Immigration Health (NHS) Surcharge

Are you planning to move to the UK? As part of your visa application, you’ll need to pay the Immigration Health (IHS) Surcharge. This fee allows you to access the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) and you can avail the health service during your stay in the UK.

The IHS is a compulsory fee for most UK visa applicants. It’s designed to ensure that you contribute to the NHS, just like UK citizens and permanent residents do. By paying the IHS, you’ll be able to access NHS services, including doctor’s appointments, hospital treatments, and prescriptions.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the IHS process, including who needs to pay, how to pay, and exemptions. We’ll also answer frequently asked questions and provide additional resources to help you navigate the UK immigration system.

Example

Sunita, (an Indian national) is applying for a 3-year work visa to move to the UK. As part of her visa application, she needs to pay the Immigration Health (IHS) Surcharge .

The IHS fee for a 3-year visa is £3,105 (£1,035 per year). Sunita will need to pay this fee online as part of her visa application process. So during her stay in the UK she can enjoy the health care services.

What is Immigration Health NHS Surcharge?

The NHS is a payment that one must make as a part of their visa application process, and once paid, that visa holder can access the free health service in the UK. Once the migrants pay the relevant fee, they can enjoy the services as the permanent residents used to.

The UK residents pay only a few services, such as prescription charges. So, these users will enjoy the same status as UK residents. With the health surcharge paid, migrants can access all the NHS services without charges. They only need to pay for dental treatments, eye tests, etc., because British nationals also pay them.

Purpose: This fee is paid with the visa application so that you can contribute to the NHS, which provides health services to UK residents.

Check List for Immigration Health Surcharge

2024 update

There is an update on the fee in 2024. The current fee for most of the visa categories for one Year is £470, and there are discounted rates for the students, Youth Mobility Scheme applicants, and Tier 5 visa holders, which are £235 per Year

For example, Akshara is applying for 2 year UK work visa; she would need to pay £940 (2 x £470). Similarly, Muhadsa Naqvi is applying for a 3-year student visa, so she would pay £705 (3 x £235).

What is the Immigration Health Surcharge?

The applicant must pay the essential fee with the UK visa application fee. It is applied to visa applicants when they need immigration permission to live in the UK for more than six months. This fee will be used for their health services during their stay in the UK.

What is the Immigration Health Surcharge?

When you apply for a visa to the UK, with the application fee, you need to submit an extra fee, which is the immigration health surcharge fee. It is paid with a visa application, so you can get permission to live in the UK for over six months. From this fee, you will be provided with different health services, except dental and optical care, during your stay in the UK. Dental and eye care are exempted from all health care services. If you go for these two services, you will have to pay for them.

Role in Supporting the NHS

This fee is paid with the visa application so that you can contribute to the NHS, which provides health services to UK residents. It will help them to raise the funds for the

Doctor’s appointments
Hospital treatments
Prescriptions
Other healthcare services, except dental and optical

Why do I need to pay the IHS?

You need to pay it if you have been applying for a UK visa immigration for more than six months. This includes:

Work visa
Study visa
Family visa
Other visa categories

Who Needs Pays the IHS?

This is a fair system, ensuring that all non-EEA nationals applying for work, family, or student visas to reside in the UK for more than six months pay to the healthcare system. This includes dependents, and if a migrant applies to extend their stay in the UK, they must pay its fee again, covering the extended period. This system ensures that everyone pays their fair share, contributing to the sustainability of the UK’s healthcare system.

This means that the surcharge is applied to the most communal categories of immigrants, such as spouse/companion and the work visa. The visit visa holders do not pay this charge and pay for the NHS treatment when they access it in the UK. Applicants applying for permanent residence in the UK can skip paying for it. EU citizens and their families are also exempted from this surcharge.

According to the estimate of the home office, between June 20222 and June 2023, 1.5 million visas were established on the direction legally responsible for the surcharge. Impact analysis for February 2024 from the department estimated the increase in the human moralities waiver visas.

The following visa categories need to be paid:

Work visas: Tier 2, Tier 5, and other work-related visa categories.
Study visas: Tier 4 student visas.
Family visas: Family visas include spouse, partner, and family dependents.
Other visa categories are Ancestry visas, entrepreneur visas, and investor visas.

The NHS surcharge is not applicable for

The visitors who are staying in the UK under the category of visitor visa ( Business Visitors, General Visitors)
The academic visitor, even if more than six months.

Dependents

Spouses, partners, and children are included as dependents, and they will also need to pay the IHS if they are applying for visa or immigration permission. The dependents and the adult will have to pay the equivalent fee as per the primary visa aspirant paid. If you do not pay the health surcharge, your visa or immigration will not be granted, or it can be delayed if you have not paid the correct amount.

