Free calculator
NHS surcharge (IHS), computed.
The health surcharge is paid up front for the whole visa. See exactly what your application will cost: per person, per year.
- 1 adult × £3,105
- £3,105
Charged per person, per year of leave (£1,035 standard · £776 students, Youth Mobility & under-18s). A part-year of 6 months or less is charged at half rate; more than 6 months at the full rate. Rates current as of June 2026.
This tool provides guidance only. Always consult a licensed immigration advisor for official advice.
What the IHS is
The Immigration Health Surcharge gives visa holders access to the NHS. It's charged per person, per year of the visa, and collected upfront in one payment when you apply: £1,035 per year for most adults, £776 for students, Youth Mobility applicants and anyone under 18. For a family on a multi-year visa it's routinely the largest single number in the application — larger than the application fee itself.
How the charge is worked out
Each full year of leave is charged at the full rate. Then the remainder: a part-year of six months or less is charged at half rate, and anything longer counts as a full year. So a 2-year-6-month visa costs 2.5 years of surcharge, while 2 years 7 months costs 3 full years. The calculator applies the gov.uk rule exactly, per applicant type.
The exemption worth knowing: Health and Care Worker
Health and Care Worker visa holders pay no surcharge at all — and neither do their dependants. Combined with the route's reduced application fees, it makes the health-and-care path one of the cheapest ways into the UK's work visa system. The surcharge also ends for everyone at settlement: reach ILR and you never pay it again.
Questions people ask
How much is the Immigration Health Surcharge?
£1,035 per year for most adults, and £776 per year for students, Youth Mobility Scheme applicants and anyone under 18 (rates current as of June 2026). Health and Care Worker visa holders and their dependants pay nothing.
When and how do I pay the IHS?
Upfront, for the whole visa length, as part of the application. A 3-year visa means three years of surcharge paid on day one, per person — it's usually the biggest single cost of the application.
How are part-years charged?
Each full year of leave is charged at the full rate. A part-year of six months or less is charged at half the yearly rate; more than six months counts as a full year. The calculator above applies this rule exactly.
Who is exempt from the IHS?
Health and Care Worker visa holders and their dependants pay £0. Beyond that, the discounted £776 rate covers students, Youth Mobility and under-18s — the calculator's applicant types map to these categories.
Do I pay the IHS when I apply for ILR?
No. Indefinite Leave to Remain carries no health surcharge, and once you're settled you stop paying the IHS altogether — NHS access comes with settled status. It's one of the quiet financial rewards of reaching ILR.
Rates confirmed against gov.uk, current as of June 2026. Guidance in plain English, not legal advice.