Citizenship Areas
Advice and support with eligible immigration and child citizenship fee waiver requests, tailored to your circumstances.
Advice where the cost of an eligible immigration application cannot be met alongside essential living needs.
We consider the relevant waiver policy, household circumstances and the needs of children.
Fee waivers are available only for specified applications. Financial difficulty alone does not make every visa, settlement or nationality application eligible.
We assess the proposed application and the relevant policy before advising on a request. A fee waiver decision does not itself grant immigration permission or British citizenship.
Our advice brings the fee waiver request and the underlying application together, with attention to your circumstances and deadlines.
Review the proposed application, current status and whether a waiver can be requested.
Consider household finances, essential needs and any relevant vulnerabilities.
Help organise supporting evidence and present a clear explanation of your circumstances.
Review the decision and advise on the appropriate next steps and applicable deadlines.
A fee waiver may be available for eligible family or private life applications and certain other specified human rights or protection-related applications. We check the precise application and policy that apply to you.
We assess which charges may be covered, including any relevant Immigration Health Surcharge waiver. The position depends on the application and the decision made.
A waiver request is a separate stage from the immigration application. We advise on timing and any effect on your existing permission; do not assume that making a request automatically extends your stay.
An overseas fee waiver may be available for certain eligible human rights-based entry clearance applications. It is not a general waiver for all UK visa routes.
The assessment can involve the applicant’s and sponsor’s resources, essential living costs and the needs of affected children. We review the relevant circumstances before preparing a request.
We also consider the underlying family application separately. Approval of the fee waiver does not decide whether the visa will be granted.
Advice on which family members need a waiver and how the household’s circumstances and children’s needs should be presented.
A separate fee waiver scheme is available for eligible applicants under 18 where the registration fee cannot be afforded.
A child’s citizenship registration request is assessed separately from an immigration fee waiver. There are also specific fee exemption arrangements for children looked after by a local authority.
We assess the child’s nationality position and the appropriate fee arrangements alongside our British citizenship service.
We review what the waiver covers and help progress the underlying application within the applicable time limits. A waiver is not an open-ended approval to apply whenever you choose.
We review the reasons, your current circumstances and the available next steps. Further evidence or a new request may be appropriate, depending on the policy and your position.
Existing permission, an upcoming birthday or another application deadline can affect the advice you need. Seek advice promptly so the fee waiver and substantive application can be considered together.