For example, Anil Kumar is applying for a UK work visa, and her wife, Sunita Kumar, is also applying along with him on a dependent visa. So, Sunita also needs to pay the IHS.

Who Does Not Have To Pay?

It will be decided through legislation exempted from the payment of health charges. The applicant must be exempted based on law if someone’s application is exempted. So, there is no discretion to exempt any applicant from this payment.

There is a range of applicants who are exempted from these specific payments. These exemptions are broadly based on the obligations of the UK’s treaty, agreements on an international level, and former minstrel commitments. The protection cohorts, such as asylum seekers and victims of human trafficking, etc., are included in the applicants who are exempted from these payments.

It will not be applicable if any of the mentioned below applies:

If someone is applying for entrance authorization for less than six months
If someone is applying for an interim or visiting visa
If someone is applying, who is awarded with Chevening or Commonwealth scholarship*

*The UK government will pay the surcharge of the students awarded with Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships but still needs to obtain its special number.

Some exempted cohorts must get their unique reference number from the relevant portal.

Protection Cohorts
Asylum Seekers	Refuges	Humanitarian Protection	Victims of Modern Slavery
Victims of Human Trafficking	Applicants under appendix Statelessness	Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession	Ukraine Visa Scheme

Is it mandatory to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge?

Yes, it is compulsory for most visa categories. If you pay, your application will be accepted.

Who is exempt from paying the IHS?

Specific individuals, including asylum seekers, refugees, and those with humanitarian protection, are exempt from paying the IHS.

Updated HIS Fee Structure 2024

The updated fee structure for the 2024 has been announced. You can see the various fee structures for different visa types.

Visa Type	Fee per Year (£)	Total Fee for 3 Years(£)	Total Fee for 5 Years(£)
General (most applicants)	1,035	3,105	5,175
Students/Youth Mobility	776	2,328	3,880
Dependents (Spouse/Child)	1,035	3,105	5,175

For the total fees for typical visa durations, here are some common examples:

A Skilled Worker visa for 3 years would cost £827 (application fee) + £1,035 (IHS for 3 years) = £1,862.
A Student visa for 1 year would cost £490 (application fee) + £470 (IHS for 1 year) = £960.
A Visit visa for 2 years would cost £400 (application fee) + £940 (IHS for 2 years) = £1,340.

What is the current Immigration Health Surcharge fee?

The current Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fee is £1,035 per Year for most visa categories. However, some categories have a lower fee:

£470 per Year for students, Youth Mobility Scheme applicants, and Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) visa holders.
£776 per Year for dependents (spouse/child)

Categories Exempt from the IHS

Group Exemptions

Some classes of people remain excluded from the surcharge reimbursement; however, they still can benefit from free NHS treatment. These categories comprise shelter seekers, human trading victims, children in upkeep, and the dependents of the armed forces employees.

In the middle of 2020, when the COVID pandemic peaked, the Johnson government decided it. That the charges of the healthcare workers should also be exempted. So, applicants under the healthcare visa category are on the exempted list. Applicants working in the health or social care branch and not on a healthcare visa may apply for a surcharge refund.

Since March 2022, Ukrainians in the UK under distinctive post-invasion visa patterns or corporeal on any ordinary visa are also exempted.

Individual Exemptions

The home secretary is allowed to waive complete or partial surcharge. There are exceptions from case to case, which are eligible for fee waiver policy from a home office. These permit certain people to apply for consent without paying the combined cost of surcharge and the application fee, who can thoroughly explain that they cannot afford to pay these charges.

Examples

An asylum seeker applying for a visa would be exempt from the IHS fee.
A diplomat from a foreign country would not need to pay the IHS.
If a visa application is rejected, the applicant may be eligible for a full refund of the IHS.

Who is exempt from paying the NHS surcharge?

You may be exempt from paying the NHS surcharge if you’re an asylum seeker, refugee, diplomat, or armed forces member, among other categories.

How can I avoid paying the IHS?

You can avoid paying the IHS if you’re eligible for an exemption or waiver. You can check the list of applicants who do not need to pay this fee.

The List of Eligible Professionals

Nurses	Midwives	Social Workers
Doctor	Psychologists	Paramedics
Pharmacist	Podiatrists	Speech and Language Therapists
Ophthalmic Opticians	Health Professionals not elsewhere classified	Therapy Professionals not elsewhere classified
Dental Practitioners	Physiotherapists	Biological Scientists and Biochemists
Medical Radiographers	Occupational Therapists	Physical Scientist

How does IHS Work?

If you have made your health surcharge dues or are exempted from the health surcharge payment for any legal reason, and your visa allows you to reside in the UK for more than six months, you can enjoy free treatment from NHS hospitals in England. You can avail yourself of the same service as the average resident. This option is available from when you get the visa until your visa expires.

