The UK government has introduced two paid service tiers in 2026 that allow visa, settlement, and citizenship applicants to receive faster decisions, with fees set at £500 (approximately ₦988,000) for priority service and £1,000 (approximately ₦1.98 million) for super priority service per applicant.
Priority Service: Five Working Days for Most Applications
Under the priority service, which costs £500 on top of the standard application fee, most visa and settlement decisions are issued within five working days. However, family visa applications made from outside the UK—including those for partners, spouses, parents, children, and adults coming to be cared for by a relative—have a longer processing window of up to 30 working days. Citizenship applications also fall under the 30-working-day timeline under this service.
The processing period starts either on the day of the applicant's in-person identity appointment or on the working day after they finish uploading their documents through the UK Immigration: ID Check app.
Super Priority Service: Decision by Next Working Day
The super priority service, priced at £1,000 per person above the standard fee, is not available for citizenship applications. Applicants who prove their identity in person on a weekday can expect a decision by the end of the following working day. If the appointment falls on a weekend or bank holiday, the decision arrives within two working days. The same timelines apply to those using the ID Check app, depending on whether documents are uploaded on a weekday or during a weekend or public holiday.
For applicants with family members joining the same application, every individual must pay separately for the faster service, either £500 or £1,000 each. The government stated that all family members on a joint application would receive their decisions at the same time, though cases involving in-person fingerprinting and photographs could take longer.
Potential Delays and Refund Policy
The Home Office warned that processing times may exceed the stated windows if it needs to request additional information or verify details with other government departments. Applicants are notified when this happens, but refunds are not usually offered when delays occur, even when the government itself is responsible for the extended wait.
In a related story, Legit.ng reported that the UK had highlighted four important rules for applicants before applying for a visa.
Categories of People Eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the UK had listed nine categories of people who can apply for an indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in Britain. Also called "settlement," ILR serves as the gateway to British citizenship and entitles holders to apply for certain benefits if they meet the eligibility criteria. The residency requirement to qualify differs based on a person's visa type and personal circumstances.
