Health Charge for Temporary Migrants to Double
The government plans to double the immigration health surcharge paid by temporary migrants to the UK.
The surcharge will rise from £200 to £400 per year. The discounted rate for students and those on the Youth Mobility Scheme will increase from £150 to £300.
The annual charge is paid by people from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who are seeking to live in the UK for 6 months or more to work, study or join family.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) estimates that the NHS spends £470 on average per person per year on treating surcharge payers. Projections suggest that the increased charges may provide around £220m extra every year, with this money going to NHS services.
Do you have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge?
For visa applications made outside the UK, you have to pay if you:
- are a national of a country outside the European Economic Area
- are applying for a visa to work, study or join your family in the UK for more than 6 months (but you're not applying to permanently remain in the UK)
- have applied and paid your visa fee on or after 6 April 2015
For immigration applications made within the UK, you have to pay if you:
- are a national of a country outside the EEA
- are making an immigration application for any length of time (but you are not applying to permanently remain in the UK)
- have applied and paid your application fee on or after 6 April 2015