The healthcare surcharge enables individuals to utilise certain services offered by the NHS whilst they are in the UK. The IHS does not cover dental care, the use of an optician, nor does the healthcare surcharge cover the cost of prescriptions given whilst in the UK.
The cost of the immigration health surcharge is dependent on the visa:
Students and individuals on the Youth Mobility Scheme visa must pay £776 per year.
Visa and immigration applicants aged under 18 years old must pay £776 per year.
Individuals on any other type of visa or immigration application must pay £1035 per year.
The figures above are correct at the time of update - 6th February 2024
The cost of the healthcare surcharge is also dependent on the length of leave granted as well as where they are applying from:
Individuals applying for a visa of 6-months or less AND who are applying outside of the UK do not need to pay the healthcare surcharge.
Those applying within the UK who wish to stay in the UK for 6-months or less will be required to pay half of the yearly fee.
Individuals wanting to stay in the UK for 6 months to a year must pay the full cost of the surcharge, regardless of location.
The surcharge must be paid before you submit your visa application. To make a payment you must do the following:
Go to this link.
Register for the service.
Pay the healthcare surcharge (unless you are exempt).
Use the immigration health surcharge reference number which has been provided to you to complete your visa or immigration application.
After you have paid the surcharge, you will receive an immigration health surcharge reference number. This reference number will be shown on the screen and the immigration health surcharge reference number will also be sent to your email.
The immigration health surcharge reference number acts as your confirmation of payment and you will need it to complete your visa application.
Once you have made the payment your IHS number will be displayed on the screen. You will also be sent an email which contains your IHS number. We recommend that you make a note of your IHS number when it is displayed on your screen just in case, for whatever reason, you do not receive the email.
HoProviding that your email address was entered correctly, you would have received an email which contained your IHS reference number. Therefore, the best way to retrieve or check your IHS reference number would be to use the search function in your emails to find your confirmation receipt which will contact your IHS number
How to
Whilst the majority of UK visa applicants are required to pay the IHS as part of their application, not everyone who comes to the UK is required to pay the healthcare surcharge. If you fall into one of the following categories, you are not required to pay the healthcare surcharge, nor are you required to obtain a IHS reference number:
You are applying for indefinite leave to enter or remain.
You are a health and care worker who is eligible for a Health and Care Worker visa (or you are their dependant).
You are applying to the EU Settlement Scheme.
You are either a diplomat or a member of a visiting armed forces and are not subject to immigration control.
You are the dependant of someone in the UK’s armed forces.
You are the dependant of someone in another country’s armed forces who is exempt from immigration control.
You are applying for a visa for the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.
You are a British Overseas Territory citizen resident in the Falkland Islands.
You are an asylum seeker or you are applying for humanitarian protection (or you are their dependant).
You are a domestic worker who has been identified as being a victim of slavery or human trafficking.
You are applying for discretionary leave to remain in the UK as someone who has been identified as being a victim of slavery or human trafficking (or you are their dependant).
The Home Office’s domestic violence concession applies to you (or you are their dependant).
Being made to leave the UK would be against your human rights under Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights (or you are their dependant).
You are an S2 Healthcare Visitor.
You are eligible for a Frontier Worker permit and have an S1 certificate.
Additionally individuals applying for one of the following are also not required to pay the healthcare surcharge or get an immigration health surcharge reference number:
A visitor visa.
A visa which lasts for 6 months or less AND they made the application from outside of the UK.
Children (aged 18 years old) in care, civilian employees at NATO or the Australian Department of Defence in the UK need to obtain an immigration health surcharge reference number. However, these individuals do not need to pay the fee and the online system will automatically recognise this exemption.