{"id":13882,"date":"2023-08-13T14:30:20","date_gmt":"2023-08-13T14:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/?post_type=ht_kb&p=13882"},"modified":"2026-09-25T14:32:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T14:32:35","slug":"immigration-health-surcharge","status":"publish","type":"ht_kb","link":"https:\/\/www.glos.ac.uk\/information\/knowledge-base\/immigration-health-surcharge\/","title":{"rendered":"Immigration Health Surcharge"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you are applying for a Student visa, you will usually need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of your visa application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The IHS gives you access to healthcare through the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) during the period covered by your visa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You pay the IHS in addition to your Student visa application fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who needs to pay the IHS?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you are applying for a Student visa from outside the UK, you will normally need to pay the IHS if your visa will be for more than six months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are applying for a Student visa from inside the UK, you will normally need to pay the IHS regardless of how long your new visa will be, including where it will be for six months or less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You must still pay the IHS if you have private medical insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You do not normally pay the IHS if you are applying from outside the UK for a visa lasting six months or less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find out who needs to pay the IHS on gov.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much does the IHS cost?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The current IHS rate for Student visa applicants and their Student dependants is \u00a3776 per person, per year of immigration permission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The amount you pay is based on the length of your visa, not simply the length of your course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For part-years, the IHS is charged in six-month blocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Length of visa<\/th>Applying from
outside the UK<\/th>		Applying from
inside the UK<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
6 months or less<\/td>No IHS<\/td>\u00a3388<\/td><\/tr>
More than 6 months but less than 1 year<\/td>\u00a3776<\/td>\u00a3776<\/td><\/tr>
More than 1 year, up to 18 months<\/td>\u00a31,164<\/td>\u00a31,164<\/td><\/tr>
More than 18 months but less than 2 years<\/td>\u00a31,552<\/td>\u00a31,552<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The IHS rate is set by the UK Government and can change. Always check the current rate before making your visa application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check the current IHS rates on gov.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why might I pay for longer than the length of my course?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your Student visa normally includes some additional time before and after your course. The IHS is based on the total length of your visa, so this additional time is included when your IHS is calculated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, if you are studying a 12-month master’s degree, your Student visa will normally include an additional four months after your course ends. This means your visa covers more than 12 months and you would currently pay the IHS for 18 months, equating to \u00a31,164.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, do not calculate your IHS simply by multiplying \u00a3776 by the number of academic years on your course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Student visa application will calculate the amount you need to pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are applying from outside the UK<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you are applying for your Student visa from overseas, you normally need to pay the IHS if your visa will be for more than six months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You pay the IHS during the online Student visa application process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are applying from outside the UK, the IHS will normally be payable in the currency specified for the country from which you are applying. The amount you pay may therefore differ from a simple conversion of the sterling amount, because of the exchange rate used by the Home Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure that your debit or credit card has a sufficient payment limit before starting your application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If somebody else is paying the IHS for you, they may also need to be available to approve the payment with their bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are applying from inside the UK<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you are extending your Student visa or switching to the Student route from inside the UK, you must normally pay the IHS regardless of how long your new immigration permission will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means that, even if you are applying for six months or less, you will normally need to pay \u00a3388 at the current Student rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you still have time remaining on your existing visa, your new application may sometimes result in you paying the IHS twice for part of the same period. You may be eligible for a partial refund if you have paid the IHS twice for an overlapping period of six months or more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do I pay the IHS?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You pay the IHS as part of your online visa application using a debit or credit card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When completing the IHS section of your Student visa application, you will be asked for information including your course start and end dates. The visa application process will calculate the amount of IHS you need to pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After you have paid, you will receive an IHS reference number. This will be shown on screen and sent to you by email. Keep this email for your records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will then continue with your visa application and pay your visa application fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What happens if I have not paid enough?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) decides that you have not paid enough IHS, they will normally email you and ask you to pay the remaining amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You must make the additional payment within:<\/p>\n\n\n\n