The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a compulsory fee attached to most UK visa applications that last longer than six months. Paying the surcharge grants the visa holder and any dependants the right to use NHS services without charge for the duration of their leave, on the same basis as UK residents.
Who must pay the IHS
- All applicants for time‑limited visas (work, study, family) that exceed six months must pay the surcharge when applying from outside the UK (entry clearance) or when extending/switching visas inside the UK.
- Each person, including dependants, pays a separate charge.
- Short‑term visas of six months or less (e.g., Standard Visitor, UK Fiancé) are exempt, but holders do not receive free NHS care except for limited services.
- The IHS payment is a mandatory part of a valid application; without a valid reference number the application is treated as invalid and will be rejected.
Exemptions
The surcharge does not apply to the following groups, who can still access NHS care without an IHS reference:
- Applicants under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- Holders of a Frontier Worker Permit with an S1 certificate
- Health and Care Worker visa holders and their dependants
- Diplomats, visiting military personnel and their exempt dependants, and certain NATO or Australian Defence Department staff
- Protection‑based cohorts: asylum seekers, refugees, humanitarian protection applicants, victims of trafficking, slavery or domestic violence, stateless persons, those granted Article 3 ECHR relief, and participants in the Ukraine visa schemes
- Children under 18 in local authority care in the UK
- Anyone granted a full or partial fee waiver by the Home Office
Permanent settlement applications (e.g., ILR) and short‑term visitor visas also do not require an IHS payment.
Rates
- Standard rate: £1,035 per person per year of leave.
- Reduced rate: £776 per person per year for full‑time students and their dependants, Youth Mobility Scheme applicants, and anyone under 18 at the time of application.
The Home Office rounds up any partial year to the next six‑month increment (e.g., a 9‑month visa is charged for 12 months).
Payment process
- The online visa system automatically calculates the total IHS due and requires payment before the application can be submitted.
- Payment is made by debit or credit card, after which a unique IHS reference number is issued.
- Applicants should retain proof of payment and the reference number, as they are needed for any future refund request.
- If the length of stay entered is later corrected, any shortfall must be paid before the visa can be issued.
Refunds
Full refunds are automatically issued when:
- The visa application is refused and all appeal rights are exhausted.
- The application is withdrawn, voided, or rejected before a decision is made.
- A duplicate IHS payment is made for the same application.
Partial refunds occur when:
- The granted visa period is shorter than the period applied for (e.g., a 3‑year request results in a 2‑year grant).
- One or more dependants are refused while the main applicant is granted.
- Full‑time EU/EEA/Swiss students holding a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) who study without working and whose visa started on or after 1 January 2021 claim a refund for the EHIC‑covered period.
No refund is provided if:
- The visa is granted but the holder decides not to travel to the UK.
- The holder leaves the UK before the visa expires (unless the leave is curtailed by UKVI).
- The applicant dies after the visa is granted.
- The visa is switched to another status that does not require an IHS (the original surcharge is not refunded).
Refund timeline
- Automatic refunds are processed to the original payment card, typically within six weeks of the final decision (refusal, withdrawal, or successful appeal).
- If an appeal or administrative review is pending, the refund is delayed until the appeal process is concluded.
- Applicants who have not received a refund after six weeks should contact the IHS refund team via the Home Office online query form.
Key take‑aways
- The IHS is a mandatory, upfront fee for most long‑term UK visas, calculated per person per year.
- Exemptions are limited and listed in the Home Office guidance; exempt individuals still enjoy NHS access.
- Refunds are only provided in specific circumstances—primarily when the visa is not granted or when the granted period is shorter than requested.
- Once a visa is granted and the holder chooses not to use it, the surcharge is non‑refundable.
Source article: immigrationbarrister.co.uk
