How much is the immigration health surcharge?

For people applying for a UK visa who need to know how much the immigration health surcharge costs.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

It's £1,035 a year for most visa applicants, or £776 a year for students, their dependants, Youth Mobility visas and under-18s.

Applications from outside the UK for 6 months or less don't pay it.
Adult dependants usually pay the same as you.
If you don't pay in time, your application will be refused.

Key facts

£1,035 a year
£776 for students
Pay or be refused

Immigration health surcharge rates for 2026/27

The immigration health surcharge (IHS) is a charge you pay as part of most visa applications. It lets you use the NHS free of charge from the date your visa starts. You pay it for each year of your visa, and for each person applying.

Who is applying	Per year	Half year
Students and their dependants	£776	£388
Youth Mobility Scheme visa	£776	£388
Anyone under 18	£776	£388
Everyone else	£1,035	£517.50

How part years are charged

Your total depends on the length of your visa:

6 months or less, applying from outside the UK: you do not pay.
6 months or less, applying from inside the UK: half the yearly amount.
More than 6 months but less than 1 year: the full yearly amount.
More than 1 year but 18 months or less: 1 year plus half a year.
More than 18 months but less than 2 years: the full 2 year amount.

Worked examples

Example 1: a worker on a 3 year visa. 3 x £1,035 = £3,105.

Example 2: a student on a 2 year course. 2 x £776 = £1,552.

Example 3: a couple and one child, 3 year visa. The adult partner usually pays the same as the main applicant. The child pays the under 18 rate.

Person	Calculation	Total
Main applicant	3 x £1,035	£3,105
Partner	3 x £1,035	£3,105
Child	3 x £776	£2,328
Family total		£8,538

Who does not pay

You do not pay the surcharge if, for example, you are:

applying for a visitor visa
applying for indefinite leave to enter or remain
applying for a Health and Care Worker visa (or are their dependant)
applying to the EU Settlement Scheme
a diplomat or a member of visiting armed forces
applying for asylum or humanitarian protection
a child under 18 in local authority care

You still have to pay even if you have private medical insurance.

What it does not cover

Paying the surcharge does not make everything free. You still pay for some services, such as prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests and assisted conception.

Paying on time

You pay as part of your online application. If you have not paid, you will be told. You then have 10 working days if you are inside the UK, or 7 working days if you are outside the UK. If you do not pay in time, your application will be turned down.

Refunds

You get a full refund if your visa is refused, if you withdraw before a decision, or if you paid twice for the same application. You may get part back if you get less time than you asked for, or a dependant is refused. Refunds usually arrive within 6 weeks of the decision.

You do not get a refund if you do not come to the UK, if you leave before your visa ends, or if you later apply to settle.

Related guides

Where these figures come from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

How to pay

Common questions

Do I have to pay the immigration health surcharge if I have private medical insurance?

Yes, you still need to pay even if you have private medical insurance.

Who does not have to pay the immigration health surcharge?

You do not pay if, for example, you are applying for a visitor visa, indefinite leave to remain, the EU Settlement Scheme, or a Health and Care Worker visa or as their dependant.

Can I get a refund of the immigration health surcharge?

You get a full refund if your visa is refused or you withdraw before a decision, usually within 6 weeks of the decision.

What does the immigration health surcharge cover?

It lets you use the NHS free of charge from the date your visa starts, but you still pay for things like prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests.

Official sources

1.Pay for UK healthcare: how muchwww.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/how-much-pay
2.Pay for UK healthcare: who needs to paywww.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/who-needs-pay
3.Pay for UK healthcare: refundswww.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/refunds
4.Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration applicationwww.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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