What is the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and how much is it?

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a fee paid by most non-UK visa applicants (including students) that entitles them to use the National Health Service (NHS) during their stay in the UK. It is paid as part of the visa application process, not separately.

For Student Visa applicants, the current IHS rate is £776 per year (as of 2026). You pay the full amount upfront for the entire duration of your visa. For example, a 3-year student visa would require an IHS payment of £2,328.

The IHS must be paid online when you complete your visa application. You will receive a unique IHS reference number which you need to include in your visa application.

Once in the UK with a valid IHS payment, you can access most NHS services — including GP registration, hospital treatment, and mental health services — in the same way as a UK resident, without paying at the point of use. However, some services such as dental treatment and eye tests may still be chargeable.

The IHS is in addition to the visa application fee (£363 for a Student Visa from outside the UK). The combined cost of visa fee + IHS can be significant, particularly for longer courses.

Some universities and scholarships offer bursaries or grants to help international students cover IHS costs. It is worth asking your institution's financial support team.