What is the IHS health surcharge?

The IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) is an extra fee that many migrants have to pay as part of their visa application fees. Whereas the application fee itself goes to the Home Office, the IHS goes to the NHS, and it is designed to prevent migrants from becoming a burden on the health services. 

Most but not all immigration categories entail an IHS charge. Exempted categories include: Visitor visas, S2 Healthcare Visitor visas, Health and Care Skilled Worker visas, EU Settlement Scheme visas, Refugee/Humanitarian Protection visas, Frontier Worker visas and all settlement applicants, but most other migrants have to pay it.

Applicants will have to pay either £624 per year (eg £1,248 for a two year visa) or, in some cases, a lower rate of £470 per year. This lower rate applies to Student visas, Youth Mobility Scheme visas and to all applicants under the age of 18. 

For advice on visa fees and all other associated issues, please contact us and we can help you. 

Author

Oliver Westmoreland

OISC Level 3 Immigration Adviser