Client information
Immigration Solicitor Fees
Professional charges are shown excluding VAT, with the VAT amount and total at the standard rate where applicable. External charges are separate. Read the service scope and qualifications before relying on a price. Immigration matters are handled and supervised by Henry Lau and Tehmina Malik. Professional fees exclude disbursements; translation and barrister fees are additional where applicable.
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UK legal services are normally standard-rated at 20%. Some supplies to customers belonging outside the UK fall outside UK VAT under the place-of-supply rules. Client status, where the client belongs and the nature of the service matter; nationality or immigration status alone does not establish an exemption. VAT must be assessed for the particular instruction. The figures below illustrate the standard-rated case, not a tax decision for every applicant.
Read the fee basis and scope for your service below. The listed fees exclude external costs. Ask for a written estimate identifying the work covered, additional charges and likely timing before instructing us.
Service and costs
Immigration applications (excluding asylum)
Preparation and submission of immigration applications, excluding asylum. Application charges retain their approved published categories; older labels must be matched to the actual instruction before a quote is agreed. The stages below describe the usual process; contractual inclusions depend on the written scope agreed for your application.
| Initial 30-minute consultation | Published free consultation: £0.00 excluding VAT VAT at 20% where applicable: £0.00. Total at this VAT rate: £0.00. Immigration only, by appointment. This does not establish a free consultation for other services; confirm the appointment arrangements directly. |
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| EU applications (historical fee category) | Published application charge: £1,400.00 excluding VAT VAT at 20% where applicable: £280.00. Total at this VAT rate: £1,680.00. This is the original fee category, not confirmation that the route remains open or that the price applies to a replacement route. Confirm the current application and scope before relying on this charge. VAT-inclusive figures apply where UK VAT is due at 20%. |
| Long residence | Published application charge: £1,500.00 excluding VAT VAT at 20% where applicable: £300.00. Total at this VAT rate: £1,800.00. The VAT-inclusive figure applies only where UK VAT is due at 20%. |
| Private life | Published application charge: £1,500.00 excluding VAT VAT at 20% where applicable: £300.00. Total at this VAT rate: £1,800.00. The VAT-inclusive figure applies only where UK VAT is due at 20%. |
| Student applications | Published application charge: £1,000.00 excluding VAT VAT at 20% where applicable: £200.00. Total at this VAT rate: £1,200.00. The VAT-inclusive figure applies only where UK VAT is due at 20%. |
| British citizenship | Published application charge: £1,500.00 excluding VAT VAT at 20% where applicable: £300.00. Total at this VAT rate: £1,800.00. The VAT-inclusive figure applies only where UK VAT is due at 20%. |
| Tier 1 (historical fee category) | Published application charge: £2,200.00 excluding VAT VAT at 20% where applicable: £440.00. Total at this VAT rate: £2,640.00. This is the original fee category, not confirmation that the route remains open or that the price applies to a replacement route. Confirm the current application and scope before relying on this charge. VAT-inclusive figures apply where UK VAT is due at 20%. |
| Tier 2 (historical fee category) | Published application charge: £800.00 excluding VAT VAT at 20% where applicable: £160.00. Total at this VAT rate: £960.00. This is the original fee category, not confirmation that the route remains open or that the price applies to a replacement route. Confirm the current application and scope before relying on this charge. VAT-inclusive figures apply where UK VAT is due at 20%. Skilled Worker replaced Tier 2 (General), but the original Tier 2 fee category does not identify that sub-route; this price is not automatically assigned to Skilled Worker. |
| ILR work-permit holder (historical fee category) | Published application charge: £800.00 excluding VAT VAT at 20% where applicable: £160.00. Total at this VAT rate: £960.00. This is the original fee category, not confirmation that the route remains open or that the price applies to a replacement route. Confirm the current application and scope before relying on this charge. VAT-inclusive figures apply where UK VAT is due at 20%. |
| Tier 5 (historical fee category) | Published application charge: £800.00 excluding VAT VAT at 20% where applicable: £160.00. Total at this VAT rate: £960.00. This is the original fee category, not confirmation that the route remains open or that the price applies to a replacement route. Confirm the current application and scope before relying on this charge. VAT-inclusive figures apply where UK VAT is due at 20%. |
| Visitor | Published application charge: £800.00 excluding VAT VAT at 20% where applicable: £160.00. Total at this VAT rate: £960.00. The VAT-inclusive figure applies only where UK VAT is due at 20%. |
| Private/family life, ten-year route | Published application charge: £1,500.00 excluding VAT VAT at 20% where applicable: £300.00. Total at this VAT rate: £1,800.00. The VAT-inclusive figure applies only where UK VAT is due at 20%. |
| Family of British/settled persons: entry clearance | Published application charge: £1,400.00 excluding VAT VAT at 20% where applicable: £280.00. Total at this VAT rate: £1,680.00. The VAT-inclusive figure applies only where UK VAT is due at 20%. |
