Updated July 2026. Most people applying for a UK visa lasting more than six months must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) before a decision is made. The charge is separate from the visa application fee and is paid for each applicant, including most dependants.
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In 2026, the standard IHS rate is generally £1,035 per person for each year of immigration permission. Students, student dependants, Youth Mobility Scheme applicants, and applicants under 18 generally pay the reduced rate of £776 per year.
Important: UK immigration fees can change. The online application calculates the amount using the visa route and permission length. Confirm your exact total on GOV.UK before paying or making travel plans.
What Is the UK Immigration Health Surcharge?
The Immigration Health Surcharge is a mandatory payment connected to many temporary UK immigration applications. Paying it allows a successful applicant to use the National Health Service on broadly the same basis as an ordinarily resident person while the visa remains valid.
The IHS is not a private insurance premium and does not guarantee that every NHS service will be free. Charges can still apply for services such as prescriptions in England, dental treatment, eye tests, and assisted conception.
The official GOV.UK Immigration Health Surcharge guide explains who pays, how the amount is calculated, and when refunds apply.
UK IHS Rates in 2026
| Applicant category | Annual IHS rate |
|---|---|
| Most work and family visa applicants | £1,035 per year |
| Students and their dependants | £776 per year |
| Youth Mobility Scheme applicants | £776 per year |
| Applicants under 18 at the time of application | £776 per year |
The exact total depends on the length of permission, which may be longer than the employment contract or course itself. The IHS calculator uses six-month blocks in some cases.
Applications for Six Months or Less
An applicant applying from outside the UK for a visa of six months or less generally does not pay the IHS. Someone applying from inside the UK may have to pay half the annual rate even when the permission is six months or less.
More Than Six Months but Less Than One Year
The applicant generally pays the cost of a full year.
More Than One Year
For permission longer than a year, the calculation depends on the remaining part-year. For example, permission of up to 18 months generally attracts one-and-a-half years of IHS, while a period longer than 18 months but shorter than two years is generally charged as two full years.
Skilled Worker Visa Costs in 2026
From 8 April 2026, the Home Office fee table lists the following fees for many Skilled Worker applications made outside the UK:
| Skilled Worker application | 2026 fee |
|---|---|
| Standard route, up to 3 years | £819 |
| Standard route, more than 3 years | £1,618 |
| Immigration Salary List role, up to 3 years | £628 |
| Immigration Salary List role, more than 3 years | £1,235 |
| Health and Care Worker visa, up to 3 years | £324 |
| Health and Care Worker visa, more than 3 years | £628 |
These are application fees and do not automatically include IHS, biometrics-related services, translations, tuberculosis testing, priority processing, travel, or professional advice.
Check the complete Home Office fees from 8 April 2026 because fees differ by route, application location, duration, and circumstances.
Example: Three-Year Skilled Worker Visa
For an adult applying outside the UK for a standard Skilled Worker visa of three years, where the job is not on the Immigration Salary List:
- Visa application fee: £819
- IHS: £1,035 × 3 years = £3,105
- Illustrative combined total: £3,924
This example excludes optional and third-party costs. Each dependant generally submits a separate application and pays the applicable visa fee and IHS.
Who Normally Needs to Pay the IHS?
You usually need to pay if you are applying:
- From outside the UK for immigration permission lasting more than six months
- From inside the UK for permission of any length
- As a Skilled Worker outside the exempt Health and Care Worker route
- As a student or eligible dependant
- To join family under a temporary immigration route
You still normally have to pay even if you already hold private medical insurance. Private cover does not replace the statutory IHS requirement.
Who Does Not Need to Pay?
Exemptions include certain applicants such as:
- Eligible Health and Care Worker visa applicants and qualifying dependants
- Applicants for indefinite leave to enter or remain
- Applicants under the EU Settlement Scheme
- Certain diplomats, armed-forces families, trafficking victims, stateless applicants, and protected cohorts
- People applying for a visitor visa or, from outside the UK, a visa lasting six months or less
An exemption is based on the immigration route and law—not simply on working in a hospital or care setting. The sponsor and Certificate of Sponsorship must support eligibility for the Health and Care Worker route.
Health and Care Worker Visa IHS Exemption
Eligible medical professionals, health workers, and adult social-care workers applying through the Health and Care Worker visa do not pay the IHS. Their eligible partner and children are also normally exempt.
