ILR Processing Time: Standard, Priority, and Super Priority Service

ILR processing times are one of the most common questions from applicants — and one of the most unpredictable to answer. The Home Office publishes target processing times, but actual decision times vary based on application volume and caseworker capacity.

Here's how each service tier works and what to realistically expect.

Standard Processing: Around 8 Weeks

For settlement applications on the standard (no added priority) service, the Home Office target is a decision within 6 months. In practice, straightforward Skilled Worker applications are typically decided within 4–8 weeks of the biometrics appointment.

"Straightforward" means: all documents in order, no immigration history issues, no salary discrepancies, no absence concerns. Applications that require additional caseworker review — because of an unusual employment history, an absence approaching the 180-day limit, or a character concern — can take significantly longer.

Standard processing is free beyond the main application fee.

Priority Service: 5 Working Days, £500

The Priority Service aims to deliver a decision within 5 working days of the biometrics appointment. This is an estimate rather than a guarantee, but in practice the Home Office meets this target for most priority applications.

The Priority Service costs £500 per application (not per person). This fee is in addition to the main application fee of £3,226 per applicant. For a couple applying together, the £500 priority fee covers both applications submitted at the same time.

Who uses priority service?

• Applicants whose current visa is expiring imminently and who need a decision before it lapses
• Skilled workers with a contract renewal, job offer, or salary review tied to their immigration status
• Applicants who have a trip planned and need a resolved status before travelling
• Anyone unwilling to wait 8 weeks with their status uncertain

For most applicants who can afford it, priority service is worth the £500. The peace of mind, the speed of employment confirmation, and the ability to travel all justify the cost against the backdrop of an application that already costs thousands of pounds.

Super Priority Service: Next-Day Decision, £1,000

The Super Priority Service targets a decision by the end of the next working day after the biometrics appointment. The cost is £1,000 per application.

This service is used when the situation is genuinely urgent — an employer requiring immediate confirmation, a medical issue requiring international travel, or a looming contract end. It is not a guarantee of a same-day decision, but the Home Office generally meets the next-working-day target for straightforward applications.

Super Priority is only available for certain routes and locations. Confirm availability when booking your UKVCAS appointment.

The Biometrics Appointment

Before a decision is made on any ILR application, every applicant must attend a biometrics enrolment appointment at a UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services) centre. This involves fingerprinting and a facial photograph.

The appointment itself takes around 30 minutes. The £19.20 standard UKVCAS service fee covers a standard appointment at a service point.

Enhanced appointments are available for applicants who need to attend outside standard hours or at premium locations. These cost significantly more — from £60 to over £200 — and vary by centre and time slot. In London, where standard appointments can book up weeks in advance, enhanced appointments are often the only way to get a slot within a reasonable timeframe.

For priority and super priority applications, you should book your biometrics appointment as soon as your application is submitted. The processing clock (5 working days or next-day) starts from the biometrics appointment, not the application submission date.

What Happens After You Submit

1. Application submitted online — you receive a reference number
2. Biometrics appointment booked at UKVCAS
3. Documents scanned/submitted — either at the UKVCAS appointment or digitally through the online portal
4. Decision issued — by email to your registered address, within the target timeframe for your service tier
5. eVisa activated — upon a positive decision, your settled status is recorded digitally as an eVisa, linked to your passport

You do not receive a physical ILR document anymore. The eVisa is your proof of settled status. You access it through your UKVI online account and share it with employers or others via a generated share code.

If the Processing Time Exceeds the Target

For priority applications that haven't been decided within 5 working days, you can contact the Home Office to chase the application. For standard applications, the 6-month target is the initial benchmark — if you're approaching that limit without a decision, a formal representation to UKVI is appropriate.

While your ILR application is pending, your existing visa conditions are extended under Section 3C leave (if you applied in time, before your current visa expired). This protects your right to work until the decision is made.

Can You Chase a Delayed Application?

Yes. For priority applications that haven't been decided within 5 working days, contact the Home Office via the UKVI contact centre or use the online application tracker. Provide your application reference number and the date of your biometrics appointment. Escalation is not always productive for standard applications, but for priority cases, a delay beyond the published target is a legitimate basis for inquiry.

For standard applications, the 6-month target is the benchmark. If you approach that window without a decision, contact UKVI to confirm your application is active and hasn't been placed in an extended review queue without notification.

ILR Decision vs. ILR Certificate

There is no physical ILR certificate or document issued on approval. The decision letter (received by email) confirms the outcome, and your settled status is activated as an eVisa in your UKVI online account. When employers, landlords, or border officials need to verify your status, you generate a share code from your UKVI account — a unique code that gives the requester a live view of your immigration status.

Your decision letter is important to retain as a record of when ILR was granted. This date is the start of your 12-month countdown to citizenship eligibility, and you'll need to reference it in your naturalisation application.

What the eVisa Means for Travel

After ILR is granted, you can travel freely. There is no longer a restriction on international travel (though the 2-year lapsing rule applies to prolonged stays abroad). When you re-enter the UK, border officers check your eVisa status electronically — linked to your biometric passport details.

If you're travelling to a country that still requires a visa for your nationality, your ILR status may count toward the application (some countries treat UK settled status differently than a visa). Check the requirements of your destination country separately.

The UK ILR Settlement Guide covers the full application timeline — from the 28-day window calculation, through document submission, to what happens after your eVisa is granted — including a step-by-step checklist for managing the UKVCAS biometrics appointment.

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