The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a charge paid by most non-British visa applicants for access to the National Health Service during their stay. It was introduced in 2015 and is paid in full and up front, at the time of visa application.

2026 rates, by category

Confirm the current figures against GOV.UK’s healthcare-immigration application page before relying on any specific number.

  • Standard adult applicant: £1,035 per year of leave granted.
  • Student visa applicant: £776 per year.
  • Dependant of a student: £776 per year.
  • Youth Mobility Scheme applicant: £776 per year.
  • Applicant under 18 at the date of application: £776 per year.
  • Health and Care Worker visa applicant (and dependants): fully exempt.

The IHS is charged per applicant. A family of four on a five-year Skilled Worker visa pays four times the standard annual rate times five — north of £20,000 before the visa application fee.

How part-years are rounded

The IHS is calculated in 6-month blocks. A visa for any period over six months and up to one year is charged the full one-year rate; over a year and up to eighteen months is charged 1.5 years’ worth; and so on.

  • A 12-month grant: 1 × annual rate.
  • An 18-month grant: 1.5 × annual rate.
  • A 30-month grant: 2.5 × annual rate.
  • A 36-month grant: 3 × annual rate.

Who is fully exempt

  • Health and Care Worker visa holders and their dependants.
  • Diplomats and their dependants.
  • Visitors entering for under six months (no IHS is paid, but access to NHS treatment is chargeable).
  • Certain visa-fee-waiver categories — for example, some asylum and refugee routes.
  • Children under 18 in some local-authority care arrangements.

The exemption is applied automatically by the application system if the CoS or supporting documentation correctly flags the qualifying status. If a charge appears in error, a refund can be claimed.

Claiming a refund

IHS refunds are administered through the UKVI online form. The three main grounds:

  1. Application refused and applicant has not entered the UK.
  2. Application withdrawn before a decision.
  3. A route-specific exemption applied (most often Health and Care Worker) and IHS was charged in error.

Refunds typically take six to twelve weeks to process.

Practical effect on total cost

For most Skilled Worker applicants, the IHS is the single largest item in the visa bill — more than the application fee itself. Health and Care Worker route applicants save the entire amount, which is one of the principal financial differences between the two routes. See our 2026 visa fees breakdown for the application fee tier on top of the IHS.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Immigration Health Surcharge in 2026?
For a standard adult applicant, around £1,035 per year of leave granted. For students, dependants of students, Youth Mobility Scheme applicants and under-18s, around £776 per year. Health and Care Worker visa applicants and their dependants are fully exempt.
Is the IHS refundable?
Yes in three situations: if the application is refused and the holder has not entered the UK; if the application is withdrawn before a decision; or if a route-specific exemption applied (most commonly Health and Care Worker) and the IHS was charged in error.
How are part-year visa grants charged?
The IHS is calculated in 6-month blocks. A grant of over six months and up to one year is charged a full year. A grant of over a year and up to eighteen months is charged 1.5 years' worth, and so on.
Who pays the IHS — me or my employer?
The IHS is paid at the application gateway, normally by the applicant. Many employers reimburse it or pay it directly; the arrangement should be set out in the offer letter.