How visa fees work
UK immigration health surcharge cost and refunds
The UK immigration health surcharge is £1,035 per person per year for most applications. It is £776 per year for students, student dependants, Youth Mobility applicants and children under 18 Source 1. These rates apply to applications made from 9am on 6 February 2024 and were still current on 19 October 2026 Source 1. The portal calculates the total by visa length, often rounding a part-year up to the next six-month period Source 1.
Who pays which rate
The standard rate is £1,035 for each person for each year covered by the application. The £776 rate applies to students, student dependants, Youth Mobility Scheme applicants and applicants under 18 on the application date Source 1,Source 3.
Each dependant has a separate liability. The surcharge is paid during the online visa process, before the application fee is completed. The system gives the applicant an IHS reference number Source 2.
How the total is calculated
The total depends on the route and the period of immigration permission. The Home Office portal uses course dates, sponsorship dates or the fixed duration for the route. Extra permission before or after a course or job can form part of the calculation Source 1.
The charge works in six-month blocks for a part-year. Home Office guidance gives a standard-rate example of £1,552.50 for 18 months and £3,105 for 36 months. The date of the completed visa application determines the rate Source 1.
What the surcharge covers
Payment gives access to NHS treatment from the visa start date on broadly the same basis as a permanent resident for the period of permission. Charges that UK residents pay, such as prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests, can still apply Source 2,Source 4.
The surcharge is separate from the visa application fee. Section 38 of the Immigration Act 2014 provides the legal power for the charge, and the 2024 amendment order set the current annual amounts Source 3,Source 5.
Refunds
A full refund applies if the visa application is refused after appeal rights end, is rejected or voided, is withdrawn before a decision, or includes a duplicate surcharge payment. A partial refund can apply when less permission is granted, a dependant is refused, an overlapping period was paid twice or the applicant overpaid Source 4.
No refund applies when a successful applicant simply decides not to travel. Home Office guidance says an eligible refund usually takes up to six weeks and returns to the original payment account Source 4.
Check before paying
Common questions
Is the IHS the same as the visa fee?
No. It is a separate healthcare charge paid during the visa process Source 2,Source 5.
How much does a student pay?
The rate is £776 per person per year, calculated for the permission period Source 1.
Do children pay the surcharge?
Yes when the route requires it, at the reduced rate of £776 per year for a person under 18 on the application date Source 1.
Is the IHS refunded after visa refusal?
Yes, after appeal or administrative-review rights are exhausted Source 4.
Do I get a refund if I do not travel?
Not when the visa application succeeded and the person simply does not come to the UK Source 4.
Rules and fees change. Check the official site linked above before you apply or pay. Spotted an error? Email [email protected] with the official link.
Sources
- UK Home Office: Immigration Health Surcharge caseworker guidance (30 September 2025)
- UK Visas and Immigration: Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application (accessed 19 October 2026)
- UK legislation: Immigration Health Charge Amendment Order 2024 (16 January 2024)
- UK Home Office: Immigration Health Surcharge caseworker guidance, refunds (30 September 2025)
- UK legislation: Immigration Act 2014, section 38 (current on 5 October 2026)