The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a fee levied on most UK visa applications. The IHS is in addition to your visa application fee and is payable in full at the point of application.
If you are applying from outside the UK, you are not required to pay the Healthcare Surcharge if the length of your visa will be six months or less. If you are applying within the UK, you will be required to pay the Healthcare Surcharge regardless of how long your visa will be.
If you have private medical insurance, you must still pay the surcharge, even if you do not intend to use the National Health Service (NHS).
The healthcare surcharge must be made in one payment at the time of the visa application and cannot be paid in installments.
Cost of healthcare surcharge
The healthcare surcharge is £776 per year for:
- Student visa applicants
- Dependants of students
- Youth Mobility Scheme visa holders
Student visa applicants can calculate how much their healthcare surcharge is using this calculator. Please budget to also pay for any additional time issued on your visa - most students will have a wrap-up period of 4 months.
For Graduate Route visa applicants, this will depend on the length of your visa if your application is successful. For 2 year visas the surcharge will be £2070. For 3 year visas the surcharge will be £3,105.