Immigration Health Surcharge

Overview

As part of your Student visa application, you will need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) which will entitle you to use the National Health Service in the UK. This means that you will not have to pay for emergency healthcare, hospital treatment or further medical treatment if you need it.

You will still need to pay for other types of services, for example dental care, eye tests and prescriptions. If you have any pre-existing health conditions that you already receive treatment form, treatment in the UK will not be covered by the IHS.

How much do I need to pay?

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is £470 per year (£235 for a part of a year less than six months). The total amount you pay will depend on the length of you visa. This is calculated on the length of your visa not the length of your course.

Example 1: If your visa is for 16 months, you will pay £705 (£470 for 12 months + £235 for the remaining 4 months).
Example 2: If your visa is for 19 months, you will pay £940 (£470 for 12 months + £470 for the remaining 7 months as it is more than 6 months).

If you are applying with dependents, you will also need to pay an equal amount of IHS for each dependent.

What information do I need to fill out the form?

For guidance on how to fill out the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge section of the application, read these guides:

Remember to put the start and end dates on your CAS. If you are applying to extend your course, enter the course start date that appears on your CAS rather than your original course start date as this will avoid you paying double for the time you have already been in the UK.

When and how do I make the IHS payment?

You can pay by credit or debit card. If you are applying from outside the UK you will pay in local currency. You need to pay the total amount of IHS as part of the visa application process immediately after you have made the payment for the visa application fee.

What happens if my visa is cancelled/withdrawn or refused?

If your visa is cancelled, for example if you go on Approved Temporary Withdrawal, you will need to pay the IHS again when you apply for a new visa. If your visa application is refused or you withdraw your application, the IHS payment will be refunded. You should receive this automatically within 6 weeks of getting a decision or withdrawing your application. If you do not receive the refund within 6 weeks please contact ISAT and we will help you.

Additional information for EU students

If you are an EU student with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued by an EU country, you may be entitled to a full or partial refund of your Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) payment after 1 January 2022 if your visa started on or after 1 January 2021. Your refund will be backdated to include any IHS payments since 1 January 2021.

If you intend to apply for a refund of your IHS payment, you should use your EU EHIC for medically necessary treatment during your studies. You will not be eligible if you work in the UK while studying.