Useful Guide: Who must pay the UK Immigration Health Surcharge?

If you are planning to move to the UK for business, work, study, or to join family, you would be required to pay the UK Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).

In this guide, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the UK Immigration Health Surcharge and answer the most frequently asked questions about the same.

The UK Immigration Health Surcharge is a fee that is paid by an applicant who is applying for a UK visa or a UK visa extension. Payment of the IHS entitles you to use any NHS-provided healthcare services.

All individuals who apply for a UK visa or UK visa extension are required to pay the UK Immigration Health Surcharge. This includes business owners, entrepreneurs, professionals, skilled workers, students, family members, and dependents.

As of April 2023, the UK Immigration Health Surcharge costs £624 for adults, which has to be paid for each year granted to an applicant on their UK visa. And £470 for children, to be paid for each year granted on their visa.

The UK Immigration Health Surcharge is payable upfront and is non-refundable. However, if your UK visa gets refused by the UK Home Office, the surcharge fees will be refunded to you.

The UK Immigration Health Surcharge must be paid online, at the time of making the UK visa application. The surcharge must be paid in full upfront and can be paid using a debit or credit card. Once the surcharge is paid, a reference number will be provided, which must be included in the UK visa application.

Certain individuals are exempted from paying the UK Immigration Health Surcharge. This includes those applying for a UK Standard Visitor Visa, those applying for a UK visa that is valid for not more than 6 months, and those who are seeking asylum or humanitarian protection in the UK.

In some cases, individuals may be entitled to a refund of the UK Immigration Health Surcharge. This includes situations where a UK visa application is refused, withdrawn, or cancelled. The UK Immigration Health Surcharge refund processing time is about 6 weeks after receiving a decision on your UK visa application.

You must Contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) in case of IHS not yet refunded to your account.

• You can reach out to UK Visas and Immigration online. Any queries will cost you £2.74. You will not be charged for any follow-up emails about the same enquiry
• You will get a reply to your query within 5 days, except on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and UK public holidays
• If you have not had a response within 5 working days, check your email’s spam or junk folder before contacting UKVI again

• You can get help on the phone with English-speaking staff. Telephone: +44 (0)300 790 6268 – select option 1 (Monday to Friday, 24 hours)
• Calls cost 69 pence per minute on top of your standard network charges
• If you cannot contact UK 0300 numbers, use +44 (0)203 875 4669

The UK Immigration Health Surcharge is an important aspect of the UK visa application. Applicants who are applying for certain UK visas or UK visa extensions must pay this fee to qualify. By understanding the surcharge and its requirements, you can ensure that your visa application process goes smoothly.

• If you’re planning to move to the UK, it’s important to understand the UK Immigration Health Surcharge and how it may affect you
• Don’t hesitate to reach out to our UK immigration specialist if you have any questions or concerns about the process
• Take the first step towards a successful UK visa application by being informed and prepared
• Our UK-qualified lawyers and experts are based out of major cities in India – Mumbai | Delhi | Bengaluru

You can reach out to us at,

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