There are still some types of services for which you have to pay. Such services include prescriptions, eye tests, and dental treatments. If your visa is curtailed or terminated before the planned dates, you must pay the charges for further NHS treatment. If you extend your visa stay permission, you must pay a higher surcharge.

The surcharge payment will only allow you to access the NHS free service. It does not mean that you will be treated faster on a priority basis or that doctors will treat you according to the insistence of your circumstances in the same way they treat the local patients. If it is essential, you may be placed on the waiting list.

When is the Healthcare Surcharge payment done?

You need to pay your surcharge once you ample your operational visa application. It would be best if you never attempted to pay your health surcharge distinctly, apart from the application fee. If you do so, they will ask you to pay the fee again, and the first one can be reimbursed, but it will take time to process the refund.

You need to pay the visa application fee and the surcharge before submitting the online application because you will need the fee payment to submit your online application.

How do you pay the Immigration healthcare surcharge?

It is mandatory to make this specific payment before submitting an immigration application or visa. You can book your appointment through the premium service centre. If you want to go through the process clearly, please get in touch with us at +447853844688. We have a very sophisticated team with high professionals at KQ Solicitors.

The Following are significant stepping points to paying the healthcare surcharge and completing your immigration application or visa.

Sr. No	Steps
1	Enrol yourself to practice the service.
2	Response to the queries to check your eligibility and whether you have to pay the surcharge or are exempted.
3	You are exempted from paying the surcharge if you are not on the list. Pay online and pay in a similar coinage as your visa application fee.
4	A reference number for the immigration healthcare surcharge will be emailed to you. This will be displayed on the screen when payment is successful. It must be mentioned on the top page of your visa document if you are applying online outside the UK, on the cover sheet if you are applying online inside the UK, or on the application if the application process is to be done through the post. This reference number is needed, although you are exempt from paying its fee.
5	Complete your application form and pay your visa or immigration application fee.

If you are overseas, you must check the rules of the relevant embassy or visa application centre on how to pay the healthcare surcharge.

The Checklist√ You Need for the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge/Required Documents

The Checklist of the documents you will be asked for:
√ Your	Name
	Nationality
	The category of the visa you are applying for
	The passport or travel document number
	Date of birth
	An email address
	The visa application centre if you are applying overseas
	The course dates if you are applying as a student
Here is the Checklist √ of the exact details you will need:
Checklist √	Every being you are applying to join or endure who is already in the UK (you don’t need to add the details of this individual if they are a UK or EEA inhabitant)
You will also need their leave expiration date if you are going to someone in the UK or their settlement healthcare surcharge reference number if they have one

How do I pay for the IHS online?

For online payment, follow these steps:

Go to the UK Government’s website and create an account there.
Fill out the visa application.
Pay the IHS through a debit or credit card.
Once you have paid, you will get the reference number, which will be used for application processing.

What happens if I cannot pay the IHS?

If you do not pay, your application may be rejected, or you may receive a request for the payment within the due date, and your application might be delayed due to the failure of the payment.

Refunds and Reimbursements

This section will let you know when a refund is available and how to process it. There are some specific situations in which applicants can receive a complete or partial refund. It’s your responsibility to refund this paid fee when the applicant is eligible to receive it back, and the refund must be managed as a part of the decision.

When you return, your paid health charge refund will be refunded to your bank account through which the initial health surcharge payment was made. It is only possible to amend the bank account after an attempt at a refund is made.

Full Refund

Applicants can be fully refunded with the health charge fee if:

Their visa application is	Refused, and any appeal rights are exhausted
	Voided or Rejected
	Withdrawal before a decision is made
	Payment of health charges twice for the same application

Supposing the applicant is eligible for this refund. In that case, it will be refunded to the applicant against the reference number already granted and used in the corresponding visa application. You need to generate the refund application using this specific reference number provided to get the refund.

You need to select the relevant option from the drop-down list. You will choose ‘Visa Refused’ from the list if it’s a visa refusal application. For all refunds under the ‘Visa refused,’ the manager must authorize the category before issuance.

You need to submit the administrative review within 28 days of application refusal in case of entrance clearance application, and administrative reviews should be submitted within fourteen days for permission to stay application. If it maintains the original refusal, health charges should be refunded after the decision has been made.

If the applicant changes the application before any decision is made or has made an unsuitable visa application, then the applicant will be voided. An unsuitable visa application is like an applicant who has indefinite leave to remain erroneously makes an application for temporary permission of immigration or has passed away before any decision is made.

