This charge relates to the UK National Health Service (NHS), the UK’s state healthcare system. The charge is payable as a part of most immigration applications.
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) entitles you to use the NHS if you become unwell or have an accident while in the UK.
You have to pay the IHS even if you do not use the NHS or even if you have your own private health insurance.
Do I have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge?
If you are applying from outside of the UK
All students applying for entry clearance for a period of more than 6 months will need to pay the IHS. You must pay this fee as part of your visa application. Some EU and Swiss students can claim an IHS reimbursement (refund) – see the later section for details.
If you are applying for entry clearance for a period of 6 months or less, you must take out private health insurance as you will not be eligible for NHS treatment.
If you are applying from within the UK
If you are applying for an extension of your visa from inside the UK, you will be required to pay the IHS for any length of visa even if your course length is less than 6 months.
How much do I have to pay?
The amount you pay depends on the length of your stay in the UK. The current fee is £470 for every stay that lasts 6–12 months and £235 for any additional period that is less than 6 months.
The Immigration Health Surcharge will be increasing to £776 per year for student visa applications submitted on or after the 6th February 2024.
Example of the current Immigration Health Surcharge costs: if you are coming to do a course that lasts 12 months, your visa should start one month before your course start date and should cover the length of your course plus an additional four months. Your visa should last for 17 months, so you will be required to pay an IHS fee of £705 (£470 + £235). From 6 February 2024 this will increase to £1,164 (£776 + £388).
If you are studying a three-year undergraduate degree course, you will have to pay £470 IHS for each year of your course plus £235 for the additional amount of time you are given on your visa before the start of your course and at the end of your course. Therefore you will have to pay a total of £1645 (£470 x 3) + £235 IHS fees. From 6 February 2024 this will increase to £2,716 (£776 x 3) + £388.
You can use the Immigration Health Surcharge Calculator to check how much IHS you need to pay.
When is the Immigration Health Surcharge refunded?
- If you apply for a Student Visa and overpay you will automatically be refunded once your visa is granted
- If you apply for a Student Visa in the UK and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge twice for the same period of time, then you should receive a refund. The University can contact the UK Visas and Immigration Department on your behalf – please contact Student Advice for help
- If your Student Visa is refused or you withdraw your application before it’s decided, you will receive a refund
- Overlapping payments made outside the UK are not normally refunded. Payments are not refunded if the visa is not used (for example, if you receive your visa but do not travel to the UK)
Find out about refunds on the Government website.
If you are an EU or Swiss national student, you can apply for a full or partial IHS refund (also called an IHS reimbursement) if relying on an EHIC card issued in your own country.
You should carefully consider the pros and cons before applying for an IHS reimbursement.
- If you get a reimbursement, you will not be able to get as much free healthcare in the UK. You will only be entitled to ‘medically necessary healthcare’
- As a student you will not be able to work during the time the IHS reimbursement covers as you will be relying on your EHIC card
- Your EHIC will be invalidated if you work in the UK, potentially leaving you without a good level of health cover
You can find out more about eligibility, the application process and pros and cons on the Government website.
If your healthcare is paid for by an EU country or Switzerland
You may get a full or partial IHS refund if you have an S1 certificate registered with the NHS Business Services Authority.
Find out more about eligibility and the application process on the Government website.