An Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a fee that most people pay with their UK VISA application. The IHS fee differs from all other fees you pay during your Visa application process. It usually costs £1,035 for the principal applicant and £776 for students and children from 6th February 2024 according to UK Government. The IHS cost is the same for adult dependents as the primary visa application. Besides, the amount of IHS depends upon the period you are applying for. You won’t get a Visa if you haven’t paid the immigration health surcharge. If the wrong amount is paid being paid, the embassy can delay your UK Visa.
What is the process of the Immigration Health Surcharge?
If you pay the immigration health surcharge or are exempt from paying it, you can take national health services in the UK. In short, if you have a visa of more than six months, IHS is a must, and you will get the treatment from an NHS hospital like an ordinary resident of England. However, certain services, such as prescriptions, dental treatment, and eye treatment, won’t be free won’t be free. But, if your Visa ends earlier than planned, you will be charged for any NHS hospital treatment from the time your Visa ends. Besides, if you renew your Visa, you will still pay the charges for any treatment you get after the end of your previous Visa.
Moreover, if you apply for an extension of your Visa, you must pay the IHS further. Similarly, you won’t have to pay the surcharge if you apply for leave to remain. Consequently, paying the immigration health surcharge does not mean you will get the treatment faster, but it means you can avail of all the services provided by NHS. Doctors will treat you the same way as ordinary residents, and you will be treated according to the urgency of your condition.
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Why Do You Have to Pay the IHS for a VISA?
If you are not from the UK, such as a Pakistani student or worker trying to apply for a UK Visa, you must pay IHS first. If your period of stay in the UK is more than 6 months, paying IHS is a must. However, if you are applying for a permanent stay in the UK, then the case is different. Besides, if you are applying for entry clearance of 6 months or less, you must have private health insurance with you.
If you are applying from within the UK, paying for an immigration health surcharge is a must in case of a Visa extension, even if it’s for less than 6 months.
Immigration Health Surcharge Exemption
You can use the National Health Services without paying the immigration health surcharge if:
- Applicants for health and care visas, including their dependents, are exempt from IHS. They will not have to pay the IHS fee during their visa filing.
- If you are applying for infinite leave to enter and exit from England.
- If you will settle down in the UK or apply for permanent immigration.
- If you are a member of UK visiting delegates, armed forces, and a diplomat.
- If you are a member of the Armed forces of other countries that do not lie under immigration control.
- If you are seeking asylum or a domestic worker such as a victim of slavery.
There are many others, such as S2 healthcare visitors, frontier work permits, etc. However, as we are dealing with UK Visas for students, you must pay the IHS fee for a UK visa.
IHS Fee for UK VISA- How Much to Pay?
The amount of your IHS fee depends upon the period of your visa application. The Visa can last longer than your study duration and employment period. The charge is £776 per year for students for stays lasting 6–12 months and £388 for additional periods of less than 6 months. £776 for visa and immigration applications under 18.
£1,035 per year for all other visa applications. Moreover, all other applicants must pay £517.50 for additional periods of less than 6 months. If you are applying for over 6 months but less than a year, you must pay the full-year IHS Visa Fee.
Example 1:
If you are enrolling in a 12-month course, your Visa will typically start one month before the course begins and extend to cover the course duration plus an additional four months. This makes your Visa valid for 17 months, requiring you to pay an IHS fee of £1,164 (£776 + £388).
Example 2:
For a three-year undergraduate degree program, the IHS fee is £776 per year of your course, plus £388 for the additional time included in your Visa before and after your course. This totals £2,716 over three years.
The IHS ensures access to healthcare services throughout your stay in the UK. Be sure to include this cost in your budgeting plans.
Dependents Cost for Immigration Health Surcharge
Those who are older than 18 will have to pay the same IHS fee as yours. The exact amount of IHS depends upon the period of the Visa you are applying for.
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What Happens if You Do Not Pay IHS?
If you do not pay an immigration health surcharge fee for UK Visas, you will get an email. It will give you the guidelines on how to pay IHS. The email address will be the same as you put in for the visa application. After receiving the email, you must pay the surcharge within 10 working days if you are in the UK and within seven working days if you are from another country like Pakistan. If the IHS fee is not submitted within the given timespan, your visa application will be turned down immediately.
How to Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge from Pakistan?
You need to pay the immigration health surcharge on the date of submission of your visa application. Usually, it comes within the online application form for most visas. As a result, it is impossible to file for a visa without paying the IHS fee. You may need to give the start and end details from the certificate of sponsorship. Or you may need to add the course dates if you are applying for a student visa. After finalizing your application form, you will see a page to pay IHS.
After paying that, you will receive an email with the IHS reference number. You can only use this number once; if you are applying again for VISA, you may need to pay IHS again to get this reference number. After that, you will be returned to the form to make the application fee next. You need a credit or debit card for this. Note that you can’t apply with cash and bank transfers unless you are a resident of North Korea.
What’s the Procedure for an IHS Fee Refund?
You will get the full IHS fee refund in case:
- Suppose you have paid the IHS fee twice or more for the same Visa. The extra amount will be refunded after the Visa is granted.
- If you get a visa refusal or withdraw your visa application before its decision, you will get a refund.
You will get the partial IHS fee refund if your visa application is submitted, but:
- You got a shorter visa than you filed for. For example, you asked for two years and got a Visa for one and a half years.
- If any dependents are refused a visa, they will get their IHS fee back.
- You are applying for a UK Visa again and have already paid the IHS for that period.
Moreover, if you have paid the IHS fee twice for the same period of 6 or more than 6 months, the partial refund amount will be rounded to the nearest 6 months. For example, if you paid for 20 months, the refund will be 18 months of IHS. Paying twice for less than 6 months of IHS is not entitled to any refund.
How Will I Get the Refund, and How long will it Take?
You don’t need to take any action if you are entitled to a partial or full IHS refund. The amount will be returned to the account you paid the IHS Fee with. You will usually get the refund within 28 days. However, if you appeal the visa application refusal and ask for a review, the refund can take longer. If your appeal is successful, you will have to pay the IHS again in case it’s refunded.
In What Case Do You Won’t Get a Refund?
You won’t get any refund if you
- Withdraw your visa application but have already received the Visa.
- You got your VISA but decided not to go to the UK.
- You left the UK before the ending period mentioned in the Visa.
- You are asked to leave the UK for any reason or mishap.
- You are switching to another Visa type or applying for indefinite leave to remain.
When Can You Start Using NHS with Immigration Health Surcharge?
You can start using the NHS free of cost from the starting date of your Visa. However, IHS payment is a must. If you are in the UK and the Home Office hasn’t decided on your VISA approval, you might need to pay for NHS. Moreover, you might need to pay for services like prescriptions, dental treatment, and eye care. Besides, to access NHS, you may need to show the BRP (biometric residence permit) or a share code in case of digital immigration status.
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