Think tank calls for lower citizenship fees and a clearer path from settlement
12 Sep 2026
If you're planning ahead toward British citizenship after getting your ILR, a new report published on 10 September 2026 is worth knowing about, even though nothing has changed yet. The think tank IPPR found that the Home Office "charges citizenship applicants more than five times processing cost." Their figures put the naturalisation application fee at £1,709 against an estimated processing cost of around £324, with a further £130 ceremony fee bringing the total to about £1,839.
IPPR is calling for reform, arguing fees should move "much closer to administrative costs, with fee reductions funded through employers' sponsorship contributions." The report also pushes for clearer settlement pathways generally, suggesting the wait for settlement should be "set at five years and no more than 10 years" across routes.
None of this is government policy yet. It's a think tank report and recommendation, not a rule change, so there's nothing you need to do right now. But if you're budgeting for citizenship costs after ILR, it's a sign that fee levels remain a live political issue, and worth keeping an eye on if you're timing your naturalisation application.
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