Services

Home Office Fee Waiver Applications

We advise on applications for a Home Office fee waiver for individuals who cannot afford to pay the immigration application fee or the Immigration Health Surcharge. Fee waivers are available for certain in-country human rights-based applications. We assess eligibility carefully before advising you to apply.

Immigration application fees are substantial and can present a significant barrier to individuals wishing to regularise their immigration status lawfully. Where an application engages human rights grounds — in particular Article 8 ECHR (right to respect for private and family life) — the Home Office operates a fee waiver scheme that can excuse the applicant from paying the Home Office fee and, in some cases, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).

We do not guarantee that a fee waiver application will be granted. We will advise honestly on eligibility and prospects before any work begins.

Who Can Apply for a Fee Waiver?

Fee waivers are available only for specific in-country applications where the underlying leave to remain application is based on family life or private life under human rights grounds. The most common eligible routes include:

FLR(FP) — Family & Private Life

Further leave to remain applications under Appendix FM (family life as a partner, parent or child) or Appendix Private Life on the 10-year route to settlement where the applicant cannot afford the fee.

Partners on the 5-Year Route (where exempt from financial requirement)

Partners applying under the 5-year route who are exempt from the minimum income requirement (for example, because the sponsor is in receipt of certain disability benefits) may be eligible for a waiver.

Leave Outside the Rules — Human Rights

Applications for leave outside the Immigration Rules where the refusal would constitute a breach of Article 8 ECHR rights and the applicant cannot afford the fee.

Child Citizenship Registration

Following recent policy changes, fee waivers are available in limited circumstances for applications to register a child as a British citizen where the fee would cause serious financial hardship.

The Affordability Test

To qualify for a fee waiver, you must demonstrate that paying the Home Office application fee and/or the IHS would leave you unable to meet essential living needs — such as food, rent or heating. This is known as the affordability test (which replaced the previous destitution test). You must provide detailed evidence of your financial position, including income, outgoings, savings and any support received.

Financial Evidence Review

We review your financial documents — bank statements, payslips, benefits letters, rent receipts and other evidence — to assess whether you meet the affordability test and advise on the evidence to include in your application.

Fee Waiver Application Drafting

We prepare the fee waiver application form and supporting representations, clearly setting out your financial position and why you cannot afford the fee without depriving yourself or your family of essential needs.

Important Procedural Points

A fee waiver must be applied for before you submit your main leave to remain application. If the waiver is granted, you will receive a waiver code or token that must be used to submit your main application within 10 working days. If you do not submit within this window, the waiver expires and you must reapply. The fee waiver does not affect the merits of your leave to remain application — it is assessed separately.

🔒 What fee waivers do NOT cover: Fee waivers are not available for ILR (settlement) applications, standard work or study visa applications, spouse visa entry clearance from outside the UK (in most cases), or visitor visa applications. They apply only to in-country human rights-based leave to remain applications in most circumstances.

ⓘ Not Everyone Qualifies

Fee waivers are only available for specific human rights-based in-country routes. We will assess your eligibility before advising you to apply — a refused waiver application can cause delay.

💳 Estimated Professional Fees

Fee Waiver Application

£500 – £900

· Quoted individually based on complexity

If the waiver is granted, the Home Office fee for your main application is waived. Our professional fee for preparing the waiver application is separate and payable regardless of outcome.