Immigration Health Surcharge or IHS is the UK’s healthcare charge that non-EEA migrants need to pay to use the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). The charges, paid as part of the immigration application process, apply to all nationals from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland (EEA) coming to the UK for longer than six months to work, study, or join their family. 

IHS was introduced by the UK government in April 2015 urging migrants to make a fair contribution towards the costs of NHS. IHS has been increased double since new arrangement in 2019. The increase was expected as it was a part of last year’s election campaign which the Conservative government announced in November. The Home office confirmed that IHS will be increasing from £400 to £624 per year of the visa from 1st October 2020.

Standard Rate

The Immigration Health Surcharge is a visa fee applicable to overseas nationals who apply for Tier 1 and 2, Sole representative, Family visa and other standard route to stay in the UK longer than 6 months. The fee will be increased from £400 to £624 and it is 56% increase from the previous arrangement. 

Discounted Rate

The measure also increases the discounted rate for students, their dependents and those applying for Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visas from £300 to £470 per year of the visa.

EU/EEA Nationals

EU/EEA nationals currently do not have to pay Immigration Health Surcharge. These fees will be applicable to EU citizens submitting visa applications from 1 January 2021 when they make visa application to the UK.

Applicants applying for visitor visa or indefinite leave to remain (ILR) are exempted from paying the immigration health surcharge.

Migrants to pay twice

Sponsoring employers who pay this charge on behalf of their workforce should budget for the substantial increase in overall cost. Immigration Health Surcharge does not reflect the fact that many migrants work and thus are additionally paying in, in exactly the same way as British citizens, via NI contributions or that payment is required regardless of use or availability of private health insurance. This is an additional cost for migrants who already face excessive fees in the UK immigration system and will apply to newly arrived EU citizens for the first time from January 2021.

The pre-paid immigration surcharge is not applicable or refundable. Immigration Health Surcharge should be newly paid when applicants change visa route inside the UK or make new application outside the UK before their expiry date.