This route also has reduced application fees. However, care workers and senior care workers should check current dependant restrictions and occupation rules before applying.
Even when exempt from the IHS, visa holders may still pay normal patient charges for services such as prescriptions, dental care, eye tests, and assisted conception. See the official Health and Care Worker visa guide.
Does the IHS Cover All NHS Treatment?
Payment generally gives access to NHS-funded care from the visa start date while permission remains valid. It does not mean every service is free or immediately available.
- NHS waiting times still apply
- Prescription rules and charges differ across the UK
- NHS dentistry and optical care may involve patient charges
- Assisted conception may not be covered on the same basis
- Treatment obtained before the visa starts may be chargeable
- Visitors and short-term applicants can face overseas-patient charges
Do Immigrants Still Need Private Health Insurance?
Private insurance is optional for many IHS payers and does not reduce the surcharge. Some migrants buy private medical insurance for faster access to certain specialists, private hospitals, broader dental or optical benefits, or additional comfort and choice.
Before buying private health insurance in the UK, compare:
- Inpatient and outpatient limits
- Pre-existing-condition exclusions
- Waiting periods and excess amounts
- Cancer, maternity, mental-health, dental, and optical coverage
- Hospital networks and specialist referral requirements
- Whether overseas travel is included
- Renewal increases and cancellation terms
Private cover should be evaluated as an additional product, not a way to avoid a mandatory immigration payment.
When Is the IHS Paid?
The surcharge is normally paid during the online visa application. The system provides an IHS reference number connected to the application.
If the full amount is not paid, UK Visas and Immigration may email the applicant with a deadline. GOV.UK states that the payment deadline is normally seven working days for applicants outside the UK and ten working days for applicants inside the UK. Failure to pay in time can lead to refusal.
When Can You Get an IHS Refund?
Full Refund
- The IHS was paid twice for the same application
- The visa application is refused
- The application is withdrawn before a decision
Partial Refund
- The visa grants less time than requested
- A dependant is refused while another application succeeds
- An in-country extension or switch causes payment twice for the same period
Duplicate-period refunds are normally calculated in six-month blocks. Eligible automatic refunds usually return to the card or account used for payment.
When a Refund Normally Does Not Apply
- You do not travel after the visa is granted
- You leave the UK earlier than planned
- You withdraw after the visa has already been granted
- You are required to leave before the visa expires
- You later switch to an IHS-exempt route
Read the current official IHS refund rules for exceptions involving health and care work, EHIC holders, S1 certificates, and duplicate payments.
Documents and Payment Records to Keep
- IHS reference number
- Payment confirmation and card statement
- Visa application number
- Decision letter and visa validity dates
- Certificate of Sponsorship
- Receipts for each dependant
- Refund confirmation or UKVI correspondence
Common IHS and Visa-Fee Mistakes
- Budgeting only for the application fee and forgetting the annual IHS
- Calculating from the employment contract instead of the visa duration
- Forgetting that each dependant pays separately
- Assuming private insurance removes the IHS requirement
- Using the Health and Care exemption without confirming route eligibility
- Missing a UKVI email requesting an additional payment
- Expecting a refund simply because the visa holder leaves early
If you work in hospitality, also read our existing guide on UK permanent residency pathways for immigrant chefs in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the IHS for a UK Skilled Worker visa in 2026?
Most adult Skilled Worker applicants pay £1,035 for each year of permission unless they qualify for an exemption such as the Health and Care Worker route.
Can I avoid the IHS by buying private health insurance?
No. GOV.UK states that applicants who are required to pay must do so even if they hold private medical insurance.
Do children pay the same IHS as adults?
Applicants under 18 generally pay the reduced rate of £776 per year.
Do dependants pay separately?
Yes. Each dependant generally pays the applicable visa application fee and IHS based on age, route, and permission length.
How long does an IHS refund take?
Eligible refunds normally arrive within about six weeks, although appeals, administrative reviews, or failed payment methods can cause delays.
Official Sources
- GOV.UK: How Much Immigration Health Surcharge to Pay
- GOV.UK: Who Needs to Pay the IHS
- GOV.UK: Skilled Worker Visa Costs
- GOV.UK: IHS Refunds
Information checked against official UK government sources in July 2026.