Partial Refund

Your health charges will be refunded back partially if

The time given on the visa is less than what was applied for.
Any dependent on your visa application has been refused.
You were applying to extend your stay period in the UK or switch the visa, and you paid twice for the same stay period. If you paid twice for 15 months, the health charges of 12 months will be refunded. But, if you have paid twice and the period is less than six months, you will not be refunded.

No Reimbursement:
There will be no reimbursement If	The applicant gets the visa but chooses not to come to the UK
	The visa holder quits and leaves the UK while the visa is still legal, even if the visa holder did not use the National Healthcare Service throughout their residence in the UK
	The visa is truncated by the Home Office, even if the visa owner did not practice the National Healthcare Service during their period of residence in the UK
	The worker is applying for unspecified leave to remain or change to another visa where they do not have a prerequisite to pay the HIS.
	The visa applicants expired in the UK or before arriving. Then, health fees will not be paid back
	You switched to the visa, which is under the exempted category
	You are applying for the unspecified leave to remain

Steps of Refund

If you are eligible to get the health charge refund, either complete or partial, you do not need to take any additional steps to get the money back. The funds will be inevitably reversed to that bank account or card you have already funded. Once the decision is made on your application, within 6 weeks, you will get your refund. The time limit may increase if you appeal for the administrative review in case of application refusal.

There is another way of eligibility for a health charge refund if an EU Country pays for your healthcare concerns or you qualify for any healthcare professional category.

Refund Scenario	Eligibility	Processing Timeframe
Visa Refusal	Full refund if the visa is rejected	6-8 weeks
Shorter Visa Duration	Granted Partial refund for unused duration	6-8 weeks
Exempt After Payment	Full refund if later exempted	6-8 weeks

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Will the IHS be refunded if my visa is refused?

Yes, if your visa application is refused, you’ll be eligible for a full refund of the IHS.

How long does it take to get an IHS refund?

The refund processing time may vary, but you can expect to receive your refund within 6-8 weeks after submitting your request.

Impact on Different Visa Types

It impacts the different visa categories, each with its cist and requirements. Here are some examples:

Spouse Visas:

IHS fee: £1,035 per Year ( £3,105 for a 3-year visa)
Requirements: Spouses of UK citizens or settled persons must pay the IHS as part of their visa application.

Skilled Worker Visas:

IHS fee: £1,035 per Year ( £3,105 for a 3-year visa)
Requirements: Skilled workers must pay the IHS as part of their visa application.

Student Visas:

IHS fee: £470 per Year ( £1,410 for a 3-year visa)
Requirements: Students must pay the IHS as part of their visa application.

How much is the IHS fee for a spouse visa?

The IHS fee for a spouse visa is £1,035 per Year. For a 3-year visa, the total IHS fee would be £3,105.

Why is the Immigration Health Surcharge so expensive?

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is an essential fee for the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). The UK government sets the cost based on the rate of providing healthcare services to immigrants. The IHS fee is currently £1,035 per Year for most visa categories.

How much does the IHS cost for a Tier 4 visa?

The IHS fee for a Tier 4 (Student) visa is £470 per Year. For a 3-year visa, the total IHS fee would be £1,410.

What happens if my IHS payment is declined multiple times?

If your IHS payment is declined multiple times, you may need to contact your bank or credit card provider to resolve the issue. You can also try paying using a different payment method. If you’re unable to make the payment, your visa application may be rejected.

How can I pay for the IHS outside the UK?

You can pay the IHS online using a debit or credit card, regardless of location. You must create an account on the UK Government’s website and follow the payment instructions.

Can I get a fee waiver for British citizenship?

No, the IHS does not apply to British citizenship applications. However, you may need to pay other fees as part of your citizenship application.

How much do migrants cost the NHS?

The cost of providing healthcare services to migrants is difficult to quantify, as it depends on various factors such as the number of migrants, their age, and health status. However, the IHS is designed to ensure that migrants contribute pretty much to the NHS. The UK government estimates that the IHS generates over £1 billion in revenue yearly, which is invested directly into the NHS.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is an essential fee for most UK visa applicants. The IHS subsidizes the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) and guarantees that immigrants have access to healthcare services. We’ve covered key aspects of the IHS, including eligibility, exemptions, payment processes, and refunds. For more information on UK visa applications, immigration rules, and related topics, contact us at +447853844688. We provide comprehensive guides, FAQs, and resources to help you navigate the complex UK immigration system.

Need Assistance?

Regarding your upcoming immigration application or visa, you need assistance obtaining the mandatory immigration healthcare surcharge payment. Our team at KQ Solicitors can guide you through the process and ensure a smooth application.

You can get your health regarding payment done at a minimal cost. If you are ready to apply for a UK visa and need to apply for the Immigration Health Surcharge payment for the UK, then book a free consultation with us to make your health charge payment. You can also call us at +447853844688. Every query and concern from you will be entertained.

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