| Switching to that family visa | Published application charge: £1,200.00 excluding VAT VAT at 20% where applicable: £240.00. Total at this VAT rate: £1,440.00. The VAT-inclusive figure applies only where UK VAT is due at 20%. |
| Indefinite leave to remain | Published application charge: £1,400.00 excluding VAT VAT at 20% where applicable: £280.00. Total at this VAT rate: £1,680.00. The VAT-inclusive figure applies only where UK VAT is due at 20%. |
| Additional work | Per hour: £150.00–£250.00 excluding VAT VAT at 20% where applicable: £30.00–£50.00. Total at this VAT rate: £180.00–£300.00. The VAT-inclusive figure applies only where UK VAT is due at 20%. |
| Charging basis | Use the basis stated against each priced item below. No combined package or fixed total is inferred from separate entries. |
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| Professional fee or range | The schedule below sets out the approved amounts and ranges. It is not an aggregate quote for every stage. |
| VAT treatment and amount | Charges exclude VAT. The figures show 20% VAT where the standard rate applies. The treatment of a particular instruction depends on the client and the service; a different place-of-supply treatment may apply. |
| Gross professional total | Gross amounts below include 20% VAT on each priced item where applicable. They exclude separately payable external costs and must not be added together without an agreed scope. |
| Complexity assumptions | Documents, complexity and the extent of the instruction affect cost. Ask which assumptions apply to your estimate. |
| Included services | The published application fee covers agreed work through the Home Office decision. The initial consultation considers the route, documents, procedure and costs. Detailed route-specific inclusions and exclusions remain unspecified; this is not an assurance that appeals or all further work are included. |
| Exclusions and additional work | Additional work has a published hourly range of £150 to £250 excluding VAT (£180 to £300 at 20% VAT). The circumstances in which that work is needed and authorised must be agreed; no number of hours is assumed. |
| Responsible professionals | Henry Lau is Head of Immigration and Family. Tehmina Malik is a senior immigration lawyer; her published biography describes over 25 years of immigration experience. See their profiles below for the published background to their work. |
| Supervision | Work is handled and supervised by Henry Lau and Tehmina Malik. |
External costs
These are separate from professional charges. Applicability, supplier charges and VAT must be verified for the instruction.
| Home Office application fee | See the official fee guidance below. The amount depends on the application or claim; no universal external-cost total applies. VAT depends on the nature of the charge and supplier. Confirm the applicable treatment in the cost estimate; the professional-fee VAT calculation is not applied automatically to this item. |
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| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), where applicable | See the official fee guidance below. The amount depends on the application or claim; no universal external-cost total applies. VAT depends on the nature of the charge and supplier. Confirm the applicable treatment in the cost estimate; the professional-fee VAT calculation is not applied automatically to this item. |
| Translation and interpreting | A current amount or range is not published here. Obtain a quotation for this cost if it applies to your matter. VAT depends on the nature of the charge and supplier. Confirm the applicable treatment in the cost estimate; the professional-fee VAT calculation is not applied automatically to this item. |
| Optional priority services, where available | A current amount or range is not published here. Obtain a quotation for this cost if it applies to your matter. VAT depends on the nature of the charge and supplier. Confirm the applicable treatment in the cost estimate; the professional-fee VAT calculation is not applied automatically to this item. |
Stages and indicative timing
Assessment
Route and evidence assessment.
There is no published firm preparation or completion time for this stage. Ask for a matter-specific estimate; documents, complexity and responses from others affect timing.
Evidence review
Review the documents relevant to the application, identify gaps and consider whether translation or further evidence is needed.
There is no published firm preparation or completion time for this stage. Ask for a matter-specific estimate; documents, complexity and responses from others affect timing.
Preparation
Prepare the application and supporting material within the agreed instruction.
There is no published firm preparation or completion time for this stage. Ask for a matter-specific estimate; documents, complexity and responses from others affect timing.
Submission
Submit the application and complete the applicable identity or biometric steps. Government charges are separate.
There is no published firm preparation or completion time for this stage. Ask for a matter-specific estimate; documents, complexity and responses from others affect timing.
Decision and further work
Home Office consideration and decision; any appeal, review or further application has a separate scope.
For standard overseas applications, current GOV.UK guidance lists three weeks for visitor and Student routes and twelve weeks for partner/spouse applications. Processing starts at the relevant identity-check/submission or biometric stage and may take longer. In-country times differ. These are external decision estimates, not Highfin preparation times or guarantees.
