5,169 before any extras.
What is the spouse visa extension fee?
The Home Office fee is £1,407, plus the surcharge for the extension period.
Is the health surcharge refunded?
Yes, if your application is refused or withdrawn before a decision, though not in other circumstances.
How much is the whole route to citizenship?
The government fees to ILR are about £12,390 per applicant. Citizenship is a further application.
Can I pay in instalments?
The Home Office does not offer instalments. You pay each fee when you apply.
Does a lawyer cost more than an adviser?
Fees vary by firm. We explain the differences in solicitor or IAA adviser.
This page is general information, not advice on your case. Rules and fees change; always check GOV.UK.
Not sure where you stand? Start with the eligibility check, or contact us.
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Bill Zahr (LLB Hons) leads Noble Rose Immigration Service with a methodical, "law-first" approach. Guided by the ethos ‘Navigare per Legem’, Bill combines rigorous legal expertise with genuine empathy to navigate complex UK immigration cases. Formerly of a top-tier UK firm, he ensures every client receives transparent, elite, and personalised care.
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Renzel Carlos (LLB Hons, First Class) is the primary liaison at Noble Rose Immigration Service. Currently undertaking the Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) programme, she combines a meticulous legal foundation with deep frontline experience. Renzel is dedicated to guiding clients through the emotional complexities of immigration with high-level professionalism, precision, and compassionate care.
