Requesting a fee waiver

In some cases, if you cannot afford to pay the fee for your immigration or nationality application, or if paying the fee would result in the needs of a child not being met, you can request a fee waiver.

You must make this fee waiver request before making your immigration or nationality application. You may start your immigration or nationality application online, but it should only be submitted after you have received a decision on your fee waiver request.

Applications for permission to stay in the UK

You can request a fee waiver if you are making an application for permission to stay in the UK on the basis of family life or private life:

• as a partner, parent or dependant child applying based on your family life or private life in the UK
• on human rights grounds, including where you were previously refused under the family or private life route, but granted "Discretionary Leave" or 'leave outside the Rules' (check your BRP for what leave you have been granted)
• to extend your leave as someone who was refused asylum or humanitarian protection and granted "Discretionary Leave" instead.
• to extend your leave as a person who was granted leave as a victim of trafficking or slavery

If you are granted a fee waiver, you must apply to stay in the UK for 1 of the above reasons.

Where you are applying with other family members, you must include the same applicants in your fee waiver request as you will include in your permission to stay application. For example, your partner or any dependant children.

You may apply for a fee waiver on behalf of one or more of your family members who are applying with you, even if you are not applying for a fee waiver for your application. This may be appropriate if you can pay some, but not all, of the fees for the applications.

Applications for entry clearance

You can request a fee waiver if you are applying for entry clearance on the basis of family life or private life and if you are eligible:

• as a partner or child of a member of HM Forces
• as a partner or child of a member of HM Forces (the sponsor) where the sponsor:
  • is a foreign or Commonwealth member of HM Forces
  • has at least 4 years' service in HM Forces at the date of application
• under Appendix FM (family members) where the sponsor is present and settled in the UK
• by having refugee or humanitarian protection status in the UK

If you are granted a fee waiver, you must apply for entry clearance for 1 of the above reasons.

Where you are applying with other family members, you must include the same applicants in your fee waiver request as you will include in your permission to stay application. For example, your partner or any dependant children.

You may apply for a fee waiver on behalf of one or more of your family members who are applying with you, even if you are not applying for a fee waiver for your application. This may be appropriate if you can pay some, but not all, of the fees for the applications.

You must provide details and evidence about your sponsor when making a fee waiver request for 1 of the above reasons.

Applications to register a child under 18 as a British citizen

You can apply for a fee waiver if you are under 18 and are eligible for British citizenship.

Your parent or legal guardian can apply on your behalf. They can include their other children in the same application.

If you apply for a fee waiver online and you are successful, you must also then apply for citizenship online. If you cannot apply for both online, you must apply using the paper forms instead.

Do not apply for a fee waiver if you’re being looked after by a local authority. Instead, provide evidence of this when you apply for citizenship. The application will be free.

Before submitting your request for a fee waiver

Before you begin your request, you must read the guidance relevant to your circumstances:

• Guidance for applications to register a child under 18 as a British
• Guidance for applications for a fee waiver from overseas
• Guidance for applications for permission to stay in the UK

This guidance includes information about who is eligible for a fee waiver, how to apply, the affordability test, what the needs of a child means, and the documents you must provide to support your request.

You will be asked for information and evidence about yourself, and where relevant, your parent(s), partner and dependant children and anyone else in your household or who helps you with money, accommodation or meeting your essential living needs.

There is no charge for making a request for a fee waiver.

What happens next

If you qualify for a fee waiver, you will be told by email or letter. This will include a personalised code that you will need to include in your immigration or nationality application. This code will show which fee waiver you have qualified for.

If you qualify for a fee waiver and are applying on a route where the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is payable, this will also be waived, and you will not need to pay the IHS.

About the online form

The amount of time you will need to complete the request form will depend on your situation. You will be able to save your form and come back to it at another time if you need to.

If you are inactive for 25 minutes you will be automatically logged out.

Where monetary amounts are indicated, these must be provided in Great British Pounds (GBP). To convert monetary amounts from other currencies into GBP, use the currency converter provided by OANDA.

How we use your data

The Home Office will use the personal information you provide to consider your request. We may also share your information with other public and private sector organisations in the UK and overseas. For more detail please see the Privacy Notice for the Borders, Immigration and Citizenship system. This also sets out your rights under the Data Protection Act 2018 and explains how you can access your personal information and complain if you have concerns about how we are using it.

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