Service and costs
Non-asylum First-tier Tribunal appeals
Advice and representation in non-asylum First-tier Tribunal immigration appeals. The published appeal charge does not establish which preparation, hearing or counsel work is included.
| First-tier Tribunal appeals | Published application charge: £1,800.00 excluding VAT VAT at 20% where applicable: £360.00. Total at this VAT rate: £2,160.00. The VAT-inclusive figure applies only where UK VAT is due at 20%. |
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| Charging basis | Use the basis stated against each priced item below. No combined package or fixed total is inferred from separate entries. |
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| Professional fee or range | The schedule below sets out the approved amounts and ranges. It is not an aggregate quote for every stage. |
| VAT treatment and amount | Charges exclude VAT. The figures show 20% VAT where the standard rate applies. The treatment of a particular instruction depends on the client and the service; a different place-of-supply treatment may apply. |
| Gross professional total | Gross amounts below include 20% VAT on each priced item where applicable. They exclude separately payable external costs and must not be added together without an agreed scope. |
| Complexity assumptions | Documents, complexity and the extent of the instruction affect cost. Ask which assumptions apply to your estimate. |
| Included services | Agree the work covered by your fee in writing. The process described below is general guidance and does not mean every step is included in the displayed charge. |
| Exclusions and additional work | Agree any additional work and its cost before it proceeds. The displayed charge should not be treated as an all-inclusive package. |
| Responsible professionals | Henry Lau is Head of Immigration and Family. Tehmina Malik is a senior immigration lawyer; her published biography describes over 25 years of immigration experience. See their profiles below for the published background to their work. |
| Supervision | Work is handled and supervised by Henry Lau and Tehmina Malik. |
External costs
These are separate from professional charges. Applicability, supplier charges and VAT must be verified for the instruction.
| Tribunal fee, where applicable | A current amount or range is not published here. Obtain a quotation for this cost if it applies to your matter. VAT depends on the nature of the charge and supplier. Confirm the applicable treatment in the cost estimate; the professional-fee VAT calculation is not applied automatically to this item. |
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| Counsel and expert evidence | A current amount or range is not published here. Obtain a quotation for this cost if it applies to your matter. VAT depends on the nature of the charge and supplier. Confirm the applicable treatment in the cost estimate; the professional-fee VAT calculation is not applied automatically to this item. |
| Translation and interpreting | A current amount or range is not published here. Obtain a quotation for this cost if it applies to your matter. VAT depends on the nature of the charge and supplier. Confirm the applicable treatment in the cost estimate; the professional-fee VAT calculation is not applied automatically to this item. |
Stages and indicative timing
Appeal preparation
Assessment, grounds and evidence.
There is no published firm preparation or completion time for this stage. Ask for a matter-specific estimate; documents, complexity and responses from others affect timing.
Hearing and outcome
Hearing and decision; confirm the scope of representation and whether counsel or further proceedings require separate costs.
There is no published firm preparation or completion time for this stage. Ask for a matter-specific estimate; documents, complexity and responses from others affect timing.
Service and costs
Asylum pricing
Asylum is priced individually on request. It is separate from the specified non-asylum transparency categories; no legal-aid or funding arrangement is implied.
| Asylum | Individual price on request No published amount. Asylum scope and any funding arrangements require individual confirmation. |
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| Charging basis | Use the basis stated against each priced item below. No combined package or fixed total is inferred from separate entries. |
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| Professional fee or range | This service is quoted individually; no separate amount is published here. |
| VAT treatment and amount | Charges exclude VAT. The figures show 20% VAT where the standard rate applies. The treatment of a particular instruction depends on the client and the service; a different place-of-supply treatment may apply. |
| Gross professional total | Gross amounts below include 20% VAT on each priced item where applicable. They exclude separately payable external costs and must not be added together without an agreed scope. |
| Complexity assumptions | Documents, complexity and the extent of the instruction affect cost. Ask which assumptions apply to your estimate. |
| Included services | Agree the work covered by your fee in writing. The process described below is general guidance and does not mean every step is included in the displayed charge. |
| Exclusions and additional work | Agree any additional work and its cost before it proceeds. The displayed charge should not be treated as an all-inclusive package. |
| Responsible professionals | Henry Lau is Head of Immigration and Family. Tehmina Malik is a senior immigration lawyer; her published biography describes over 25 years of immigration experience. See their profiles below for the published background to their work. |
| Supervision | Work is handled and supervised by Henry Lau and Tehmina Malik. |
External costs
These are separate from professional charges. Applicability, supplier charges and VAT must be verified for the instruction.
| Interpreting and expert evidence, where needed | A current amount or range is not published here. Obtain a quotation for this cost if it applies to your matter. VAT depends on the nature of the charge and supplier. Confirm the applicable treatment in the cost estimate; the professional-fee VAT calculation is not applied automatically to this item. |
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Stages and indicative timing
Scope assessment
Identify the proposed instruction and any separate proceedings.
There is no published firm preparation or completion time for this stage. Ask for a matter-specific estimate; documents, complexity and responses from others affect timing.
Separate third-party charges
Official fee guidance
Home Office application fees
The schedule effective 8 October 2026 lists £135 for an overseas visit visa up to six months, £558 for Student applications (inside or outside the UK), and £3,226 for indefinite leave to remain. These are selected statutory examples, not a universal minimum or the total cost of an application. Confirm the exact route, applicant, exemptions and optional services against the schedule.
Official guidance: Home Office application fees · Checked 2026-10-13
Immigration Health Surcharge
Where payable, the annual rate is £1,035, or £776 for students and their dependants, Youth Mobility applicants and applicants under 18. Duration, part-years, application location and exemptions affect the total.
Official guidance: Immigration Health Surcharge · Checked 2026-10-13
Planning your next step
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