Following parliamentary approval, there has been a doubling of the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fees which is to affect all visa applications of longer than 6 months, made from 8th January 2019.
The surcharge will rise from £200 to £400 per year, with the discounted rate for students and those on the Youth Mobility Scheme increasing from £150 to £300. Migrants who make an application on or after 8 January 2019 will have to pay the new surcharge rate.
The Immigration Health Surcharge is paid by people from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who are applying to live in the UK for more than 6 months to work, study or join family. It gives migrants access to the comprehensive range of NHS services without further charge, subject to a few exceptions such as prescription charges in England.
The new surcharge rate is intended to better reflect the costs to the NHS of treating those who pay it. The Department of Health and Social Care estimates that the NHS in England spends on average around £470 per surcharge payer every year. Their projections suggest that the increased charges may provide around an extra £220 million per year, with this money going straight back to NHS services.
For further information, read the Immigration Minister’s official statement here.
If you have any questions regarding the increased charges or want to discuss your immigration matter with our expert team, contact us now! We are currently offering a January discount on all our services!