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🧑⚕️ Anyone moving to the UK on a visa will need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).
One of the most important aspects of moving to the UK is understanding the National Health Service (NHS) and making sure you can access healthcare services. For individuals planning to live, work, or study in the UK on a visa, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a fee that must be paid during the visa application process. The IHS covers your use of the NHS when in the UK. This guide provides valuable insights into what the IHS entails, how it works, and its implications for UK visa holders.
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a fee for health care that was started in April 2015. This surcharge was introduced by the UK government for international students who want to study in the UK for more than 6 months and for non-EU citizens applying for a visa to stay in the UK for more than 6 months. The IHS payment gives international students and non-EU citizens the same access to the UK's National Health Service (NHS) as someone who lives in the UK. This means that they can access free medical care from the NHS, such as doctor’s appointments, emergency treatment, and hospital care. However, it is important to note that the IHS payment does not cover some services, like dental treatment, prescriptions, and opticians. Those who require these services will still need to pay for them.
To help the NHS manage the increased demand and financial pressures it is facing, the UK government introduced the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) in April 2015. This charge applies to non-UK citizens and international students who wish to study in the UK for more than 6 months. By paying the IHS, non-UK citizens and international students gain access to the NHS and receive the same healthcare services as UK nationals and residents. This includes comprehensive medical care, such as doctor's appointments, emergency treatment, and hospital care at no extra cost. The IHS payment helps to support the NHS and ensure that non-UK citizens and international students have access to the same healthcare services as UK nationals and residents. By paying the IHS, anyone living in the UK on a visa can enjoy peace of mind knowing that they can access medical care if they need it during their stay in the UK at no extra cost.
If you're traveling to the UK on a Youth Mobility, UK Ancestry, Skilled Worker or any other visa to work, study, or join family for more than six months, then you'll be required to pay the IHS fee. The IHS fee varies depending on the visa type you're on. If you're moving to the United Kingdom on the Health and Care Worker visa, you don't have to pay the IHS fee as you're working within the healthcare system. If you’re travelling to the United Kingdom as a tourist you don’t need to pay the IHS fee. To check whether or not your chosen visa is required to pay the IHS fee, visit GOV.UK.
