Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) 2025: Updated Rates and Refund Guidance

If you are applying for a UK visa to live, work or study for an extended period, you may need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). This payment enables access to the National Health Service (NHS) on a similar basis to UK residents. Whether you must pay, and how much, depends on your visa type, duration and where you apply from.

When Is the IHS Payable?

Application type	Inside the UK	From outside the UK	Is IHS payable?
Visa of 6 months or less	Yes	No	Only payable if you apply inside the UK
Visa of more than 6 months	Yes	Yes	Payable in either case
Visitor/short stay visa	No	No	Not payable
Settlement (ILR) or British nationality	No	No	Not payable

IHS Rates (per year)

Applicant category	Current rate (per year)
Students, dependants of students, youth mobility scheme	£776
Under-18 applicants	£776
All other visa and immigration applicants	£1,035

Charging Rules for Parts of a Year

• If the visa covers 6 months or less and the application is from inside the UK, you pay half the annual rate (for example £388 for a student or £517.50 for other applicants).

• If the visa covers more than 6 months but less than one year, you pay the full annual rate.

• For a visa that spans more than one year, you will pay for the number of full years plus a half year for shorter parts.

• Dependants aged 18 or over generally pay the same amount as the main applicant.

IHS Refund Rules

Full Refunds

Circumstance	Refund type
You paid the surcharge twice for the same application	Full refund (automatic)
Your visa application is refused and appeal rights are exhausted	Full refund (automatic)
You withdrew your application before a decision is made	Full refund (automatic)

Partial Refunds

Circumstance	Refund type
Visa granted for a shorter duration than applied for	Partial refund (automatic)
One or more dependants refused while main applicant approved	Partial refund (automatic)
IHS paid twice for overlapping visa periods	Partial refund (automatic)

No Refund Situations

Circumstance	Refund due?
Visa granted but you do not travel to the UK	No refund
You leave the UK before the visa ends	No refund
You apply for indefinite leave to remain or switch to a visa exempt from IHS	No refund

Timeline and How Refunds Are Paid

Refunds are made automatically to the bank account or card used for the payment. You will usually receive your refund within six weeks of the final visa decision, though it may take longer if there is an appeal or administrative review. Refunds are only processed once all appeal or review rights have been exhausted.

Additional Refund Eligibility Under the Immigration Health Surcharge 2025

You may also be eligible for a refund if you hold an S1 certificate from an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein which covers your healthcare, or if you work in a qualifying health or social care role and meet the relevant criteria.

What to Do If You Have Not Received Your Refund

If more than six weeks have passed since your visa decision and you have not received your refund, contact the NHS Business Services Authority at: nhsbsa.IHSreimbursements@nhs.net.

Provide your full name, date of birth, IHS reference number and visa application reference.

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At Lace Law, we help clients determine eligibility for immigration health surcharge 2025 refunds, chase delayed refunds, and communicate with the relevant UK authorities. If you believe you may be entitled to an IHS refund or have questions about your case, contact us today for expert advice.