The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

Last updated: June 2026.

The Immigration Health Surcharge, usually called the IHS, is the healthcare charge paid by many people applying for UK immigration permission. It is paid as part of the visa or immigration application process and allows eligible applicants to use the NHS during the period of permission granted.

For most visa and immigration applications, the current IHS rate is £1,035 per person per year. A lower rate of £776 per year applies to students, student dependants, Youth Mobility Scheme applicants and applicants who are under 18 at the time of application.

The exact amount payable depends on the length of permission being requested. Where permission is granted for part of a year, the charge may be calculated in six-month blocks. Dependants normally pay the IHS for the same period as the main applicant, unless an exemption applies.

Who usually needs to pay the IHS?

The IHS usually applies to people applying for time-limited immigration permission to work, study, join family or remain in the UK for more than six months. It can also apply when extending or switching immigration status from inside the UK.

You may not need to pay the surcharge in some categories, including certain health and care routes, asylum and protection cases, some fee waiver situations, and applications where the rules provide an exemption. The position depends on the visa route and the facts of the application.

Why the IHS matters

If the IHS is required and is not paid in full, UKVI can contact the applicant to request payment. If the shortfall is not paid within the required time, the application can be refused. It is therefore important to calculate the fee correctly before submission, especially where there are dependants or a complicated period of leave.

How NA Law Solicitors can help

NA Law Solicitors can advise on whether the IHS is payable, whether an exemption may apply, and how the surcharge interacts with the wider immigration application. We can also advise where an applicant has paid the wrong amount, received a payment request from UKVI or needs to understand the overall cost of an immigration application.

GOV.UK publishes the current IHS rates and calculation rules.

Book an immigration consultation or call 0203 524 5439.