Immigration Health Surcharge FAQ
The UK Government is increasing the immigration Health Surcharge to be paid by overseas nationals looking to enter and stay in the United Kingdom (UK). In our Immigration Health Surcharge FAQ blog, we outline the nature of the changes and the reasons given for the increase and answer other frequently asked questions,
What are the Immigration Health Surcharge changes?
On 8 January 2019, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) will increase by £200 to £400 per year for non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals seeking to enter the UK for over 6 months.
The surcharge will also double for non-EEA students and Tier 5 (Youth Mobility) visa applicants from £150 to £300 per year.
How is the Immigration Heath Surcharge calculated?
If the applicant applies for a Tier 2 work for visa for a term of 3 years, the applicant will incur a surcharge of £1,200. Students on the other hand can expect to pay £300 per year.
When was the Immigration Health Surcharge introduced?
On 6 April 2015, the UK Coalition Government introduced the IHS for EEA nationals seeking to live, work and study in the UK for over 6 months. The purpose of the surcharge was to raise funds for the National Health Service (NHS) from overseas nationals in the UK,
In addition to visa application fees, non-EEA nationals were required to pay a surcharge of £200 per year, before the increase, for each year of the length of their visa, payable at the time of the submission of the application.
Students on the other hand were expected to pay £150 per year, prior to the increase.
Why was the Immigration Health Surcharge introduced?
At the time of the introduction, the Government said:
‘Currently non-European nationals coming to work, study or join family members receive free medical treatment under the UK’s NHS in the same way as a permanent resident.’
The Government also quoted Charles Hay, UK Ambassador to South Korea, who said:
‘We, of course, recognise the very valuable contribution that Koreans who come the UK to study and work make to the wider economy and so have deliberately kept the surcharge at a competitive level – lower than most private health insurance policies.’
Unfortunately, the Government neglected to recognise that, not only do non-EEA nationals pay high visa application fees which go towards the State, rather than directly to the Home Office, but that many overseas nationals contribute to the State and NHS by way of income tax.
What are the Immigration Health Surcharge benefits?
In exchange for payment of the IHS, visa nationals will be allowed to access NHS services. The UK Government argues that the surcharge represents good value for money to non-EEA nationals, carrying a lesser fee than some private medical insurance policies.
Why is the Immigration Health Surcharge being increased?
In October 2018, the UK Government asserted that the National Health Service (NHS) received £600 million from the IHS since April 2015. It is projected that IHS increase could rise an extra £220 million for the NHS.
Home Office Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes said:
‘Our NHS is always there when you need it, paid for by British taxpayers. We welcome long-term migrants using the NHS, but the NHS is a national, not international health service and we believe it is right that they make a fair contribution to its long-term sustainability.’
The Minister added,
‘It is only fair that people who come to the UK make a contribution to the running of the NHS, and even with the increase we still continue to offer a good deal on healthcare for those seeking to live in the UK temporarily.’
Overseas nationals working in the UK will still be expected to make National Insurance contributions from their UK salary and pay income tax.
Yet, perhaps the Government also wishes to minimise any shortfall in tax receipts resulting from the UK’s departure from the European Union from April 2019.
How is the Immigration Health Surcharge payment made?
Payment is made online at the time of submission of the visa application, and prior to the visa biometric appointment.
When submitting the visa application, the overseas national will be directed to a separate portal where the IHS will need to be paid. Once completed, the applicant will be issued with an IHS reference.
It will not be possible to submit the application unless the IHS has been paid in full.
Will the Home Office send an Immigration Health Surcharge email?
In some limited circumstances, such as an Ancestry dependant visa applications, payment of the IHS may be requested by the Home Office at a later.
If so, the Home Office will communicate this to the applicant, via email. If so, the applicant must make payment of ant outstanding surcharges within 7 working days if applying from outside of the UK, and 10 working days if applying from within the UK.
Will the Home Office issue an Immigration Health Surcharge refund?
If the visa application is refused, applicants will receive a refund of the IHS. This does not mean that the applicant will receive a refund of the visa application fees in the event of a refusal.
Refunds are also automatically paid if the applicant mistakenly incurred the surcharge twice.
