Maraming mga UK visa applicants will be required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) on top of their visa application fees. Kung ikaw ay may application to enter the UK for more than 6 months, you will need to pay the IHS fee unless you fall into one of few exceptions. If you are applying for a visa from within the UK, you will be required to pay the IHS fee regardless of the length of your leave, unless you are applying for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or British citizenship naturalisation.

Examples of visas that do not exceed 6 months are Visitor visa and Fiancée visa. Applicants via these routes do not need to pay the IHS fee.

Kelangan mong magbayad ng IHS that will entitle you to access any healthcare services that are offered by the National Health Services (NHS). This payment is not optional; you cannot opt out on the basis that you don’t foresee needing health care during your leave. You must still pay the IHS kahit na may private health insurance ka.

Am I exempt from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge?

Very few applicants are exempt from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge. If you fall in to one of the following categories you do not have to pay the fee or obtain a reference number from the IHS service:

• you’re applying for indefinite leave to enter or remain (note that if you apply for ILR but are only granted limited leave, you will be informed that you need to pay the IHS.)
• you’re a health and care worker who is eligible for a Health and Care Worker visa (or you’re their dependant)
• you’re applying to the EU Settlement Scheme
• you’re a diplomat or a member of a visiting armed forces and not subject to immigration control
• you’re a dependant of a member of the UK’s armed forces
• you’re the dependant of a member of another country’s armed forces who is exempt from immigration control
• you’re applying for a visa for the Isle of Man or Channel Islands
• you’re a British Overseas Territory citizen resident in the Falkland Islands
• you’re an Asylum Seeker or applying for humanitarian protection (or you’re their dependant)
• you’re a domestic worker who has been identified as a victim of slavery or human trafficking
• you’re applying for discretionary leave to remain in the UK as someone who has been identified as a victim of slavery or human trafficking (or you’re their dependant)
• the Home Office’s domestic violence concession applies to you (or you’re their dependant)
• being made to leave the UK would be against your rights under Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights (or you’re their dependant)
• you’re an S2 Healthcare Visitor
• you’re eligible for a Frontier Worker Permit and have an S1 certificate.

Kung na-approved naman yong fee waiver application mo, your IHS fee will also be waived. Applicants must meet a very high threshold to prove that they cannot afford their application fee, and the fee waiver policy only applies to certain types of application. You can read more about the Home Office’s fee waiver policy here.

How much is the Immigration Health Surcharge?

The IHS is subject to change. Currently, according to the gov.co.uk website you will have to pay:

• £470 per year for a student or Youth Mobility Scheme visa, for example £940 for a 2-year visa.
• £470 per year for visa and immigration applicants who are under the age of 18 at time of application.
• £624 per year for all other visa and immigration applications

Hindi mo kelangan pig magbayad ng IHS fee if you’re applying from outside the UK for 6 months or less. If you’re applying from inside the UK for 6 months or less, you’ll have to pay half the yearly cost. For example, £235 for a student, Youth Mobility Scheme or under-18 applications, and £312 for any other application. If you’re applying for more than than 6 months but less than one year you will have to pay the cost of a full year wherever you apply from.

When do I pay the IHS?

Kelangan mong bayaran ang IHS fee at the time when you submit your visa application online. You will automatically be redirected to pay the IHS first before paying the visa fee for your application. Once paid, they will send you an IHS reference number.

What will happen if I don’t pay the Immigration Health Surcharge?

Kapag hindi mo nabayaran ang IHS fee, it will make your application as an invalid application under paragraph 34(4) of the Immigration Rules. Your application will not be considered; it will be turned down within 10 working days if you’re inside the UK, and within 7 working days if you’re outside the UK.

What if my application is refused?

The IHS is refunded to refused applicants. The refund is not immediate: it may take up to six weeks to process. If you choose to appeal or pursue administrative review on the back of a refusal, the refund of your Immigration Health Surcharge will not happen until after these proceedings are concluded.

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