U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 24F-2
            ANNUAL NOTICE OF SECURITIES SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 24F-2

1.    Name and address of issuer

      First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII
      120 East Liberty Drive (Suite 400)
      Wheaton, IL 60187

2.    The name of each series or class of securities for which this Form is
      filed (If the Form is being filed for all series and classes of securities
      of the issuer, check the box but do not list series or classes): [X]

3.    Investment Company Act File Number: 811-22767

      Securities Act File Number: 333-184918

4.    (a) Last day of fiscal year for which this Form is filed: 12/31/20

      (b) [ ] Check box if this Form is being filed late (i.e., more than 90
          calendar days after the end of the issuer's fiscal year). (See
          Instruction A.2)

NOTE: IF THE FORM IS BEING FILED LATE, INTEREST MUST BE PAID ON THE REGISTRATION
FEE DUE.

      (c) [ ] Check box if this is the last time the issuer will be filing this
          Form.

5.    Calculation of registration fee:

      (i)     Aggregate sale price  of securities sold
              during  the   fiscal  year  pursuant  to
              section 24(f):                                   $    173,168,772
      (ii)    Aggregate price  of  securities redeemed
              or repurchased during the fiscal year:           $     71,212,750
      (iii)   Aggregate price  of  securities redeemed
              or repurchased during  any  PRIOR fiscal
              year ending  no earlier than October 11,
              1995 that  were  not previously used  to
              reduce registration fees payable to  the
              Commission:                                      $     53,004,910
      (iv)    Total available redemption credits  [add
              items 5(ii) and 5(iii)]:                         $    124,217,660
      (v)     Net sales  --  if  item 5(i)  is greater
              than  Item  5(iv) [subtract  Item  5(iv)
              from Item 5(i)]:                                 $     48,951,112
      (vi)    Redemption credits available for use  in
              future years --  if  Item 5(i)  is  less
              than  Item  5(iv) [subtract  Item  5(iv)
              from Item 5(i)]:                                 $              0
      (vii)   Multiplier  for determining registration
              fee (See Instruction C.9):                       x      0.0001091
      (viii)  Registration fee due [multiply Item 5(v)
              by Item 5(vii)] (enter "0" if  no fee is
              due):                                            = $     5,340.57

6.    Prepaid Shares

      If the response to Item 5(i) was determined by deducting an amount of
      securities that were registered under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant
      to rule 24e-2 as in effect before October 11, 1997, then report the amount
      of securities (number of shares or other units) deducted here: $0. If
      there is a number of shares or other units that were registered pursuant
      to rule 24e-2 remaining unsold at the end of the fiscal year for which
      this form is filed that are available for use by the issuer in future
      fiscal years, then state that number here: $0.

7.    Interest due -- if this Form is being filed more than 90 days after the
      end of the issuer's fiscal year (see Instruction D): = $0

8.    Total of the amount of the registration fee due plus any interest due
      [Item 5(viii) plus Item 7]: = $5,340.57

9.    Date the registration fee and any interest payment was sent to the
      Commission's lockbox depository:

                                            March 8, 2021
                                            CIK:  0001561785


         Method of Delivery:

                                            [X] Wire Transfer
                                            [ ] Mail or other means





                                   SIGNATURES

This report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
issuer and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

By:   /s/ Derek D. Maltbie
      --------------------------
      Derek D. Maltbie
      Assistant Treasurer



By:   /s/ Katherine L. Urevig
      --------------------------
      Katherine L. Urevig
      Assistant Treasurer


Date: March 8, 2021