Immigration Health Surcharge 2026: Cost, Payment and Refunds Explained
The IHS gives you full NHS access during your studies. Here is exactly how much it costs, how to pay it, and when you can claim a refund.
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a fee you pay as part of your Student visa application that gives you access to the NHS on broadly the same basis as a UK resident, for the length of your visa. It is paid upfront, in full, for the entire duration of your course — not monthly, and not optional.
How much you actually pay
The student rate is charged per year of your visa, rounded to the nearest six months, and paid as a single lump sum during your online application — you cannot defer or spread it. For example:
- A one-year master's (visa usually granted for course length plus a few months) is typically charged for around 1.5 years.
- A three-year undergraduate degree is charged for the full course length plus the standard grace period, usually rounding to around 3.5 years.
- A PhD running four years is charged accordingly, often the largest single upfront cost after tuition itself.
The IHS rate is set by the Home Office and has increased more than once in recent years. Confirm the exact current per-year figure on GOV.UK's healthcare for visa applicants page before budgeting, since even a small change multiplies across multiple years.
What the IHS actually covers
Once you have paid and your visa is granted, you are entitled to NHS treatment on the same basis as a permanent UK resident, including:
- GP appointments and most hospital treatment, free at the point of use.
- Emergency care, including A&E.
- Maternity care and most ongoing treatment for existing conditions.
You still pay standard NHS charges that apply to everyone, such as prescription charges in England (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland provide free prescriptions) and dental treatment costs. See our how the NHS works guide for the practical side of registering once you land.
When you can get a refund
You may be entitled to a full or partial refund if:
- Your visa application is refused, withdrawn, or you withdraw it yourself before a decision.
- You are granted a shorter visa than the period you paid the IHS for.
- You leave the UK before your visa expires and formally give up your leave to remain (this is less common and requires you to actively surrender your status).
If your visa is refused, the Home Office typically refunds the IHS portion automatically to the payment card used, within about five to seven working days. If it does not arrive within a few weeks, contact UKVI directly with your application reference rather than assuming it is lost.
Common IHS mistakes to avoid
- Paying the wrong dependant amount — each dependant pays their own full-rate IHS on top of yours; it is not a shared or discounted family fee.
- Assuming private insurance replaces it — the IHS is mandatory regardless of any private health insurance you may also hold; it is not an alternative.
- Forgetting it in your budget — many students focus on tuition and living costs and are surprised by an IHS bill running into four figures at application time; build it into your total cost of study from the start.
Where the IHS fits into your visa costs
The IHS is paid alongside your visa application fee, on top of the maintenance funds you must separately hold under the 28-day financial rule. Together, these make up the bulk of your upfront visa costs before you have even booked a flight. For the full visa process, see our UK Student Visa complete guide.
Once you land, registering with a GP is one of the first practical steps we help with in our arrival packages — our team can point you to a nearby practice and help with the registration form in your first week, and parents can follow this progress through the parent portal.
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