The Home Office website stated that you will be able to use the National Health Services (NHS) without paying the surcharge or getting a reference number if:

• you’re applying for indefinite leave to enter or remain
• 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

You need to pay the healthcare surcharge if you apply for indefinite leave to remain but are only given limited leave. You’ll need to pay before you’re given the leave.

Visitor visas and short-term visas

You do not need to pay the surcharge or get an IHS reference number if you’re applying for a:

• visitor visa
• visa for 6 months or less from outside the UK

You will need to pay for any NHS care you get at the point you use it – unless it’s a service that’s free.