The Home Office states that refunds are normally paid within 6 weeks of the application outcome, though from experience refunds are processed much sooner.
If the refund is not received within the 6 weeks’ timeframe, contact should be made with the Home Office.
What is an Immigration Health Surcharge partial refund?
An overseas national applicant will automatically get a partial refund where the surcharge was paid for a longer period that they were granted leave for.
Are visitors required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge?
The surcharge will not apply to overseas travellers entering the UK for less than 6 months or those seeking indefinite leave to remain.
Conclusion
The UK Government has doubled the Immigration Health Surcharge payable by non-EEA nationals in order to raise additional funds for the National Health Service.
In exchange, overseas nationals travelling to the UK for over 6 months will have access to national health services. Nevertheless, as set out this Immigration Health Surcharge FAQ blog, overseas nationals will need to factor in this cost, in addition to any visa application fees and relocation costs.
Further, there are number of practical considerations, set out in the Immigration Health Surcharge FAQ blog that non-EEA nationals may wish to bear in mind when taking forward their visa applications.
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Written by Carla Thomas – Managing Director at Thomas Chase Immigration.
Thomas Chase Immigration offer immigration assistance to individuals, families and organisations.
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26 Comments
Ajayi Abiodun T
Hello , after I paid for my ihs 2 days ago … due to some reason I couldn’t access my mail and because of this I was unable to access my application and while trying to open a new application I was asked to pay for ihs again . Please help me because I only have some weeks to resume school in UK .
Gaurav Khandelwal
Hello,
I and my wife are planning to travel together to the UK. I completed my application for a skilled worker visa and paid the IHS. In case of my wife, the IHS details page asked for the visa expiry date of mine. What date do I need to provide in this as my visa is not issued?
Many thanks in advance.
Annie
I have the same issue, what did you do? if may I ask
sujan
Hello sir,
My visa for UK has been refused.
So, would I get IHS refund within 6 weeks or after 6 weeks?
And would I receive any email if the refund has been made?
Thank you
Thomas Chase
Hello Sujan,
Sorry to hear about the refusal of your visa.
Where an application has been refused, UKVI will refund the immigration health surcharge in full.
Refunds are normally repaid within 6 weeks of the decision.
If the refund remains outstanding after 6 weeks, it may be beneficial to contact UKVI at https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-outside-uk.
All the best.
Kai
Hello,
Please could I get some advice. My wife is reapplying for her visa. We have paid the IHS fee but not the final payment due to some financial problems. Can we still use the NHS service?
Ranvir
Hi,
My wife has just applied for a ancestry dependent visa. She has got the visa now till the time of expiry of my visa (2 years ). What is very confusing is that we were never asked to pay the IHS in the application and never sent any email to pay it as well. The Visa is now approved. How do I go about paying this as my partner will be staying with me for more than 6 months.
Regards
Ranvir
Brahim
Hello,
I’m getting Payment Declined !!! I have two different cards. For info, I’m applying out from the UK. Does anybody face the same problem ?
Regards,
Brahim
Remya
Hello
I have got my tier 4 visa and due to some health issues i couldn’t travel. Will my health insurance get refunded
Mustafa Karampurwala
I have cancelled my application after my biometric was done. I recieved the Visa, but my plans for travel has been changed and I am not travelling anymore. The COS will also be cancelled. Will I get my IHS refund in this case?
Thomas Chase
Hello Mustafa,
UKVI will provide a full refund of the IHS where the applicant withdraws their visa application.
Diamond
Hello,
If you cancel your visa application before attending a biometric appointment, does the surcharge get refunded?
Thomas Chase
Hello Diamond,
Thank is correct. The IHS will be refunded, in full, if the visa application is withdrawn.
Muhammad Arif
I didn’t get back my Health surcharge back. I got extension of 2 years while I paid for 3 month. So one month fee should be refunded. Someone help me how can I get my refund
Thomas Chase
Hello Muhammad,
UKVI state if an applicant has not received a refund that they are entitled to within 6 weeks, they should contact them via the link: https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk.
