Table Of Contents
- What is the UK Immigration Health Surcharge
- Who Needs to Pay the UK Immigration Health Surcharge
- Who Does Not Need to Pay
- How much do you have to pay
- UK Immigration Health Surcharge per Year
- When Do You Have to Pay
- What Happens If You Do Not Pay
- When Can You Get a Refund
- Final Thoughts
For most UK visas, the applicants have to pay the UK immigration health surcharge (IHS) as part of the immigration application process. You pay the immigration health surcharge over and above the application fee. IHS fee is to be paid not just for the main applicant but for each dependent as well. Whether you have to pay the IHS depends on the visa type you are applying for. Once you have paid the UK immigration health surcharge, you can access the NHS (National Health Service).
The NHS is a publicly funded healthcare system in the UK that makes healthcare services for its residents almost free. Healthcare services include doctor visits, hospital treatment, and emergency care.
You also get the right to access NHS by paying an immigration healthcare surcharge, the same as UK residents.
What is the UK Immigration Health Surcharge?
The immigration health surcharge is a UK healthcare service cost for immigration applicants. In this, immigrants have to pay a fee so that they can avail themselves of the facilities of NHS present in the UK. For a fee, immigrants can access healthcare services such as doctor visits, hospital treatment, and emergency care for free just like a UK resident.
Who Needs to Pay the UK Immigration Health Surcharge?
You need to pay the immigration health surcharge if:
- You are applying from outside the UK for a visa valid more than 6 months
- For any length of time, if you are applying from inside the UK
You are required to pay the healthcare surcharge if you apply for indefinite leave to remain but are granted limited leave instead. The payment must be made before the limited leave is granted.
You need to pay the UK immigration health surcharge even if you have private medical insurance.
Who Does Not Need to Pay?
Visitors – You do not need to pay if you are applying for a visa for 6 months or less, such as a UK visitor visa.
ILR Applicants – You also don’t need to pay if you are applying for indefinite leave to enter or remain.
EU Settlement Scheme Applicants – EU nationals who were resident in the UK before 31 December 2020 and are applying for the EU settlement scheme are not required to pay the IHS and will have full access to NHS treatment.
Irish Nationals – Irish nationals do not have to apply for a UK visa, and they have full access to NHS treatment.
How much do you have to pay?
How much you have to pay for the immigration health surcharge depends on your length of stay in the UK.
UK Immigration Health Surcharge per Year
You need to pay the health surcharge on a per-year basis. The amount you need to pay is the following:
- £776 per year per immigrant for you and your dependents if you are applying as a student and under the Youth Mobility Scheme.
- £776 per year per immigrant for applicants aged below 18 at the time of application
- £1,035 per year per immigrant for all other visa applications
If you are applying for 6 months or less from outside the UK
You don’t need to pay any UK immigration health surcharge in this scenario.
If you are applying for 6 months or less from inside the UK
In such a scenario, you will have to pay for the half year only. For example:
- £388 for students and their dependents
- £388 for applicants under 18
- £517.50 for any other application
If you are applying for more than 6 months but less than a year
Irrespective of where you apply from you need to pay for the full year.
Similarly, you need to pay for 1 year and 6 months if you are applying for a visa valid for 1 year or more but less than 18 months. And,
You need to pay for the 2 full years if you are applying for a visa valid for more than 18 months but less than 2 years.
When Do You Have to Pay?
You need to pay the UK immigration health surcharge at the time of application. You can pay the IHS using a debit or credit card.
What Happens If You Do Not Pay?
If you fail to make the payment or you pay only partially, you will be sent an email from the UKVI. You will be sent the email to the email address given in your visa application.
The email will explain how you can pay.
After receiving the email, you must pay the immigration health surcharge within:
- 10 working days if you are within the UK
- 7 working days if you are outside the UK
When Do You Start Using NHS For Free?
You can start using NHS for free from the first day of the start of your visa. You must have paid the IHS, if required, to access NHS for free.
Pay for NHS until your visa is pending
You need to pay for NHS treatment for a period when you have applied for a visa but the decision on your visa is pending.
Pay for Certain Services
Although you have free access to the NHS, you are still required to pay for specific services like prescriptions, dental care, eye exams, and fertility treatments.
How to Access Healthcare in the UK?
To access the healthcare in the UK, you may need to
- Show your biometric residence permit, if applicable.
- Provide proof of your immigration status online using a share code if you have a digital status.
When Can You Get a Refund?
Full Refund – You will get the full refund if:
- You paid the IHS twice for the same visa application.
- Your visa application is denied.
- You cancel your visa application before a decision is reached.
Partial Refund – You will get a partial refund if you are granted the visa but:
- You get leave for a shorter period than you asked for.
- The visa application of your dependent(s) is refused—only their IHS will be refunded.
- You are applying to extend or switch your visa in the UK and have paid the IHS twice for the same period.
No Refund – You will get no IHS refund if:
- You withdraw your visa application after it has been approved.
- Your visa application is approved, but you choose not to come to the UK.
- You leave the UK before your visa expires, such as to submit a new application.
- You are asked to leave the UK before your visa runs out.
- You are applying for indefinite leave to remain.
- You are switching to a visa type that is exempt from the IHS.
Final Thoughts
The UK Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a fee that non-UK residents will have to pay while applying for a visa to stay in the UK for more than six months. This payment provides access to National Health Services (NHS) during their stay.
While IHS covers most health services, some treatments such as prescriptions, dental care, and eye tests may still require additional payment. IHS should be paid during the visa application process, and in some cases, refunds can be issued, such as when the visa application is denied or if the applicant leaves the UK quickly.
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