Thomas D
Are you able to get a refund if you work for the entire visa period (i.e. pay tax)? Otherwise you are essentially paying for it twice.
umasankar
I got Tier 2 ICT Long Term visa for one year. But while applying for my Dependent Partner they charged 800 GBP .As per the Biometrics Residence Proof Card my visa period is less than 6 months at the time of applying for my dependents.The actual IHS payment is 0 GBP as per the system but during the decision making process i got a mail from sheffield that i should pay the IHS payment within 6 days or else my dependent visa application will be refused without refunds. Because of this i paid 800 grands. Now how will i get my dependent IHS payment refund after my visa expired. Because the visa for my dependent has been granted for two years. Please guide me how to process for refund.
Thomas Chase
Hello Umasankar,
Unfortunately, we cannot provide specific advice in this forum.
However, it is not unusual for online dependant visa applications to carry an immigration health surcharge of zero, despite a fee being payable.
Where the health surcharge is due, UKVI will contact the applicant, via email, to request payment within a specific timeframe.
The immigration health surcharge may be calculated in advance of the application via the following site: https://www.immigration-health-surcharge.service.gov.uk/checker/Type
As to any specific concerns about the surcharge and the visa, you may wish to contact UKVI directly at https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk.
Ainee
My spouse visa refuse 2018 but I didn’t recive IHS refund now I recive email decision overturned and also IHS payment require but my last IHS not refund to me what can I do
Thomas Chase
Hi Ainee,
We cannot provide specific advice in this forum.
UKVI advise that they will automatically refund the immigration health surcharge where the visa application has been refused.
Refunds are normally processed within 6 weeks but may take longer if the applicant has lodged an appeal or requested an administrative review of the decision.
If the challenge to the decision is upheld, the surcharge must be repaid.
Where the challenge is successful but the refund has not been repaid, it may help to contact UKVI, as soon as possible, at https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk.
Jay
Your English is so poor no wonder they rejected application.
Ann
Dear Sir/Madam,
I havr sponsored Tier 5 visa Gorvenment Authorised exchange (internship) for 3 months. As stated in the website, main applicant dont need to pay for healthcare surcharge as I only go for 3 months. All dependents will pay same as main applicant. My case is 0£ because I go for internship 3 months.
But when we fill out the application for my spouse, the health care surcharge is showed as 800£. We dont have any choice coz if we dont pay, we cannot get the reference number.
But I wonder why the information is stated is same but then charged my spouse is 800£.
Is it correct if her visa will be granted and we can get the partial refund?
Thank you and hope to get your help.
Thomas Chase
Unfortunately, we cannot give specific advice on this forum.
Much will depend on the information and dates that you entered into the online visa application form. The Immigration Health Surcharge to be paid is automatically generated based on the information provided.
For specific information, you may wish to contact UKVI at https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk via email.
Cumali Türkmenoğlu
Hi,
I have the same problem. Have you find out why they charge 800 GBP instead of 400 GBP? When I calculate the amount that my spouse has to pay, it shows 400 GBP but when I reach the IHS payment page it asks for 800 GBP!
There is a general note at Tier-X dependant page:
“They must complete their visa application by 5 July if they’ve already paid the healthcare surcharge or they might have to pay it twice. They’ll get a refund for their first payment.”
Is there any constraint for 5 July?
I am really confused about this subject.
Thanks
Arton
What a lie ,i have received a refusal of my visa nearly 9 weeks ago and still didn’t get my IHS refund and when you hit the button to contact them it says: Emails enquiries cost £5.48. and Calls cost £1.37 per minute on top of your standard network charges.
Why on earth is that, they should refund the money and don’t have to contact them.
They do deliberately just to steal more money from people.
I am very dissapointed and angry.
Thomas Chase
The Home Office website states that the surcharge is ‘usually’ refunded within 6 weeks of the visa application decision. Refunds will take longer where the applicant lodges an appeal or requests an administrative review of the refusal.
It is disappointing, as a matter of principle, that applicants, based outside of the UK, are required to pay a fee to chase the progress of the refund after 6 weeks (something that we had raised on our Facebook page).
However, in light of the sums involved, £5.48 for an email may be worth incurring when hundreds of pounds may be at stake.
All the best!